Notice of Intent To Request an Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service

Notice of Intent To Request an 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 (Pub.

L. No. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at

5 CFR Part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces

the National Agricultural Statistics Service's (NASS) intention to

request an extension of a currently approved information collection,

the Field Crops Production that expires July 31, 1998.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 9, 1998 to be

assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Rich Allen, Associate

Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S.

Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 4117 South

Building, Washington, D.C. 20250-2000, (202) 720-4333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Field Crops Production.

OMB Number: 0535-0002.

Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 1998.

Type of Request: To extend a currently approved information

collection.

Abstract: The primary objective of the National Agricultural

Statistics Service is to prepare and issue state and national estimates

of crop and livestock production. The Field Crops Production program

consists of non-probability field crops surveys. Unique crop

characteristics such as concentration of crops in localized

geographical areas require the use of supplemental panel surveys. These

surveys are extremely valuable for commodities where acres and yield

are published at the county level.

The Field Crops Production has approval from OMB for a 3-year

period. NASS intends to request that the survey be approved for another

3 years.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of

information is estimated to average 14 minutes per response.

Respondents: Farms.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 536,000.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 125,000 hours.

Copies of this information collection and related instructions can

be obtained without charge from Larry Gambrell, the Agency OMB

Clearance Officer, at (202) 720-5778.

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, such as through the use of appropriate automated,

electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or

other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to:

Larry Gambrell, Agency OMB Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of

Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Room 4162 South Building,

Washington, D.C. 20250-2000.

All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the

request for OMB approval.

All comments will also become a matter of public record.

[[Page 5499]]

Signed at Washington, D.C., January 22, 1998.

Rich Allen,

Acting Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service.

[FR Doc. 98-2608 Filed 2-2-98; 8:45 am]

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