2023-26692. Notice of Intent To Request Approval To Revise and Extend an Information Collection

AGENCY:

National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to request approval to revise and extend a currently approved information collection, the Milk and Milk Products Surveys. Revision to burden hours will be needed due to changes in the size of the target population, sample design, and/or questionnaire length.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by February 5, 2024 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535–0020, by any of the following methods:

• Email: [e-mail]. Include docket number above in the subject line of the message.

• Efax: (855) 838–6382.

• Mail: Mail any paper, disk, or CD–ROM submissions to: Richard Hopper, NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336 South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250–2024.

• Hand Delivery/Courier: Hand deliver to: Richard Hopper, NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336 South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250–2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Joseph L. Parsons, Associate Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, (202) 720–4333. Copies of this information collection and related instructions can be obtained without charge from Richard Hopper, NASS Clearance Officer, at (202) 720–2206.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Milk and Milk Products Surveys.

OMB Control Number: 0535–0020.

Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2024.

Type of Request: To revise and extend a currently approved information collection for a period of three years.

Abstract: The primary objective of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is to collect, prepare and issue State and national estimates of crop and livestock production, prices and disposition as well as economic statistics, farm numbers, land values, on-farm pesticide usage, pest crop management practices, as well as the Census of Agriculture. The Milk and Milk Products Surveys obtain basic agricultural statistics on milk production and manufactured dairy products from farmers and processing plants throughout the nation. Data are gathered for milk production, dairy products, evaporated and condensed milk, manufactured dry milk, and manufactured whey products. Milk production and manufactured dairy products statistics are used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help administer federal programs and by the dairy industry in planning, pricing, and projecting supplies of milk and milk products. Only minor changes are planned for the questionnaires and sample sizes. The Milk Production Survey will continue to be conducted quarterly (January, April, July, and October) and monthly estimates for the non-quarterly months will still be published for the total number of dairy cows, the number of cows milked, and the total milk produced. Estimates for the non-survey months will be generated by using a combination of administrative data, regression modeling, and historic data. In April 2012 NASS discontinued the collection of Dairy Product Prices. This data is now collected by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) in compliance with the Mandatory Price Reporting Act of 2010, and the amended section 273(d) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946.

Authority: Voluntary dairy information reporting is conducted under authority of 7 U.S.C. 2204(a). Individually identifiable data collected under this authority are governed by section 1770 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 2276), which requires USDA to afford strict confidentiality to non-aggregated data provided by respondents.

Mandatory dairy product information reporting is based on the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended by the Dairy Market Enhancement Act of 2000 and the Farm Security and Rural Development Act of 2002 (U.S.C. 1637–1637b). This program requires each manufacturer to report to USDA the price, quantity, and moisture content of dairy products sold and each entity storing dairy products to report information on the quantity of dairy products stored. Any manufacturer that processes, markets, or stores less than 1,000,000 pounds of dairy products per year is exempt. USDA is required to maintain information, statistics, or documents obtained under these Acts in a manner that ensures that confidentiality is preserved regarding the identity of persons and proprietary business information, subject to verification by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) under Public Law 106–532. This Notice is submitted in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–13 (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) and Office of Management and Budget regulations at 5 CFR part 1320. All NASS employees and NASS contractors must also fully comply with all provisions of the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (CIPSEA) of 2018, title III of Public Law 115–435, codified in 44 U.S.C. Ch. 35. CIPSEA supports NASS's pledge of confidentiality to all respondents and facilitates the agency's efforts to reduce burden by supporting statistical activities of collaborative agencies through designation of NASS agents, subject to the limitations and penalties described in CIPSEA. NASS uses the information only for statistical purposes and publishes only tabulated total data.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average approximately 13 minutes per response. This average is based on the 7 different surveys in the information collection: 2 monthly, 4 quarterly, and 1 annual. The estimated total number of responses is 65,500 annually, with an average annual frequency of 4.30 responses per respondent. NASS will continue to use cover letters to explain the importance and uses of this data series along with how the respondent can access and report their data using the secure internet connection that NASS is using.

Respondents: Farms and businesses.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 14,950.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 11,435 hours.

Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, technological or other forms of information technology collection methods. All responses to this notice will become a matter of public record and be summarized in the request for OMB approval.

Signed at Washington, DC, November 15, 2023.

Joseph L. Parsons,

Associate Administrator.