2019-07055. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

April 5, 2019.

The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments are required regarding (1) whether the 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 burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the 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 through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments regarding this information collection received by May 10, 2019 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20502. Commenters are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: [e-mail] or fax [phone] and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling [phone].

An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Farm Service Agency

Title: Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act Report.

OMB Control Number: 0560-0097.

Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA) requires foreign investors to report in a timely manner all held, acquired, or transferred U.S. agricultural land under penalty of law to Farm Service Agency (FSA). Authority for the collection of the information was delegated by the Secretary of Agriculture to the Farm Service Agency (FSA). The statute of authority is 92 STAT (1263-1267) or 7 U.S.C. 3501-3508 or Public Law 95-460. Foreign investors may obtain form FSA-153, AFIDA Report, from their local FSA county office or from the FSA internet site.

Need and Use of the Information: The regulations at 7 CFR part 781.1-5 require foreign investors who buy, sell, or hold a direct or indirect interest in U.S. agricultural land to report their holdings and transactions to FSA. The information collected from the AFIDA Reports is used to monitor the effect of foreign investment upon family farms and rural communities and in the preparation of a voluntary report to Congress and the President. Congress reviews the report and decides if regulatory action is necessary to limit the amount of foreign investment in U.S. agricultural land. If this information was not collected, USDA could not effectively monitor foreign investment and the impact of such holdings upon family farms and rural communities.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Individuals or households; Farms.

Number of Respondents: 5,525.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 2,631.

Farm Service Agency

Title: Servicing Minor Program Loans.

OMB Control Number: 0560-0230.

Summary of Collection: The Farm Service Agency (FSA) Farm Loan Program staff provides supervised credit in the form of loans to family farmers and ranchers to purchase land and finance agricultural production. Regulations are promulgated to implement selected provisions of sections 331 and 335 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act. Section 331 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to grant releases from personal liability where security property is transferred to approve applicants who, under agreement, assume the outstanding secured indebtedness. Section 335 provides servicing authority for real estate security; operation or lease of realty, disposition of surplus property; conveyance of complete interest of the United States; easements; and condemnations. The information is collected from FSA Minor Program borrowers who may be individual farmers or farming partnerships, associations, or corporations.

Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information related to a program benefit recipient or loan borrower requesting action on security they own, which was purchased with FSA loan funds, improved with FSA loan funds or has otherwise been mortgaged to FSA to secure a Government loan. The information collected is primarily financial data, such as borrower's asset values, current financial information and public use and employment data. Failure to obtain this information at the time of the request for servicing will result in rejection of the borrower's request.

Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or households; Business or other-for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; State. Local and Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 58.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 37.

Ruth Brown,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.