[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]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
1997 Census of Agriculture
ACTION: Proposed agency information collection activity; comment
request.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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