SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Changes from the currently approved information collection include:

(1) NASS currently collects “Vegetable foots, raw and acidulated” data in the monthly Animal and Vegetable Fats and Oils survey and publishes results that meet NASS confidentiality and quality standards in the “Fats and Oils: Oilseed Crushings, Production, Consumption and Stocks publication. Data collected from the most recently approved information collection did not allow for results to be published since they did not meet NASS confidentiality and quality standards and it is unlikely that future surveys will allow publishable results. Vegetable foot data will be discontinued as part of this information collection request.

(2) NASS currently collects “Sorghum used to produce alcohol” data in the monthly Dry Mill Producers survey and publishes results that meet NASS confidentiality and quality standards in the Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production publication. NASS consulted with the Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration (EIA) and it was decided that EIA will be considered the sole source of data for Sorghum consumed for alcohol.

These changes will not affect number of respondents and estimated burden.

Title: Current Agricultural Industrial Reports (CAIR).

OMB Control Number: 0535-0254.

Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2023.

Type of Request: To revise and extend a currently approved information collection for a period of three years.

Abstract: NASS began collecting data for the Current Agricultural Industrial Reports (CAIR) in the latter half of 2014. This replaced a portion of the Current Industrial Reports (CIR) program (0607-0476) which was conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau previously. The CIR was discontinued on April 30, 2012. The previous approval (0607-0476) was for 47 different surveys.

Data from the agricultural instruments are used to generate four separate publications. The data from these surveys supply data users with important information on the utilization of many of the crops, livestock, and poultry produced in the United States. NASS collects crop data on acres planted and harvested, production, price and stocks for these crops (grains, oilseeds, cotton, nuts, etc.), along with livestock data on the number of animals and poultry produced, slaughtered, prices, and the amount of meat kept in cold storage. The CAIR data series provides data users with vital information on how much of these commodities were processed into fuels, cooking oils, flour, fabric, etc. These data are needed to provide a more complete picture of the importance of agriculture to the American population.

In order to maintain a complete and comprehensive list of operations, NASS also conducts an Operation Profile periodically to add new operations to the survey population. This profile is also used to identify operations that do not meet the criteria to be included in this group of surveys also to serve as a training tool. The training that will be provided is designed to help insure consistent, accurate, and complete data reported on a monthly/annual basis. These surveys will be conducted as a part of the Census of Agriculture and are mandatory as defined under Title 7, Sec. 2204(g).

Primary users of these data include government and regulatory agencies, business firms, trade associations, and private research and consulting organizations. The USDA World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB) uses the data in many of their indexes. The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) uses the data in the estimation of components of gross domestic product (GDP) and the estimate of output for productivity analysis, respectively. Many government agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Bureau of Economic Analysis, and International Trade Administration use the data for industrial analysis, projections, and monitoring import penetration.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service will use the information collected only for statistical purposes and will publish the data only as tabulated totals.

Authority: The census of agriculture and subsequent follow-on censuses are required by law under the “Census of Agriculture Act of 1997,” 7 U.S.C. 2204(g). Individually identifiable data collected under this authority are governed by Section 1770 of the Food Security Act of 1985 as amended, 7 U.S.C. 2276, which requires USDA to afford strict confidentiality to non-aggregated data provided by respondents. This Notice is submitted in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 and Office of Management and Budget regulations at 5 CFR part 1320.

All NASS employees and NASS contractors must also fully comply with all provisions of the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (CIPSEA) of 2018, Title III of Pub. L. 115-435, codified in 44 U.S.C. Ch. 35. CIPSEA supports NASS's pledge of confidentiality to all respondents and facilitates the agency's efforts to reduce burden by supporting statistical activities of collaborative agencies through designation of NASS agents, subject to the limitations and penalties described in CIPSEA. ( printed page 6226)

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 8-40 minutes per response. Publicity materials and instruction sheets will account for about 15 minutes of additional burden per respondent, annually. Respondents who refuse to complete the survey will be allotted 2 minutes of burden per attempt to collect the data.

Respondents: The target population will consist of managers of processing facilities that produce oils and fats from animals, grains, oilseeds, nuts, tree fruits or vegetables; or operations that are involved in the storing, rendering, or marketing of these products. Managers of ethanol plants, cotton gins, and flour mills will also be included in the target population for this group of surveys.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 760.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,400 hours.

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, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, technological or other forms of information technology collection methods.

All responses to this notice will become a matter of public record and be summarized in the request for OMB approval.