83 FR 50067 - 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 193 (October 4, 2018)

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 List Sampling Frame Surveys. Revision to burden hours will be needed due to changes in the size of the target population, sampling design, and questionnaire length. Annually, NASS obtains lists of farm and ranch operators from different crop and livestock organizations. Before adding these names to our list of active operators we will contact the individuals to determine if they qualify as a farm or ranch and then collect basic information from them on the size and type of operation they have. These data will be used to eliminate any duplication we may have with names already on our list. In addition to the names of potential operators we receive from different crop and livestock organizations, NASS has been investigating the use of web-scraping as a source of identifying new farm operators to add to our List Frame. This new approach will be conducted under a two stage process. A short screening form will be used first to identify potential agricultural producers who will then receive a more detailed questionnaire. This approach is designed to minimize respondent burden on small or non-farming entities.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 193 (Thursday, October 4, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50067-50068]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21612]


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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, 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 List Sampling Frame Surveys. 
Revision to burden hours will be needed due to changes in the size of 
the target population, sampling design, and questionnaire length. 
Annually, NASS obtains lists of farm and ranch operators from different 
crop and livestock organizations. Before adding these names to our list 
of active operators we will contact the individuals to determine if 
they qualify as a farm or ranch and then collect basic information from 
them on the size and type of operation they have. These data will be 
used to eliminate any duplication we may have with names already on our 
list.
    In addition to the names of potential operators we receive from 
different crop and livestock organizations, NASS has been investigating 
the use of web-scraping as a source of identifying new farm operators 
to add to our List Frame. This new approach will be conducted under a 
two stage process. A short screening form will be used first to 
identify potential agricultural producers who will then receive a more 
detailed questionnaire. This approach is designed to minimize 
respondent burden on small or non-farming entities.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 3, 2018 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0140, by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]. 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.

[[Page 50068]]

     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: List Sampling Frame Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0140.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2019.
    Type of Request: Intent to Seek Approval to Revise and Extend an 
Information Collection for a period of three years.
    Abstract: The primary objective of the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service is to prepare and issue State and national estimates 
of crop and livestock production, economic statistics, environmental 
statistics related to agriculture and also to conduct the Census of 
Agriculture. The List Sampling Frame Surveys are used to develop and 
maintain a complete list of possible farm and ranch operations. The 
goal is to produce for each State a relatively complete, current, and 
unduplicated list of names for statistical sampling for agricultural 
operation surveys and the Census of Agriculture. Data from these 
agricultural surveys are used by government agencies and educational 
institutions in planning, farm policy analysis, and program 
administration. More importantly, farmers and ranchers use NASS data to 
help make informed business decisions on what commodities to produce 
and when is the optimal time to market their products. NASS data is 
useful to farmers in comparing their farming practices with the 
economic and environmental data published by NASS.
    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 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 10 to 15 minutes per respondent.
    Respondents: Potential Farmers and Ranchers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 675,000 (annual average).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: With an estimated 
response rate of approximately 65% NASS estimates the burden to be 
approximately 145,000 hours (annually).
    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, 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, September 26, 2018.
Kevin L. Barnes,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2018-21612 Filed 10-3-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-20-P