83 FR 30910 - Notice of Intent To Request Revision and Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Agricultural Statistics Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 127 (July 2, 2018)

Page Range		30910-30911
FR Document		2018-14156

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to request revision and extension of a currently approved information collection, the Cost of Pollination Survey. This survey gathers data related to the costs incurred by farmers to improve the pollination of their crops through the use of honey bees and other pollinators.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 127 (Monday, July 2, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 127 (Monday, July 2, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30910-30911]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14156]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Request Revision and Extension of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), 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 request revision and extension of a currently 
approved information collection, the Cost of Pollination Survey. This 
survey gathers data related to the costs incurred by farmers to improve 
the pollination of their crops through the use of honey bees and other 
pollinators.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 31, 2018 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0258, by any of the following methods:
     Email: ombofficer@nass.usda.gov. Include docket number 
above in the subject line of the message.
     eFax: (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 
ombofficer@nass.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Cost of Pollination Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0258.
    Type of Request: Intent to Seek Approval to Revise and Extend an 
Information Collection for 3 years.
    Abstract: The primary objective of the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service (NASS) is to prepare and issue state and national 
estimates of crop and livestock production, prices, and disposition; as 
well as economic statistics, environmental statistics related to 
agriculture, and also to conduct the Census of Agriculture.
    Pollinators (honey bees, bats, butterflies, hummingbirds, etc.) are 
vital to the agricultural industry for pollinating numerous food crops 
for the world's population. Concern for honey bee colony mortality has 
risen since the introduction of Varroa mites in the United States in 
the late 1980s and the appearance of Colony Collapse Disorder in the 
past decade.
    In the Pollinator Research Action Plan, the Pollinator Health Task 
Force identified nearly 200 tasks that need to be conducted and 
coordinated from across the government to research all aspects of 
pollinator health and to come up with suggestions for improving this 
vital part of our food system. The Task Force's plan involves 
conducting research and collecting data for the following categories: 
Status & Trends, Habitats, Nutrition, Pesticides, Native Plants, 
Collections, Genetics, Pathogens, Decision Tools, and Economics. The 
pollinators have been classified into Honey Bee, Native Bee, Wasp, 
Moth/Butterfly, Fly, and Vertebrate. The departments that conduct the 
bulk of the research are the Department of the Interior (DOI), the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Science Foundation 
(NSF), the Smithsonian Institute (SI), and the United States Department 
of Agriculture (USDA).
    NASS was given the tasks of collecting economic data related to 
honey bees and quantifying the number of colonies that were lost or 
reduced. NASS was approved to conduct the Quarterly and Annual Colony 
Loss Surveys under OMB approval number 0535-0255. NASS also collects 
the economic data under this collection. NASS collects data from crop 
farmers who rely on pollinators for their crops (fruits, nuts, 
vegetables, etc.). Data relating to the targeted crops are collected 
for the total number of acres that rely on honey bee pollination, the 
number of honey bee colonies that were used on those acres, and any 
cash fees associated with honey bee pollination. Crop Farmers are also 
asked if beekeepers who were hired to bring their bees to their farm 
were notified of pesticides used on the target acres, how many acres 
they were being hired to pollinate, and how much they were being paid 
to pollinate the targeted crops.
    Authority: 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 
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 (Pub. L. 104-113) and the 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

[[Page 30911]]

Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 
(CIPSEA),'' Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 115, June 15, 2007, p. 
33376.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 15 minutes per response. Publicity 
materials and an instruction sheet for reporting via internet will 
account for 5 minutes of additional burden per respondent. Respondents 
who refuse to complete a survey will be allotted 2 minutes of burden 
per attempt to collect the data.
    Once a year, NASS will contact approximately 20,000 crop farmers 
who rely on honey bees to pollinate their fruit, nut, vegetable, and 
other crops. NASS will conduct the annual survey using a mail and 
internet approach. This will be followed up with phone and personal 
enumeration for non-respondents. NASS will attempt to obtain at least 
an 80% response rate.
    Respondents: Farmers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: With an estimated 
response rate of approximately 80%, we estimate the burden to be 6,100 
hours.
    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, through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, technological, or other forms of information 
technology collection methods.
    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, June 20, 2018.
Kevin L. Barnes,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2018-14156 Filed 6-29-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-20-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 127 / Monday, July 2, 2018 / Notices 30911

Information Protection and Statistical DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Expiration Date of Approval:
Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA),’’ November 30, 2018.
Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 115, June National Agricultural Statistics Service Type of Request: Intent to Seek
15, 2007, p. 33376. Approval to Revise and Extend an
Notice of Intent To Request Revision Information Collection for 3 years.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting and Extension of a Currently Approved Abstract: The primary objective of the
burden for this collection of information Information Collection National Agricultural Statistics Service
is estimated to average 15 minutes per is to prepare and issue State and
response. Publicity materials and an AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics
national estimates of crop and livestock
instruction sheet for reporting via Service, USDA. production, prices, and disposition. The
internet will account for 5 minutes of ACTION: Notice and request for Mink Survey collects data on the
additional burden per respondent. comments. number of mink pelts produced, the
Respondents who refuse to complete a number of females bred, and the number
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
survey will be allotted 2 minutes of of mink farms. Mink estimates are used
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
burden per attempt to collect the data. by the federal government to calculate
notice announces the intention of the
Once a year, NASS will contact total value of sales and total cash
National Agricultural Statistics Service
approximately 20,000 crop farmers who receipts, by State governments to
(NASS) to request revision and
rely on honey bees to pollinate their administer fur farm programs and health
extension of a currently approved
regulations, and by universities in
fruit, nut, vegetable, and other crops. information collection, the Mink
research projects. The current expiration
NASS will conduct the annual survey Survey. The target population will be
date for this docket is November 30,
using a mail and internet approach. This pulled from the NASS List Frame of
2018. NASS intends to request that the
will be followed up with phone and operations with positive historical data.
Mink Survey be approved for another 3
personal enumeration for non- The frame is updated with the names of
years.
respondents. NASS will attempt to new operations that are found in trade Authority: These data will be
obtain at least an 80% response rate. magazines or grower’s association’s collected under the authority of 7 U.S.C.
lists. The questionnaires that NASS is 2204(a). Individually identifiable data
Respondents: Farmers.
planning to use are the same as what collected under this authority are
Estimated Number of Respondents: was used in previous years. Any governed by Section 1770 of the Food
20,000. additional changes to the questionnaires Security Act of 1985 as amended, 7
Estimated Total Annual Burden on would result from requests by industry U.S.C. 2276, which requires USDA to
Respondents: With an estimated data users. afford strict confidentiality to non-
response rate of approximately 80%, we DATES: Comments on this notice must be aggregated data provided by
estimate the burden to be 6,100 hours. received by August 31, 2018 to be respondents. This Notice is submitted in
Comments: Comments are invited on: assured of consideration. accordance with the Paperwork
(a) Whether the proposed collection of ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–
information is necessary for the proper identified by docket number 0535–0212, 13 (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.), and Office
performance of the functions of the by any of the following methods: of Management and Budget regulations
agency, including whether the • Email: ombofficer@nass.usda.gov. at 5 CFR part 1320.
Include docket number above in the NASS also complies with OMB
information will have practical utility;
subject line of the message. Implementation Guidance,
(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate
• Fax: (855) 838–6382. ‘‘Implementation Guidance for Title V
of the burden of the proposed collection
• Mail: Mail any paper, disk, or CD– of the E-Government Act, Confidential
of information including the validity of Information Protection and Statistical
ROM submissions to: David Hancock,
the methodology and assumptions used; Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA),’’
NASS Clearance Officer, U.S.
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, Department of Agriculture, Room 5336 Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 115, June
and clarity of the information to be South Building, 1400 Independence 15, 2007, p. 33362.
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250– Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden of the collection of information 2024. burden for this collection of information
on those who are to respond, through • Hand Delivery/Courier: Hand is estimated to average 10 minutes per
the use of appropriate automated, deliver to: David Hancock, NASS response for the producers and
electronic, mechanical, technological, or Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of approximately 30 minutes per response
other forms of information technology Agriculture, Room 5336 South Building, for the buyers. NASS plans to mail out
collection methods. 1400 Independence Avenue SW, publicity materials with the
Washington, DC 20250–2024. questionnaires to inform operators of
All responses to this notice will
the importance of these surveys. NASS
become a matter of public record and be FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
will also use multiple mailings,
summarized in the request for OMB Kevin L. Barnes, Associate
followed up with phone and personal
approval. Administrator, National Agricultural
enumeration to increase response rates
Statistics Service, U.S. Department of
Signed at Washington, DC, June 20, 2018. and to minimize data collection costs.
Agriculture, (202) 720–2707. Copies of
Kevin L. Barnes, Respondents: Farmers and ranchers.
this information collection and related Estimated Number of Respondents:
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

Associate Administrator. instructions can be obtained without 300.
[FR Doc. 2018–14156 Filed 6–29–18; 8:45 am] charge from David Hancock, NASS— Estimated Total Annual Burden on
BILLING CODE 3410–20–P OMB Clearance Officer, at (202) 690– Respondents: 85 hours.
2388 or at ombofficer@nass.usda.gov. Comments: Comments are invited on:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
Title: Mink Survey. information is necessary for the proper
OMB Control Number: 0535–0212. performance of the functions of the

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Document Created: 2018-06-30 00:17:42
Document Modified: 2018-06-30 00:17:42

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 and request for comments.
Dates		Comments on this notice must be received by August 31, 2018 to be assured of consideration.
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]
FR Citation		83 FR 30910

83 FR 30910 - Notice of Intent To Request Revision and Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURENational Agricultural Statistics Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 127 (July 2, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Agricultural Statistics Service