2019-10769. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

May 20, 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; 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; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and 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 June 24, 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: 7 CFR 764, Direct Loan Making.

OMB Control Number: 0560-0237.

Summary of Collection: The Farm Loan Program (FLP) in the Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides loans to family farmers to purchase real estate and equipment and finance agricultural production. The regulation as specified in 7 CFR 764 covered by this collection describes the policies and procedures the agency uses to provide supervised credit to FLP applicants requesting direct loan assistance in accordance with the provisions of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (CONTACT) (Pub. L. 87-128), as amended. Direct loan making information collection requirements include financial and production records of the operation, as well as information necessary to obtain liens on collateral, provide evidence of the indebtedness, and ensure repayment of the loan.

Need and Use of the Information: Information is submitted by the applicants to the local agency office serving the county in which their business is headquartered. The information is necessary to thoroughly evaluate the applicant's request for a direct loan and is used by agency officials to: (1) Ensure that cash flow projections used in determining loan repayment are based on the actual production history of the operation, (2) Ensure that a loan is adequately secured; (3) Ensure the applicant meets the statutorily established program eligibility requirements; and (4) Obtain assignment on income or sales proceeds, when appropriate, to ensure timely repayment of the loans. Since the agency is mandated to provide supervised credit, failure to collect the information, or collecting it less frequently, could result in the failure of the farm operation or loss of agency security property.

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

Number of Respondents: 184,871.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 280,094.

Ruth Brown,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.