[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30958-30960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14541]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
June 2, 1999.
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
regarding (a) 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; (b) the accuracy
of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (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 should be addressed to: Desk
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Washington, D.C. 20503 and to
Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington,
D.C. 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information collections are
best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of
this notification. Copies of their submission(s) may be obtained by
calling (202) 720-6746.
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: CCC Cotton Loan Program Regulations--7 CFR Part 1427.
OMB Control Number: 0560-0074.
Summary of Collection: The Federal Agriculture Improvement and
Reform Act of 1996 (the 1996 Act) provides the Farm Service Agency
(FSA) on behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture authority to
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make available nonrecourse marketing assistance loans on 1996 through
2002 crops of upland or Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton. Loans provide
eligible producers with interim financing on their eligible production
and facilitate the orderly distribution of cotton throughout the year.
Producers requesting Commodity Credit Corporation cotton (CCC) loans
must provide information regarding collateral pledged for loan and meet
eligibility requirements which are basic to all commodity loan
programs. FSA will collect information using several forms.
Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information to
determine loan quantities and principal amounts to administer the
program and verify commodity and producer eligibility. Without the
information from the producer, CCC could not carry out the statutory
loan provisions.
Description of Respondents: Farms; business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 85,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 11,002.
Agricultural Marketing Service
Title: Grain News Reports and Molasses Market News.
OMB Control Number: 0581-0005.
Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7
U.S.C. 1621) Section 203(g), directs and authorizes the collection and
dissemination of marketing information including adequate outlook
information, on a market area basis, for the purpose of anticipating
and meeting consumer requirements aiding in the maintenance of farm
income and to bring about a balance between production and utilization.
Livestock and Grain News provides a timely exchange of accurate and
unbiased information on current marketing conditions (supply, demand,
prices, trends, movement, and other information) affecting trade in
livestock, meats, grain, and wool. Administered by the U.S. Department
of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), this nationwide
market news program is conducted in cooperation with approximately 30
state departments of agriculture. The up-to-the-minute reports
collected and disseminated by professional market reporters are
intended to provide both buyers and sellers with the information
necessary for making intelligent, informed marketing decisions, thus
putting everyone in the marketing system in an equal bargaining
position. AMS will collect information using market new reports.
Need and Use of the Information: AMS will collect information on
various aspects of the grain and feed industry in determining available
supplies and current pricing. Industry traders use market news
information to make marketing decisions on when and where to buy sell.
In addition, the reports are used by other Government agencies to
evaluate market conditions an calculate price levels used for the
Farmer-owned Reserve Program. The reports must be collected and
disseminated by an impartial third party.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit;
Individuals or households; Farms, Federal Government.
Number of Respondents: 200.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; weekly; monthly.
Total Burden Hours: 368.
Office of the Secretary, White House Liaison
Title: Advisory Committee Membership Background Information.
OMB Control Number: 0505-0001.
Summary of Collection: Section 1804 of the Food and Agriculture Act
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2281, et seq.) requires the Department to provide
information concerning advisory committee members principal place of
residence, persons or companies by whom they are employed, and other
major sources of income. Board members under each program are appointed
by the Secretary. Some of the information contained on Form AD-755 is
used by the Department to conduct background clearances of prospective
board members as required by departmental regulations. This clearance
is required by all committee members who are appointed by the
Secretary. The agencies, in conjunction with the Office of the
Secretary, White House Liaison, will collect information using Form AD-
755, Advisory Committee Membership Background Information.
Need and Use of the Information: The agencies and the Office of the
Secretary, White House Liaison will collect information on the
background of advisory committee nominees to make sure there are no
delinquent loans to the United States Department of Agriculture, USDA,
as well as making sure they have no previous record that could be a
negative reflection to USDA. The information obtained from the form is
also used in the compilation of an annual report to Congress. Failure
of the Department to provide this information would require the
Secretary to terminate the pertinent advisory committee.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 1,631.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Monthly.
Total Burden Hours: 815.5.
Economic Research Service
Title: Agriculture Market Information Survey.
OMB Control Number: 0536-New.
Summary of Collection: U.S.C. 7 Section 1622 directs the Secretary
of Agriculture to conduct, assist, and foster research investigation
and experimentation to determine the best methods of processing,
preparation for market, packaging, handling, transporting, storing,
distributing, and marketing agricultural products. Providing economic
information on agricultural/commodity market conditions is a
longstanding and important mission of USDA. The mission of the Economic
Research Service (ERS) is to provide economic information and analyses
to improve public and private decisions on agriculture, food, natural
resources, and rural development issues. In carrying out its mission,
ERS plays a lead analytic and dissemination role in the USDA market
outlook program. To improve the quality and delivery of information to
its customers, and to provide input for program choices forced on ERS
by declining resources, ERS has been attempting to assess whether and
how the needs, types, and sources of information have changed for its
customers. Based on the results of a series of ERS customer focus
groups, a survey of ERS market outlook staff, interviews with USDA
program administrators, and discussions with commodity and trade
association staff, the ERS has concluded that the ``market'' for
economic information on commodity markets--the need for, availability
of, and access to economic information on agricultural markets--has
changed significantly during the last decade and will continue to
change in the future. To answer these questions and to obtain a better
understanding of the forces for change in the ``market'' for economic
information on agricultural/commodity markets, ERS decided to undertake
a study to determine the value placed on different types of
agricultural market information by decision makers in the public and
private sectors. The study has two phases: Phase I will focus on public
sector and Phase II will focus on private sector users of economic
information on agricultural markets. ERS will collect information using
a combination of telephone and mail-out surveys.
Need and Use of the Information: ERS will collect information to
understand
[[Page 30960]]
how markets for economic information on agricultural commodities
operate by identifying the primary uses for and sources of this
information and by determining the types of information that managers
and decision makers in the agribusiness sector value most. The data
will be used to evaluate the role of USDA in the information market by
examining how USDA information is used, where it overlaps with that of
other information suppliers, where it is unique, and how it is valued
by market participants. The purpose of the data is to develop insights
into the most effective role for USDA, and particularly for ERS, in the
provision of economic information on agricultural markets.
Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 1010.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 271.
Nancy B. Sternberg,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-14541 Filed 6-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M
