04-5712. Notice of Intent To Seek 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 (Pub. L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget regulations at 5 CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the intention the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to request approval to revise and extend a currently approved information collection, the Agricultural Prices Surveys.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by May 19, 2004 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be sent to Ginny McBride, NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336 South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250 or to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Contact Carol House, Associate Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 4117 South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-2001, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Agricultural Prices.

OMB Control Number: 0535-0003.

Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2004.

Type of Request: Intent to revise and extend a currently approved information collection.

Abstract: The primary objective of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is to prepare and issue State and national estimates of crop and livestock production and prices. The Agricultural Prices surveys provide data on the prices received by farmers and prices paid by them for production goods and services. NASS estimates based on these surveys are used by agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prepare the economic accounts of the United States. These price estimates are also used to compute Parity Prices in accordance with requirements of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 as amended (Title III, Subtitle A, Section 301a). In addition, price data are used by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to help determine payment rates, program option levels, and disaster programs.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 11 minutes per response.

Respondents: Farmers and farm-related businesses.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 82,000.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 17,000 hours.

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, 7 U.S.C. 2276, which requires USDA to afford strict confidentiality to non-aggregated data provided by respondents.

Copies of this information collection and related instructions can be obtained without charge from Ginny McBride, the Agency OMB Clearance Officer, at [phone].

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, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to: Ginny McBride, NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5330B South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-2024 or [e-mail]. 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 26, 2004.

Carol House,

Associate Administrator.