2018-02940. Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Reinstate 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 seek reinstatement of an information collection, the Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey (FRIS). Revision to previous burden hours will be needed due to changes in the size of the target population, sampling design, and questionnaire length.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by April 16, 2018 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-0234, by any of the following methods:

• Email: [e-mail]. Include the docket number above in the subject line of the message.
• E-fax: [phone].
• Mail: Mail any paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions to: David Hancock, 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: David Hancock, NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336 South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kevin L. Barnes, Associate Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, [phone]. Copies of this information collection and related instructions can be obtained without charge from David Hancock, NASS—OMB Clearance Officer, at [phone] or at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: 2018 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey.

OMB Control Number: 0535-0234.

Expiration Date of Previous Approval: September 30, 2016.

Type of Request: Intent to Seek Approval to Reinstate and Revise an Information Collection.

Abstract: The 2018 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey is conducted every 5 years as authorized by the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105-113). The 2018 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey (FRIS) will use a combined probability sample of all farms, ranches, greenhouses, nurseries, and other horticultural operations that reported irrigation on the 2017 Census of Agriculture. This irrigation survey aims to provide a comprehensive inventory of agricultural irrigation practices with detailed data relating to acres irrigated by category of land use, acres and yields of irrigated and non-irrigated crops, quantity of water applied, and method of application to selected crops. Also included will be 2018 expenditures for maintenance and repair of irrigation equipment and facilities; purchase of energy for on-farm pumping of irrigation water; investment in irrigation equipment, facilities, and land improvement; cost of water received from off-farm water supplies; and questions related to water reuse and security. The irrigation questions for horticultural specialties will provide the area irrigated in the open and under protection, source of water, and the irrigation method used at the State level and by 20 Water Resource Regions (WRR). A table will be published showing the total estimated quantity of water applied for crops including horticultural specialties. Irrigation data are used by the farmers, their representatives, government agencies, and many other groups concerned with the irrigation industry and water use issues. This survey will provide the only source of dependable, comparable irrigation data by State and Water Resources Region (WRR). The National Agricultural Statistics Service will use the information collected only for statistical purposes and will publish the data only as aggregate totals. NASS is also considering a possible name change to this long running data collection. The proposed name that is being considered is “Irrigation and Water Management Survey”.

Authority: The census of agriculture and subsequent follow-on censuses are required by law under the “Census of Agriculture Act of 1997,” Pub. L. 105-113, 7 U.S.C. 2204(g). Individually identifiable data collected under this authority are governed by Section 1770 of the Food Security Act of 1985 as amended, 7 U.S.C. 2276, which requires USDA to afford strict confidentiality to non-aggregated data provided by respondents. This Notice is submitted in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) and Office of Management and Budget regulations at 5 CFR part 1320.

NASS also complies with OMB Implementation Guidance, “Implementation Guidance for Title V of the E-Government Act, Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA),” Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 115, June 15, 2007, p. 33362. The law guarantees farm operators that their individual information will be kept confidential. NASS uses the information only for statistical purposes and publishes only aggregate data. These data are used by Congress when developing or changing farm programs. Many national and state programs are designed or allocated based on census data, i.e., soil conservation projects, funds for cooperative extension programs, and research funding. Private industry uses the data to provide more effective production and distribution systems for the agricultural community.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 30-60 minutes per response. Publicity materials and instruction sheets will account for about 15 minutes of additional burden per respondent. Respondents who refuse to complete the survey will be allotted 2 minutes of burden per attempt to collect the data.

Respondents: Farmers, Ranchers, Farm Managers, and producers of Nursery, Greenhouse and Floricultural Products.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 35,000.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 26,000 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; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, technological, or other forms of information technology collection methods; and (e) comments relating to the proposed name change.

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, January 29, 2018.

Kevin L. Barnes,

Associate Administrator.