96-11826. 1997 Census of Agriculture  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 93 (Monday, May 13, 1996)]
    [Notices]
    [Page 22018]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-11826]
    
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
    Bureau of the Census
    
    
    1997 Census of Agriculture
    
    ACTION: Proposed agency information collection activity; comment 
    request.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
    to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
    and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
    proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
    Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
    3506(c)(2)(A)).
    
    DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 12, 1996.
    
    ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Acting 
    Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
    5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
    copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
    should be directed to: Joseph Reilly, Bureau of the Census, AGFS 
    Division, Room 437, Iverson Mall, Washington, DC 20233. Phone: (301) 
    763-8557.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    I. Abstract
    
        A census of agriculture is taken to obtain measures of agricultural 
    activity and productivity for each county or county equivalent and 
    state in the United States and the outlying areas. The census of 
    agriculture is conducted on the same 5-year cycle as the other economic 
    censuses. The 1997 Census of Agriculture covers all agricultural 
    operations in each state, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the 
    U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
    Islands which meet the census farm definition. The farm definition for 
    the 1997 Census of Agriculture for the 50 states is any place that 
    produced and sold, or normally would produce and sell, $1,000 or more 
    of agricultural products during 1997. This is the identical definition 
    used for the 1992 Census of Agriculture. The Commonwealth of Puerto 
    Rico farm definition has been changed from the 1992 definition, and 
    will be the same as the definition used in the United States. The farm 
    definition for Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of 
    the Northern Mariana Islands will stay at its 1992 level of $100 in 
    sales.
        To minimize respondent burden, the Census Bureau limits the items 
    asked on the report forms for all farms to just these basic subjects: 
    land use and ownership, irrigated land, crop acreages and quantities 
    harvested, livestock and poultry inventories and value of products 
    sold, acres set aside under Federal acreage-reduction programs, payment 
    for participation in Federal farm programs, the amount received from 
    Commodity Credit Corporation loans, number of injuries and deaths, and 
    operator characteristics. Additionally, 25 percent of the report forms 
    include additional questions on number of hired farm workers, 
    production expenses, fertilizer and chemicals, machinery and equipment, 
    market value of land and buildings, and income from farm-related 
    sources. The Census Bureau designs regionalized report forms that are 
    tailored for various parts of the country and are specific to the crops 
    grown in a farmer's particular area.
        The census of agriculture is authorized by law under Title 13, 
    United States Code, sections 142(a) and 191. Individual farm operators 
    are guaranteed by this same law that their individual information will 
    be kept confidential. The Census Bureau uses the information only for 
    statistical purposes and publishes data only as tabulated totals. The 
    census of agriculture is the only comprehensive source of agricultural 
    statistics at the county level. These agricultural statistics are used 
    by Congress in developing and changing farm programs. Many national and 
    state programs are designed or allocated on the basis of census data 
    such as funds for extension services, research, and soil conservation 
    projects. Private industry uses census statistics to provide a more 
    effective production and distribution system for the agricultural 
    community.
    
    II. Method of Collection
    
        The 1997 Census of Agriculture for the United States and the 
    Commonwealth of Puerto Rico will be conducted primarily using mailout/
    mailback procedures for data collection. For Guam, the Virgin Islands, 
    and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands direct enumeration 
    methods will be used for data collection.
    
    III. Data
    
        OMB Number: Not Available.
        Form Number: 97-A0101-97-A0111, 97-A0114, 97-A0201-97-A0216, 97-
    0216(SP), 97-A1(G), 97-A1(VI), 97-A1(NM), and 97-A46.
        Type of Review: Regular.
        Affected Public: Farms.
        Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,590,000.
        Estimated Time Per Response: 22.5 minutes.
        Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,346,250.
        Estimated Total Annual Cost: $113.2 million over a 6-year cycle 
    (1995-2000).
    
    IV. Request for 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 shall have practical 
    utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
    (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
    (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 respondents, including through the use of 
    automated-collection techniques or other forms of information 
    technology.
        Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
    and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
    collection; they also will become a matter of public record.
    
        Dated: May 7, 1996.
    Linda Engelmeier,
    Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
    Organization.
    [FR Doc. 96-11826 Filed 5-10-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
    
    

Document Information

Published:
05/13/1996
Department:
Census Bureau
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Proposed agency information collection activity; comment request.
Document Number:
96-11826
Dates:
Written comments must be submitted on or before July 12, 1996.
Pages:
22018-22018 (1 pages)
PDF File:
96-11826.pdf