2019-03499. 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 Census of Horticultural Specialties. Response to this survey will be mandatory.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by April 29, 2019 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-0236, 2019 Census of Horticultural Specialties, by any of the following methods:

• Email: [e-mail]. Include 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: 2019 Census of Horticultural Specialties.

OMB Control Number: 0535-0236.

Type of Request: Intent to Seek Reinstatement of an Information Collection.

Abstract: The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the 2019 Census of Horticultural Specialties survey to be conducted as a follow-on survey from the 2017 Census of Agriculture and is authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Title X—Horticulture and Organic Agriculture) as amended.

The 2019 Census of Horticultural Specialties will use as a sampling universe; every respondent on the 2017 Census of Agriculture who reported production and sales of $10,000 or more of horticultural specialty crops, and is still in business in 2019. In addition, NASS also plans to contact all new operations that have begun producing horticultural specialty products since the completion of the 2017 Census of Agriculture. Data collection will begin around January 1, 2020 for production and sales data for 2019. A final report will be published around December 2020. Data will be published at both the US and State levels where possible.

Authority: The census of horticulture is required by law under the “Census of Agriculture Act of 1997,” Public Law 105-113, 7 U.S.C. 2204(g) as amended. These data will be collected under the 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 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, Public Law 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 tabulated total 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 decisions for the agricultural community.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 60 minutes per response.

Respondents: Producers of horticultural specialty crops.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 41,000.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 52,000 hours. NASS plans to send out a pre-survey postcard informing the public of the upcoming survey. Along with the mail out of the questionnaires, NASS will include a cover letter with a short explanation of the need for this survey and the potential uses of the published data by data users. NASS will also provide respondents with an instruction sheet and directions on how to access the internet and complete the questionnaire on line. Operators who do not respond by mail or internet will be attempted by either phone or personal interview.

The primary objectives of the National Agricultural Statistics Service are to prepare and issue State and national estimates of crop production, livestock production, economic statistics, and environmental statistics related to agriculture and to conduct the Census of Agriculture and it's follow on surveys.

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, February 12, 2019.

Kevin L. Barnes,

Associate Administrator.