Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection

Title: Small Farmer Outreach, Training, and Technical Assistance OMB Control Number: 0560-0163 Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 1998 Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved information collection. Abstract: Section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, (7 U.S.C. 2279) established the ``Small Farmer Outreach Training and Technical Assistance Program,'' and the ``Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program.'' This act provides the Office of Outreach with the authority to make grants and enter into contracts, and other agreements with entities to provide outreach, training, and technical assistance. The programs are to encourage and assist small, limited resource and economically/socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to own and operate farms and ranches; and to increase their participation and accessibility to agricultural programs. Grants are awarded to community-based organizations that have demonstrated experience in providing agricultural education or other agriculturally related services to small, limited resource, economically/socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Recipients must have documentary evidence of their past experiences in working with targeted participants during the 2 year period preceding their application for a grant or contract. To be identified as being a responsible grantee or contractor, an applicant must provide documentation of having adequate financial resources, the ability to comply with project completion dates, show that adequate financial management and accounting systems

are in place, and show a satisfactory record of past performance under Federal Government grants and contracts. Grants are also awarded to Land-Grant Colleges including Tuskegee Institute, Indian tribal community colleges and Alaska native cooperative colleges, Hispanic-serving post-secondary educational institutions, and other post-secondary educational institutions with demonstrated experience in providing agricultural education or other agriculturally related services to small, limited resource, economically/socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in their region. When a grant has been awarded, a cooperative agreement is executed. The potential grant period is 5 years. At the conclusion of each year, a decision is made by USDA program staff based on information submitted regarding project performance and management whether to extend the cooperative agreement for another year. The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1999, provided $3 million for the continuation of the programs for fiscal year 1999. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 4.0606 hours per response. Respondents: Educational Institutions, Community-Based Organizations, State, Local or Tribal Governments and producers. Estimated Number of Respondents: 150 Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1 Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 5,888 hours Copies of this information collection and related instructions can be obtained without charge from Geraldine Herring at the above address. Comments are invited on: (1) 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; (2) 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; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments should be sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Washington, D.C. 20503 and to Samuel E. Thornton, Director, USDA, Office of Outreach, Room 542-A, STOP 6201, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-6201. All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record.

Signed at Washington, D.C., on January 20, 1999. Samuel E. Thornton, Director, Office of Outreach.

James W. Schroeder, Acting Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agriultural Services. [FR Doc. 99-3626 Filed 2-12-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-05-M