83_FR_17720 83 FR 17642 - Public Notice of Non-Response Follow-Up for the 2017 Census of Agriculture

83 FR 17642 - Public Notice of Non-Response Follow-Up for the 2017 Census of Agriculture

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Agricultural Statistics Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 78 (April 23, 2018)

Page Range17642-17643
FR Document2018-08387

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to adjust the non-response follow-up methodology for the 2017 Census of Agriculture.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 78 (Monday, April 23, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 78 (Monday, April 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17642-17643]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08387]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Public Notice of Non-Response Follow-Up for the 2017 Census of 
Agriculture

AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics 
Service (NASS) to adjust the non-response follow-up methodology for the 
2017 Census of Agriculture.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 7, 2018 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0226, by any of the following methods:

[[Page 17643]]

     Email: [email protected]. Include docket number 
above in the subject line of the message.
     E-fax: (855) 838-6382.
     Mail: Mail any paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions to: 
David Hancock, NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Room 5336 South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 
20250-2024.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Hand deliver to: David Hancock, 
NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336 South 
Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin L. Barnes, Associate 
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, (202)720-2707. Copies of this information 
collection and related instructions can be obtained without charge from 
David Hancock, NASS--OMB Clearance Officer, at (202) 690-2388 or at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: The 2017 Census of Agriculture.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0226.
    Expiration Date of Previous Approval: October 31, 2019.
    Type of Request: Notice and request for comment on non-response 
follow-up for the 2017 Census of Agriculture.
    Abstract: The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is 
currently conducting the 2017 Census of Agriculture. The Census of 
Agriculture provides the only basis of consistent, comparable farm data 
for each county, county equivalent, and State in the United States. A 
farm is any place that produced and sold, or normally would produce and 
sell, $1,000 or more of agricultural products during the census 
reference year.
    The Census of Agriculture is required by law under the ``Census of 
Agriculture Act of 1997,'' Public Law 105-113, 7 U.S.C. 2204(g).
    The original due date for reporting to the 2017 Census of 
Agriculture was February 5, 2018. Despite receiving up to three paper 
questionnaires in the mail and being provided opportunities to report 
on the web, NASS has not received responses from over one-third of the 
initial Census of Agriculture mail list. Low response rates threaten 
the quality of the results and the usefulness of the information 
collected. To ensure proper representation of various geographic areas 
and sub-populations in the results, NASS will begin contacting non-
respondents by using both telephone and in-person interviews. NASS will 
also make an additional contact to non-respondents via mail to 
encourage response either by mail or on the web. Due to budget and time 
limitations, contacting all non-respondents for interviews is not 
possible; therefore, NASS will randomly select respondents for 
increased efforts to obtain responses, prioritizing certain geographic 
areas and sub-populations. This involves a modification of the non-
response follow-up procedures identified in the original supporting 
statements NASS submitted for this information collection (OMB Control 
Number 0535-0226).
    NASS will use historical data to prioritize which non-respondents 
to contact. Priority will be given to non-respondents: In low-response 
counties; those believed to produce commodities with low-coverage in 
past censuses of agriculture; those believed to produce commodities or 
perform production practices NASS will target in future Census of 
Agriculture follow-on studies; or those believed to be members of 
minority groups, which are also known to have lower coverage in 
previous censuses of agriculture. Priority will also be given to those 
with a higher response likelihood based on previous contact for NASS 
censuses and surveys.
    NASS will use well-established statistical weighting and 
calibration techniques to ensure the results from the 2017 Census of 
Agriculture properly represent the intended population of inference.
    Individually identifiable information collected by the Census of 
Agriculture is governed by Section 1770 of the Food Security Act of 
1985 as amended, 7 U.S.C. 2276, which requires USDA to afford strict 
confidentiality to non-aggregated data provided by respondents. This 
Notice is submitted in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) and Office of 
Management and Budget regulations at 5 CFR part 1320. NASS also 
complies with OMB Implementation Guidance, ``Implementation Guidance 
for Title V of the E-Government Act, Confidential Information 
Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA),'' Federal 
Register, Vol. 72, No. 115, June 15, 2007, p. 33362. The law guarantees 
farm operators' individual information will be kept confidential. NASS 
uses the information only for statistical purposes and publishes only 
tabulated total data.
    Comments: Comments are invited on NASS's follow-up process for 2017 
Census of Agriculture non-respondents.
    All responses to this notice will become a matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, April 9, 2018.
Kevin L. Barnes,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2018-08387 Filed 4-20-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-20-P

17642 Notices Federal Register Vol. 83, No. 78 Monday, April 23, 2018 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER requirements of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 production in a sustainable manner; and contains documents other than rules or CFR 404.7. increasing FAO’s partnerships when proposed rules that are applicable to the implementing North American public. Notices of hearings and investigations, Mojdeh Bahar, priorities. The North American region committee meetings, agency decisions and Assistant Administrator. highlights FAO’s science and evidence- rulings, delegations of authority, filing of [FR Doc. 2018–08385 Filed 4–20–18; 8:45 am] petitions and applications and agency based work and aims to ensure that FAO statements of organization and functions are BILLING CODE 3410–03–P uses resources efficiently and operates examples of documents appearing in this primarily in its areas of comparative section. advantage. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Topics of focus to be discussed during Foreign Agricultural Service the 2018 INARC include agri-food trade DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE and global food security; gender Request for Stakeholder Input equality and the empowerment of Agricultural Research Service Relevant to the North American women; agricultural innovations; and Regional Priorities for the Food and FAO’s work in emergencies and Notice of Intent To Grant Exclusive emerging threats. These are the specific License Agricultural Organization of the United Nations topics on which comments are sought. AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, North America’s priorities will be USDA. ACTION: Request for stakeholder input. published in the 5th INARC report ACTION: Notice of intent. which will be available to the public. SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of The U.S. Government solicits written Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. input from stakeholders who want to SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Department of State will host for the provide views related to the focus of the the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. government the 2018 Food and discussion areas regarding the FAO Agricultural Research Service, intends Agricultural Organization of the United North American region’s priorities. This to grant to Koppert B.V. of The Nations (FAO) Informal North American notice remains open after the INARC Netherlands, an exclusive license to Regional Conference (INARC). meeting; input received after April 18 U.S. Patent No. 9,642,372, DATES: The INARC will be held on April may still be considered prior to the ‘‘TRICHODERMA MICROSCLEROTIA AND METHODS OF MAKING’’, issued 18–19, 2018. Stakeholder comments publication of the INARC report. on May 9, 2017. should be submitted to the point of Dated: April 9, 2018. contact listed below, by May 18, 2018. DATES: Comments must be received on Bobby Richey, Jr. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: or before May 23, 2018. Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Candice Bruce, (202) 720–1324, iNARC- ADDRESSES: Send comments to: USDA, Service. FAO@fas.usda.gov. ARS, Office of Technology Transfer, [FR Doc. 2018–08350 Filed 4–20–18; 8:45 am] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Rm. 4–1174, BILLING CODE 3410–10–P INARC is a biennial meeting co-chaired Beltsville, Maryland 20705–5131. with the Government of Canada to FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: discuss the FAO North American Brian T. Nakanishi of the Office of DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE region’s priorities as member countries Technology Transfer at the Beltsville of the FAO. Written input from National Agricultural Statistics Service address given above; telephone: 301– stakeholders on their views for the 504–5989. 2018–2019 biennium priorities for the Public Notice of Non-Response Follow- SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The region is welcome and encouraged. Up for the 2017 Census of Agriculture Federal Government’s patent rights in Stakeholder input may be examined by this invention are assigned to the United the Governments of the United States AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics States of America, as represented by the and Canada while developing priorities Service, USDA. Secretary of Agriculture. It is in the for the 2018–2019 biennium. Priorities ACTION: Notice and request for public interest to so license this recommended by FAO member comments. invention as Koppert B.V. of The countries at regional conferences are Netherlands has submitted a complete SUMMARY: In accordance with the taken into account in the FAO and sufficient application for a license. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this Programme of Work and Budget and are The prospective exclusive license will notice announces the intention of the used to justify funding levels, work be royalty-bearing and will comply with National Agricultural Statistics Service streams, and programming. the terms and conditions of 35 U.S.C. The North American priorities (NASS) to adjust the non-response 209 and 37 CFR 404.7. The prospective highlighted at the 2016 INARC included follow-up methodology for the 2017 Census of Agriculture. amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES exclusive license may be granted unless, FAO’s normative work and activities within thirty (30) days from the date of related to standards, guidelines, and DATES: Comments on this notice must be this published Notice, the Agricultural practices; boosting FAO’s regulatory received by May 7, 2018 to be assured Research Service receives written capacity building; FAO’s continued of consideration. evidence and argument which provision of impartial, evidence-based ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, establishes that the grant of the license information to help small-holder identified by docket number 0535–0226, would not be consistent with the farmers increase productivity and by any of the following methods: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:09 Apr 20, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23APN1.SGM 23APN1

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 78 / Monday, April 23, 2018 / Notices 17643 • Email: ombofficer@nass.usda.gov. contact to non-respondents via mail to Signed at Washington, DC, April 9, 2018. Include docket number above in the encourage response either by mail or on Kevin L. Barnes, subject line of the message. the web. Due to budget and time Associate Administrator. • E-fax: (855) 838–6382. limitations, contacting all non- [FR Doc. 2018–08387 Filed 4–20–18; 8:45 am] • Mail: Mail any paper, disk, or CD– respondents for interviews is not BILLING CODE 3410–20–P ROM submissions to: David Hancock, possible; therefore, NASS will randomly NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. select respondents for increased efforts Department of Agriculture, Room 5336 to obtain responses, prioritizing certain CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION South Building, 1400 Independence geographic areas and sub-populations. Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250– This involves a modification of the non- Sunshine Act Meetings; In the Name of 2024. response follow-up procedures Hate: Examining the Federal • Hand Delivery/Courier: Hand identified in the original supporting Government’s Role in Responding to deliver to: David Hancock, NASS statements NASS submitted for this Hate Crimes Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of information collection (OMB Control Agriculture, Room 5336 South Building, Number 0535–0226). AGENCY: United States Commission on 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Civil Rights. NASS will use historical data to Washington, DC 20250–2024. ACTION: Notice of Commission public prioritize which non-respondents to FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: briefing. contact. Priority will be given to non- Kevin L. Barnes, Associate respondents: In low-response counties; DATES: Friday, May 11, 2018, 9:00 a.m.– Administrator, National Agricultural those believed to produce commodities 6:30 p.m. EST. See detailed agenda Statistics Service, U.S. Department of with low-coverage in past censuses of below. Agriculture, (202)720–2707. Copies of agriculture; those believed to produce this information collection and related ADDRESSES: National Place Building, commodities or perform production instructions can be obtained without practices NASS will target in future 1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite charge from David Hancock, NASS— Census of Agriculture follow-on studies; 1150, Washington, DC 20425. Entrance OMB Clearance Officer, at (202) 690– or those believed to be members of is via F St. NW, between 13th and 14th 2388 or at ombofficer@nass.usda.gov. minority groups, which are also known Streets NW. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: to have lower coverage in previous FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Title: The 2017 Census of Agriculture. censuses of agriculture. Priority will Brian Walch, (202) 376–8371; TTY: OMB Control Number: 0535–0226. also be given to those with a higher (202) 376–8116; publicaffairs@ Expiration Date of Previous Approval: response likelihood based on previous usccr.gov. October 31, 2019. contact for NASS censuses and surveys. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Type of Request: Notice and request NASS will use well-established Commission will hold a public briefing, for comment on non-response follow-up statistical weighting and calibration ‘‘In the Name of Hate: Examining the for the 2017 Census of Agriculture. techniques to ensure the results from Federal Government’s Role in Abstract: The National Agricultural the 2017 Census of Agriculture properly Responding to Hate Crimes.’’ This Statistics Service (NASS) is currently represent the intended population of meeting is open to the public. The conducting the 2017 Census of inference. Commission will examine best practices Agriculture. The Census of Agriculture for local law enforcement on collecting Individually identifiable information provides the only basis of consistent, and reporting data, and the role of the collected by the Census of Agriculture is comparable farm data for each county, Education and Justice Departments in governed by Section 1770 of the Food county equivalent, and State in the prosecution and prevention of these Security Act of 1985 as amended, 7 United States. A farm is any place that heinous acts. Commissioners will hear U.S.C. 2276, which requires USDA to produced and sold, or normally would from local law enforcement and federal afford strict confidentiality to non- produce and sell, $1,000 or more of government officials, experts, aggregated data provided by agricultural products during the census academics, advocates, and survivors of respondents. This Notice is submitted in reference year. hate. Testimony from this briefing will accordance with the Paperwork The Census of Agriculture is required form an integral basis for the Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104– by law under the ‘‘Census of Agriculture Commission’s subsequent report to 13 (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) and Office Act of 1997,’’ Public Law 105–113, 7 Congress, the President, and the of Management and Budget regulations U.S.C. 2204(g). American people regarding the state of at 5 CFR part 1320. NASS also complies The original due date for reporting to hate crimes and bias-related incidents with OMB Implementation Guidance, the 2017 Census of Agriculture was across the nation. ‘‘Implementation Guidance for Title V February 5, 2018. Despite receiving up Members of the public who wish to of the E-Government Act, Confidential to three paper questionnaires in the mail address the Commission will have an Information Protection and Statistical and being provided opportunities to opportunity to do so during an open Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA),’’ report on the web, NASS has not comment session that will take place Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 115, June received responses from over one-third between 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. EST. 15, 2007, p. 33362. The law guarantees of the initial Census of Agriculture mail Individuals will be able to register for farm operators’ individual information list. Low response rates threaten the speaking slots, both online and at the will be kept confidential. NASS uses the quality of the results and the usefulness briefing (in-person). Full details information only for statistical purposes amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES of the information collected. To ensure regarding registration for the open and publishes only tabulated total data. proper representation of various comment session will be available on geographic areas and sub-populations in Comments: Comments are invited on the Commission’s website the results, NASS will begin contacting NASS’s follow-up process for 2017 (www.usccr.gov) five (5) business days non-respondents by using both Census of Agriculture non-respondents. prior to the briefing. Thirty (30) spots telephone and in-person interviews. All responses to this notice will will be available during the one and NASS will also make an additional become a matter of public record. one-half hour period. Each individual VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:09 Apr 20, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23APN1.SGM 23APN1


Document Created: 2018-04-21 00:33:18
Document Modified: 2018-04-21 00:33:18
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice and request for comments.
DatesComments on this notice must be received by May 7, 2018 to be assured of consideration.
ContactKevin L. Barnes, Associate Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, (202)720-2707. Copies of this information collection and related instructions can be obtained without charge from David Hancock, NASS--OMB Clearance Officer, at (202) 690-2388 or at [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 17642 
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