05-17477. Notice of Intent To Revise and Extend a Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY:

National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget regulations at 5 CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to revise and extend a currently approved information collection, the Agricultural Labor Survey.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by November 1, 2005 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be mailed to Ginny McBride, NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336—South, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-2024 or sent electronically to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Carol House, Associate Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, [phone] or Linda Hutton, Chief, Environmental, Economics, and Demographics Branch, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Agricultural Labor Survey.

OMB Number: 0535-0109.

Expiration Date of Approval: February 28, 2006.

Type of Request: Intent to Revise and Extend an Information Collection.

Abstract: The primary objective of the National Agricultural Statistics Service is to prepare and issue State and national estimates of crop and livestock production, disposition, and prices. The Agricultural Labor Survey provides statistics on the number of agricultural workers, hours worked, and wage rates. Number of workers and hours worked are used to estimate agricultural productivity; wage rates are used in the administration of the “H-2A” Program and for setting Adverse Effect Wage Rates. Survey data are also used to carry out provisions of the Agricultural Adjustment Act. NASS intends to request that the Agricultural Labor Survey be approved for another 3 years, with one program change. The number and average hours worked of self-employed and unpaid agricultural workers will be collected each quarter for Hawaii only and the annual averages will be published.

These data will be collected under the authority of 7 U.S.C. 2204(a). Individually identifiable data collected under this authority are governed by Section 1770 of the Food Security Act of 1985, 7 U.S.C. 2276, which requires USDA to afford strict confidentiality to non-aggregated data provided by respondents.

Estimate of Burden: This information collection comprises 4 individual surveys, two of which are conducted annually and two which are conducted quarterly, for an estimated total of 71,700 responses. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 9 minutes per response.

Respondents: Farms and businesses.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 12,200.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 10,755 hours.

Copies of this information collection and related instructions can be obtained without charge from Ginny McBride, NASS Clearance Officer, at [phone].

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 will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (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 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. All responses to this notice will become a matter of public record and be summarized in the request for OMB approval.

Signed at Washington, DC, August 15, 2005.

Carol House,

Associate Administrator.