81 FR 59980 - Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Agricultural Statistics Service Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 169 (August 31, 2016)
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 169 (August 31, 2016)
| Page Range | 59980-59981 | |
| FR Document | 2016-20899 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 169 (Wednesday, August 31, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 59980-59981] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-20899] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE National Agricultural Statistics Service Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of the Charter renewal for the Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking renewal of the 2-year charter for its discretionary committee, the Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics. Effective October 1, 1996, responsibility for the census of agriculture program was transferred to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) at USDA from the Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce. Effective February 2, 1997, NASS also received the transferred program positions and staff from the Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce. Responsibility for the Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics, which is a discretionary committee and was established by agency authority, was transferred, along with its allocated slot, to USDA with the census of agriculture program. Authority: The Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics was originally established by the Secretary of Commerce on July 16, 1962. The Committee is also established in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C. App.2. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hubert Hamer, Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, (202) 720-2707, or email [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Purpose: The purpose of the Committee is to advise the Secretary on the conduct of the periodic censuses and surveys of agriculture, other related surveys, and the types of agricultural information to obtain from respondents. The committee also prepares recommendations regarding the content of agriculture reports, and presents the views and needs for data of major suppliers and users of agriculture statistics. The committee draws on the experience and expertise of its members to form a collective judgment concerning agriculture data collected and the statistics issued by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Description of Duties: The duties of the Committee are solely advisory in nature. The Committee makes recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture with regard to the agricultural statistics program of NASS, and such other matters as it may deem advisable, or which the Secretary of Agriculture, Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, or the Administrator of NASS may request. Agency or Official to Whom the Committee Reports: The Committee reports to the Secretary of Agriculture through the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics. Committee Membership: The Secretary of Agriculture will appoint the membership of the Committee. Furthermore, members will serve for two- year terms, and can serve no more than three consecutive terms. Membership will consist of 20 individuals with diverse capabilities distinguished by their broad range of knowledge and interest in, though not limited to, agricultural economics, rural sociology, farm policy analysis, and agricultural education. Members will also be drawn from representatives of state and local governments; agriculture-related industry and trade or marketing associations; major national farm organizations; and producer organizations. A representative from the Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce, and a representative from the Economic Research Service, USDA, shall serve as ex officio members of the Committee. This Committee will be fairly balanced in its membership in terms of the points of view represented and the functions to be performed. Steps will be taken to encourage fresh points of view, such as establishing staggered membership terms and limiting the number of renewed memberships. Equal opportunity practices in accordance with USDA policies will be followed in all appointments to the Committee. To ensure that the recommendations of the Committee have taken into account the needs of the diverse groups served by USDA, membership will include to the extent possible, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent the needs of all racial and ethnic groups, women and men, and persons with disabilities. The USDA prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental [[Page 59981]] status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. Ethics Statement: To maintain the highest levels of honesty, integrity and ethical conduct, no Committee or subcommittee member shall participate in any ``specific party matters'' (i.e., matters are narrowly focused and typically involve specific transactions between identified parties) such as a lease, license, permit, contract, claim, grant, agreement, or related litigation with the Department in which the member has a direct or indirect financial interest. This includes the requirement for Committee or Subcommittee members to immediately disclose to the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) any specific party matter in which the member's immediate family, relatives, business partners or employer would be directly seeking to financially benefit from the Committee's recommendations. All members will receive ethics training to identify and avoid any actions that would cause the public to question the integrity of the Committee's advice and recommendations. Members who are appointed as ``Representatives'' are not subject to Federal ethics laws because such appointment allows them to represent the point(s) of view of a particular group, business sector or segment of the public. Members appointed as ``Special Government Employees'' (SGEs) are considered intermittent Federal employees and are subject to Federal ethics laws. SGE's are appointed due to their personal knowledge, academic scholarship, background or expertise. No SGE may participate in any activity in which the member has a prohibited financial interest. Appointees who are SGEs are required to complete and submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-450 form) and, upon request, USDA will assist SGEs in preparing these financial reports. To ensure the highest level of compliance with applicable ethical standards USDA will provide ethics training to SGEs on an annual basis. The provisions of these paragraphs are not meant to exhaustively cover all Federal ethics laws and do not affect any other statutory or regulatory obligations to which advisory committee members are subject. Recordkeeping: The records of this Committee, formally and informally established subcommittees, or other subgroups of the committee, shall be handled in accordance with General Records Schedule 26, Item 2 or other approved agency records disposition schedule. These records shall be available for public inspection and copying, subject to the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552. Information about this Committee is available online at:https://www.nass.usda.gov/About_NASS/Advisory_Committee_on_Agriculture_Statistics/index.php. Signed at Washington, DC, August 22, 2016. Renee Picanso, Associate Administrator. [FR Doc. 2016-20899 Filed 8-30-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-20-P
![59980 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 169 / Wednesday, August 31, 2016 / Notices
NASS also complies with OMB Signed at Washington, DC, August 22, to form a collective judgment
Implementation Guidance, 2016. concerning agriculture data collected
‘‘Implementation Guidance for Title V R. Renee Picanso, and the statistics issued by the National
of the E-Government Act, Confidential Associate Administrator. Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
Information Protection and Statistical [FR Doc. 2016–20900 Filed 8–30–16; 8:45 am] Description of Duties: The duties of
Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA),’’ BILLING CODE 3410–20–P the Committee are solely advisory in
Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 115, June nature. The Committee makes
15, 2007, p. 33362. recommendations to the Secretary of
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agriculture with regard to the
Estimate of Burden: Reporting burden
agricultural statistics program of NASS,
for this collection of information is National Agricultural Statistics Service and such other matters as it may deem
estimated to average 45 minutes per
advisable, or which the Secretary of
response. This was determined by our Advisory Committee on Agriculture Agriculture, Under Secretary for
Survey Methodologists, who compared Statistics Research, Education, and Economics, or
the length and difficulty of the
AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics the Administrator of NASS may request.
questions with similar surveys. They Agency or Official to Whom the
also took into account the projected Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of the Charter renewal
Committee Reports: The Committee
number of farmers who will skip some reports to the Secretary of Agriculture
sections of the questionnaire due to the for the Advisory Committee on
Agriculture Statistics. through the Under Secretary for
presence or absence of damage due to Research, Education, and Economics.
feral swine. Burden is based on an SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Committee Membership: The
estimated minimum response rate of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking renewal Secretary of Agriculture will appoint the
80%. On similar types of surveys and of the 2-year charter for its discretionary membership of the Committee.
through the use of a mail questionnaire committee, the Advisory Committee on Furthermore, members will serve for
and telephone follow-up to non- Agriculture Statistics. Effective October two-year terms, and can serve no more
respondents NASS has been able to 1, 1996, responsibility for the census of than three consecutive terms.
contact and collect some data from agriculture program was transferred to Membership will consist of 20
approximately 80% of the target sample. the National Agricultural Statistics individuals with diverse capabilities
After removing the out of business Service (NASS) at USDA from the distinguished by their broad range of
operations and those with no items of Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department knowledge and interest in, though not
interest we hope to have at least a 65 to of Commerce. Effective February 2, limited to, agricultural economics, rural
70% usable response rate. 1997, NASS also received the sociology, farm policy analysis, and
NASS will be utilizing several pieces transferred program positions and staff agricultural education. Members will
of publicity and informational materials from the Bureau of the Census, U.S. also be drawn from representatives of
to encourage respondents to participate Department of Commerce. state and local governments; agriculture-
in this important survey. NASS will Responsibility for the Advisory related industry and trade or marketing
conduct the survey initially by mail Committee on Agriculture Statistics, associations; major national farm
with phone follow-up for non-response. which is a discretionary committee and organizations; and producer
was established by agency authority, organizations. A representative from the
Respondents: Farm Operators.
was transferred, along with its allocated Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department
Estimated Annual Number of slot, to USDA with the census of of Commerce, and a representative from
Respondents: 12,000. agriculture program. the Economic Research Service, USDA,
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Authority: The Advisory Committee on
shall serve as ex officio members of the
Respondents: 9,300 hours. Agriculture Statistics was originally Committee.
established by the Secretary of Commerce on This Committee will be fairly
Comments: Comments are invited on:
July 16, 1962. The Committee is also balanced in its membership in terms of
(a) Whether the proposed collection of
established in accordance with the the points of view represented and the
information is necessary for the proper provisions of the Federal Advisory functions to be performed. Steps will be
performance of the functions of the Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C. taken to encourage fresh points of view,
agency, including whether the App.2. such as establishing staggered
information will have practical utility; FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: membership terms and limiting the
(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate Hubert Hamer, Administrator, National number of renewed memberships.
of the burden of the proposed collection Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Equal opportunity practices in
of information including the validity of Department of Agriculture, (202) 720– accordance with USDA policies will be
the methodology and assumptions used; 2707, or email HQOA@nass.usda.gov. followed in all appointments to the
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Committee. To ensure that the
and clarity of the information to be Purpose: The purpose of the recommendations of the Committee
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the Committee is to advise the Secretary on have taken into account the needs of the
burden of the collection of information the conduct of the periodic censuses diverse groups served by USDA,
on those who are to respond, including and surveys of agriculture, other related membership will include to the extent
through the use of appropriate surveys, and the types of agricultural possible, individuals with demonstrated
automated, electronic, mechanical, information to obtain from respondents. ability to represent the needs of all
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technological or other forms of The committee also prepares racial and ethnic groups, women and
information technology collection recommendations regarding the content men, and persons with disabilities.
methods. of agriculture reports, and presents the The USDA prohibits discrimination in
All responses to this notice will views and needs for data of major all of its programs and activities on the
become a matter of public record and be suppliers and users of agriculture basis of race, color, national origin, age,
summarized in the request for OMB statistics. The committee draws on the disability, and where applicable, sex,
approval. experience and expertise of its members marital status, familial status, parental
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 169 / Wednesday, August 31, 2016 / Notices 59981
status, religion, sexual orientation, Records Schedule 26, Item 2 or other Additional notice is hereby given,
political beliefs, genetic information, approved agency records disposition pursuant to the provisions of the rules
reprisal, or because all or part of an schedule. These records shall be and regulations of the U.S. Commission
individual’s income is derived from any available for public inspection and on Civil Rights (Commission), and the
public assistance program. copying, subject to the Freedom of Federal Advisory Committee Act
Ethics Statement: To maintain the Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552. (FACA), that the briefing meeting of the
highest levels of honesty, integrity and Information about this Committee is South Dakota Advisory Committee to
ethical conduct, no Committee or available online at:https:// the Commission scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
subcommittee member shall participate www.nass.usda.gov/About_NASS/ on Thursday, August 25, 2016, in the
in any ‘‘specific party matters’’ (i.e., Advisory_Committee_on_Agriculture_ Community Room on the 1st Floor of
matters are narrowly focused and Statistics/index.php. the Aberdeen Public Safety Building,
typically involve specific transactions 114 2nd Avenue SE., Aberdeen, SD
Signed at Washington, DC, August 22,
between identified parties) such as a 2016. 57401, HAS BEEN POSTPONED by a
lease, license, permit, contract, claim, vote of the SD State Advisory
Renee Picanso,
grant, agreement, or related litigation Committee. The vote to postpone was
with the Department in which the Associate Administrator.
due to a recent critical incident in the
member has a direct or indirect [FR Doc. 2016–20899 Filed 8–30–16; 8:45 am]
Aberdeen community. A subsequent
financial interest. This includes the BILLING CODE 3410–20–P
meeting date has not been scheduled.
requirement for Committee or Exceptional Circumstance: Pursuant
Subcommittee members to immediately to the Federal Advisory Committee
disclose to the Designated Federal COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS Management Regulations (41 CFR 102–
Officer (DFO) any specific party matter 3.150), the notice for this meeting is
in which the member’s immediate Agenda and Notice of Public Meetings given less than 15 calendar days prior
family, relatives, business partners or of the South Dakota Advisory to the meeting due to exceptional
employer would be directly seeking to Committee circumstances. Given the exceptional
financially benefit from the Committee’s urgency of the events, the agency and
recommendations. AGENCY: Commission on Civil Rights.
advisory committee deemed it
All members will receive ethics ACTION:Announcement of meeting; important for the advisory committee to
training to identify and avoid any postponement of meeting. meet on the date given to discuss
actions that would cause the public to postponement of the August 25 briefing.
question the integrity of the SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given,
Committee’s advice and pursuant to the provisions of the rules Dated: August 24, 2016.
recommendations. Members who are and regulations of the U.S. Commission Brian Walch,
appointed as ‘‘Representatives’’ are not on Civil Rights (Commission), and the Director, Communications and Public
subject to Federal ethics laws because Federal Advisory Committee Act Engagement.
such appointment allows them to (FACA), that an emergency telephonic [FR Doc. 2016–20969 Filed 8–30–16; 8:45 am]
represent the point(s) of view of a meeting of the South Dakota Advisory BILLING CODE 6335–01–P
particular group, business sector or Committee to the Commission was
segment of the public. convened at 2 p.m. on Thursday, August
Members appointed as ‘‘Special 18, 2016. The purpose of the emergency DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Government Employees’’ (SGEs) are meeting was to discuss and vote to
considered intermittent Federal postpone briefing meeting on the Submission for OMB Review;
employees and are subject to Federal ‘‘Subtle Effects of Racism in South Comment Request
ethics laws. SGE’s are appointed due to Dakota,’’ scheduled for Thursday,
their personal knowledge, academic August 25, 2016 in Aberdeen, SD. The The Department of Commerce will
scholarship, background or expertise. reason for postponing the August 25 submit to the Office of Management and
No SGE may participate in any activity meeting is due to a police shooting in Budget (OMB) for clearance the
in which the member has a prohibited Aberdeen that is under state following proposal for collection of
financial interest. Appointees who are investigation. information under the provisions of the
SGEs are required to complete and Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
DATES: The meeting scheduled for chapter 35).
submit a Confidential Financial
August 25, 2016 is postponed. A new Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
Disclosure Report (OGE–450 form) and,
date has not been set. Title: Survey of Income and Program
upon request, USDA will assist SGEs in
preparing these financial reports. To FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Participation (SIPP).
ensure the highest level of compliance Malee Craft at mcraft@usccr.gov, or OMB Control Number: 0607–0977.
with applicable ethical standards USDA 303–866–1040. Form Number(s):
will provide ethics training to SGEs on SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Records SIPP–105(L1)(2016) (Advance Letter—
an annual basis. The provisions of these and documents discussed during the No Incentive)
paragraphs are not meant to meeting will be available for public SIPP–105(L3)(2016) (Advance Letter—
exhaustively cover all Federal ethics viewing as they become available at $40 Incentive)
laws and do not affect any other https://database.faca.gov/committee/ SIPP–PIN–2016 (2016 PIN Letter)
statutory or regulatory obligations to meetings.aspx?cid=274 and clicking on SIPP–101 (Factsheet)
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
which advisory committee members are the ‘‘Meeting Details’’ and ‘‘Documents’’ SIPP–106(L1)(2016) (Thank You
subject. links. Records generated from this Letter—No Incentive)
Recordkeeping: The records of this meeting may also be inspected and SIPP–106(L2)(2016) (Thank You
Committee, formally and informally reproduced at the Commission’s Rocky Letter—$40 Incentive)
established subcommittees, or other Mountain Regional Office, as they Type of Request: Renewal of OMB
subgroups of the committee, shall be become available, both before and after Approval.
handled in accordance with General the meeting. Number of Respondents: 64,050.
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Document Created: 2018-02-02 12:15:32
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 12:15:32
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of the Charter renewal for the Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics. | |
| Contact | Hubert Hamer, Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, (202) 720-2707, or email [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 59980 |
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