[Federal Register: October 13, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 197)] [Notices] [Page 54668-54669] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr13oc98-44] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Farm Service Agency Notice of Request for Approval for a New Information Collection AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of Farm Service Agency (FSA) to request approval for the Crop Data Report Pilot Project. The purpose of this pilot project is to determine the feasibility of offering alternative methods of reporting crop and land use data. Producers will have the option of reporting by using the pilot option or by using the method currently in place nationwide. DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before December 14, 1998 to be assured consideration. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Rebecca Davis, Production, Emergencies, and Compliance Division, USDA, FSA, STOP 0517, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-0517, telephone number (202) 720-9882. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Crop Data Report Pilot Project. OMB Control Number: New submission. Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection. Abstract: This pilot was developed in response to OMB requests to lessen crop data and land use reporting burden on producers. The Crop Data Report Pilot Project is comprised of four distinct options. These options are as follows: (a) Option 1: The postcard mail-in certification option. This option allows producers to elect whether to report crops using mail, fax, or traditional in-office reporting methods. A postcard will be mailed to every producer in the county. Using information from the postcard, the producer can elect to participate in the mail-in certification option. Information will be collected from each producer using a prepared form (FSA-578, Report of Acreage new print option). This new print option will include the previous years information for the producer to use as a comparison for the current year and will be implemented in the following counties: O'Brien County, Iowa; Chenango County, New York; Yolo County, California; Grant County, Washington; Johnston County, North Carolina; and Orangeburg, South Carolina. (b) Option 2: The lump sum report option. The purpose of Crop Data Report Option 2 is to determine whether FSA can maintain program integrity when producers report a minimum amount of crop and land data by mail. This option is also designed to test whether allowing producers to report a minimum amount of crop and land data by mail would ease reporting burden. A reporting package is mailed to all producers with cropland; including a new FSA-578L, Report of Acreage Supplemental and a cover letter. This new form, FSA-578L, requires the producer only to report crop, acres, owner, operator and shares, and planting date and is a drastic departure from FSA's historical collection of crop and land use data. While simplifying reporting and easing the burden on the producer, it would also in some cases require the collection of additional data at a later date. This option will be implemented in the following counties: Sherburne/Anoka/Hennepin Counties, Minnesota; Grant County, Wisconsin; Oxford County, Maine; Collin County, Texas; Seward County, Nebraska; and Pike/Bullock Counties, Alabama. (c) Option 3: The total package mail option. This option of reporting crop and land data was derived to parallel reporting methods utilized by Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC). Information previously collected in the FSA-578, Report of Acreage, included information pertaining to FCIC such as crop code, actuarial data and ``T-area'' which has been made obsolete. A new print option will allow the system to print a slight deviation of the current FSA-578, Report of Acreage, to include the obsolete information. The new print option will still create an FSA-578, Report of Acreage, incorporating the FCIC data and will also include the data from previous years for comparison to assist in completing the current years report. This option will be implemented in the following counties: Scott County, Indiana; Wyoming County, New York; Republic County, Kansas; Willacy County, Texas; Osceola/Brevard/Orange Counties, Florida; and Grant County, North Dakota. (d) Option 4: The mail-in aerial photocopy option. This option was developed to test the feasibility of collecting crop and land data from producers using aerial photos only. Producers will receive reporting packets that will contain copies of aerial photos of each tract operated by the producer and instructions for reporting crops. This option will test the ability of the county office staff to interpret the information from the aerial photographs and data load information into the automated FSA-578. This option will be implemented in the following counties: Branch County, Michigan; Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania; Cochise County, Arizona; Little River, Arkansas; Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana; and Converse County, Wyoming. FSA's approach to collecting this information for all options is to collect only the information needed to support program eligibility and compliance requirements. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for Option 1 of this pilot project [[Page 54669]] is estimated to average .02 hours per response. Public reporting burden for Option 2 of this pilot project is estimated to average .10 hours per response. Respondents: Individual producers. Estimated Number of Respondents: 35,000. Estimated Number of Responses Per Respondent: 4. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 5,550. Burden hours for Options 3 and 4 have already been incorporated into the original OMB clearance package for acreage reporting. Those hours will not be increased or decreased for the purpose of this pilot project. Proposed topics for comment include: (a) Whether the 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 burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collected; or (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of the information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 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, Washington, D.C. 20503, and to Rebecca Davis, Production, Emergencies, and Compliance Division, USDA, FSA, STOP 0517, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-0517, (202) 720-9882. 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, DC, on October 6, 1998. Keith Kelly, Administrator, Farm Service Agency. [FR Doc. 98-27310 Filed 10-9-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-05-P