[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 24, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 9121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-4542]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
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Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 36 / Wednesday, February 24, 1999 /
Notices
[[Page 9121]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. LS-98-010]
Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved
Information Collection
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing
Service's (AMS) intention to request an extension of a currently
approved information collection used to compile and generate the
Federally Inspected Estimated Daily Slaughter Report for the Livestock
and Grain Market News Program.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 26, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Jimmy A. Beard; Assistant to the Chief; Livestock and Grain
Market News Branch, Livestock and Seed Program, AMS-USDA, Room 2619
South Building, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 20090.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jimmy A. Beard, (202) 720-1050.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Plan for Estimating Daily Livestock Slaughter Under Federal
Inspection.
OMB Number: 0581-0050.
Expiration Date of Approval: 05-31-99.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621, et
seq) directs and authorizes the collection and dissemination of
marketing information including adequate outlook information, on a
market area basis, for the purpose of anticipating and meeting consumer
requirements aiding in the maintenance of farm income and to bring
about a balance between production and utilization.
Under this market news program, USDA issues a market news report
estimating daily livestock slaughter under federal inspection. This
report is compiled on a voluntary basis, in cooperation with the
livestock and meat industry. The information provided by respondents
initiates market news reporting, which must be timely, accurate,
unbiased, and continuous if it is to be useful to the industry. The
daily livestock slaughter estimates are provided at the request of
industry and are used to make production and marketing decisions.
The Daily Estimated Livestock Slaughter Under Federal Inspection
Report is used by a wide range of industry contacts, including packers,
processors, producers, brokers, and retailers of meat and meat
products. The livestock and meat industry requested that USDA issue
slaughter estimates (daily and weekly), by species, for cattle, calves,
hogs, and sheep in order to assist them in making immediate production
and marketing decisions and as a guide to the volume of meat in the
marketing channel. The information requested from respondents includes
their estimation of the current day's slaughter at their plant(s) and
the actual slaughter for the previous day.
The industry uses the slaughter information for assistance in
making marketing and production decisions. Also, since the Government
is a large purchaser of meat, the reporting and use of this data is
helpful.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated at .011 hours per response.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit, individuals or
households, farms, Federal Government.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 82.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 820.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 740 hours.
Comments are invited on: (1) 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; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information, including the methodology and
assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on those who are to respond, including
the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Comments may be sent to: Jimmy A. Beard, Assistant to the Chief,
Livestock and Grain Market News Branch, Livestock and Seed Program,
AMS-USDA, Room 2619 South Building, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C.
20090-6456.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of
public record, and will be made available at the address above, during
regular business hours.
Dated: February 17, 1999.
John E. Van Dyke,
Acting Deputy Administrator, Livestock and Seed Program.
[FR Doc. 99-4542 Filed 2-23-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-D
