[Federal Register: April 19, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 74)]
[Notices]
[Page 20346]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19ap05-23]
[[Page 20346]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. LS-05-04]
Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved
Information Collection
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing
Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of
Management and Budget, for an extension of the currently approved
information collection used to compile and generate the Federally
Inspected Estimated Daily Slaughter Report for the Livestock and Grain
Market News Branch.
DATES: Comments received by June 20, 2005, will be considered.
Additional Information or Comments: Contact Jimmy A. Beard;
Assistant to the Chief; Livestock and Grain Market News Branch,
Livestock and Seed Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture; 1400 Independence Avenue SW.; STOP 0252;
Room 2619-S; Washington, DC 20250-0252; Phone (202) 720-8054; Fax (202)
690-3732; or e-mailed to marketnewscomments@usda.gov. All comments
received will be available for public inspection at this address during
the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on the
Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsmnpubs.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Plan for Estimating Daily Livestock
Slaughter Under Federal Inspection.
OMB Number: 0581-0050.
Expiration Date of Approval: 09-30-2005.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621, et
seq), section 203(g) directs and authorizes the collection and
dissemination of marketing information including adequate outlook
information, on a market area basis, for the purpose of anticipating
and meeting consumer requirements, aiding in the maintenance of farm
income, and to bring about a balance between production and
utilization.
Under this market news program, USDA issues a market news report
estimating daily livestock slaughter under Federal inspection. This
report is compiled by AMS on a voluntary basis in cooperation with the
livestock and meat industry. Market news reporting must be timely,
accurate, and continuous if it is to be useful to producers,
processors, and the trade in general. The daily livestock slaughter
estimates are provided at the request of industry and are used to make
production and marketing decisions.
The Daily Estimated Livestock Slaughter Under Federal Inspection
Report is used by a wide range of industry contacts, including packers,
processors, producers, brokers and retailers of meat and meat products.
The livestock and meat industry requested that USDA issue slaughter
estimates (daily and weekly), by species, for cattle, calves, hogs and
sheep in order to assist them in making immediate production and
marketing decisions and as a guide to the volume of meat in the
marketing channel. The information requested from respondents includes
their estimation of the current day's slaughter at their plant(s) and
the actual slaughter for the previous day. Also, the Government is a
large purchaser of meat and related products and this report assists
other Government agencies in providing timely information on the
quantity of meat entering the processing channels.
The information must be collected, compiled, and disseminated by an
impartial third-party, in a manner which protects the confidentiality
of the reporting entity. AMS is in the best position to provide this
service.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average .0333 hours per response.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities, individuals or
households, farms, and the Federal Government.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 72.
Estimated Number of Responses: 18,720.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 260.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 624 hours.
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. Contact Jimmy A. Beard; Assistant to the
Chief; Livestock and Grain Market News Branch, Livestock and Seed
Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture; 1400 Independence Ave; STOP 0252; Room 2619-S; Washington,
DC 20250-0252; Phone (202) 720-8054; Fax (202) 690-3732; or e-mailed to
marketnewscomments@usda.gov. All comments received will be available
for public inspection during regular business hours at the same address
and on the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsmnpubs.
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.
Dated: April 14, 2005.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 05-7765 Filed 4-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P