[Federal Register: August 26, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 166)]
[
Notices]
[Page 50299]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26au08-33]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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[[Page 50299]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-TM-08-0077; TM-08-11]
Request for an Extension to 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 for the Farmers Market Questionnaire.
DATES: Comments received by October 27, 2008 will be considered.
Additional Information or Comments: Contact Ed Ragland, Marketing
Services Division, Transportation and Marketing Programs, Agricultural
Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence
Ave., SW., Room 2646 South Building, Ag Stop 0269, Washington, DC
20250-0269; 202-720-8317. Comments should reference Docket No. AMS-TM-
08-0077; TM-08-11.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Farmers Market Questionnaire.
OMB Number: 0581-0169.
Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 2009.
Type of Request: Extension to the currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: Under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended
(7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.), AMS is responsible for conducting research to
enhance market access for small- and medium-sized farmers. The role of
the Marketing Services Division (MSD) of AMS is to facilitate
distribution of U.S. agricultural products. The division identifies
marketing opportunities, provides analysis to help take advantage of
those opportunities and develops and evaluates solutions including
improving farmers markets and other direct-to-consumer marketing
activities. Various types of farmers markets serve different parts of
the food marketing chain but all focus on the small- to medium-sized
agricultural producers that have difficulty obtaining access to large
scale commercial distribution channels. Information has been collected
by the MSD periodically about the size and growth of markets, farmers
served, products sold, sales, and management structure to better
monitor how this marketing channel changes over time and the impact
farmers markets have on the farming community nationwide. Estimate of
Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is
estimated to average .316 hours per response.
Respondents: Farmers market managers.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 4700.
Estimated Number of Responses: 1622.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: .345.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 512 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. Comments may be sent to the following
addresses:
Mail: Ed Ragland, Marketing Services Division,
Transportation and Marketing Programs, Agricultural Marketing Services,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 2646
South Building, Ag Stop 0269, Washington, DC 20250-0269.
Internet: http://www.regulations.gov.
All written comments should be identified with the docket number
AMS-TM-08-0077; TM-08-11. It is our intention to have all comments
whether submitted by mail or Internet available for viewing on the
Regulations.gov (http://www.regulations.gov) Internet site. Comments
submitted will also be available for public inspection in person at
USDA-AMS, Transportation and Marketing Programs, Marketing Services
Division, Room 2646-South Building, 1400 Independence Ave., SW.,
Washington, DC, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, (except official Federal holidays). Persons
wanting to visit the USDA South Building to view comments received are
requested to make an appointment in advance by calling (202) 720-8317.
The information collected is used only by authorized employees of
the USDA, AMS.
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: August 20, 2008.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator,Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E8-19699 Filed 8-25-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P