Subsequent to
the passage of the 1996 Farm Bill, a 6 month emergency clearance
was given in June of 1996 for the information collection in OMB no.
0560-0169. The terms of clearance specified at that time required
USDA to provide additional analysis in the full non-emergency
clearance package for acreage reports, OMB no. 0560-0004, that
demonstrated the practical utility of the collection of acreage
data. In January of 1997 OMB granted an extension for OMB no.
0560-0004, noting that the terms of clearance specified for acreage
reports in OMB no. 0560-0169 were still pending. In June of 1997,
this clearance expired. As part of the Information Streamlining
Plan Hearing for USDA held in July of 1997, OMB specifically asked
USDA to describe the acreage reports that USDA would continue to
collect and their practicaly utility. They also asked USDA about
the continued collection of voluntary acreage reports that have no
practical utility for the agency, noting that OMB does not and will
not approve these collections. The agency was specifically asked to
detail their plans to inform field offices that this information
should no longer be collected. In response, USDA noted their
commitment to an in-depth review of OMB-approved information
collections, including acreage reports. They stated that their
analysis of acreage reports would be completed by September 30,
1997 and that the results would be provided to OMB. They also
stated that FSA had nearly completed an interim analysis regarding
acreage reports that was requested in the terms of clearance and
that this analysis would be provided to OMB. On September 30, 1997,
USDA submitted for OMB clearance an information collection package
for Reports of Acreage, OMB no. 0560-0004. The Agency's submission
did not provide a sufficient response to the terms of clearance
imposed in June of 1996 and, therefore, did not adequately
demonstrate the practical utility of the information collection as
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. As described in the terms
of clearance for OMB no. 0560-0169, in order to demonstrate the
practical utility of the collection of acreage data, USDA shall: 1.
Demonstrate that USDA will inform participants in the program
authorized by part 1412 what data is required for the program and
which data is no longer required. The agency shall indicate the
practical utility of the fruit and vegetable acreage data that it
requests from the producer, and demonstrate that it is the minimum
necessary to properly implement the program authorized in part
1412. 2. Demonstrate that USDA will inform participants in the
programs authorized by parts 1421 and 1427 what data is actually
required, and by when, in order to participate in these programs.
The agency shall indicate the practical utility of the acreage data
that it requests from the producer and demonstrate that it is the
minimum necessarty to properly implement the program authorized in
parts 1421 and 1427. 3. Explain any connection between this acreage
data and the collection of similar data by National Agricultural
Statistical Service or other USDA entities, and identify efforts to
avoid duplication. 4. Demonstrate that the organization, including
(if applicable) the use of one form for more than one program, and
timing of the information collection is efficient and avoids
collecting information without practical utility. Not all programs
require the same data at the same time, and the agency shall
consider ways of collecting data only as needed to discourage
unnecessary or unnecessarily early reporting on a "just in case"
basis. This may require developing an acreage report form and/or
collection strictly for fruits and vegetables, and then another,
later, information collection for the loan programs, if the
producer wishes to remain eligible after the final reporting date.
If the agency intends to use the same form for more than one
program or purpose, USDA shall demonstrate that producers will be
informed at the time of reporting which data items they must
complete, and which data items the do not (yet) need to complete,
for the programs in which they wish to participate. 5. Include and
explain any instruction to County or other staff involved in this
information collection, and demonstrate how those instructions are
consistent with the information collection approval. 6. Evaluate
the practical utility of any field level, rather than aggregate,
acreage reporting, where the agency requests it. For example, the
agency shall evaluate the practical utility of aerial photography
in information collections. 7. Examine burdens, such as cost and
labor, on the reporting public and the agency, and discuss agency
efforts to reduce burdens. 8. Explain all uses of the acreage data
by the agency, including its practical utility for compliance
monitoring. The agency shall also examine the implications of not
collecting the data it intends to use to monitor compliance, and
evaluate whether the costs of not collecting the data outweigh the
costs of collecting it. 9. Discuss agency efforts to identify new
technologies, such as remote sensing, that may cost effectively
reduce the need for reporting and/or recordkeeping. 10. Discuss
agency efforts to reduce the burden in coming years. For instance,
the agency shall discuss efforts to determine circumstances when
participants need not report subsequent to an initial sign up, may
check boxes rather than provide numbers, or report only upon
changes. Discuss agency efforts to reduce the need for participants
to report in person, or to report previously reported information.
11. Discuss agency efforts to identify circumstances in which
recordkeeping requirements may substitute for reporting
requirements. In addition to these terms, USDA shall also: 1.
Explain any planned use of acreage data by third parties. 2.
Explain how the information collected is sufficiently
representative to allow for supply and demand projections,
forecasts, or any other type of analysis given the proposed
reduction of the information collected. 3. Explain whether CRP,
RMA, and other programs require that an FSA-578 be completed to
fulfill program requirements or whether these agencies allow the
information submitted with the FSA-578 to be used as an option in
fulfilling program requirements. 4. With respect to inclusion and
explanation of any instructions to County and other staff involved
in this information collection described in no. 5 above, please
include details on the elimination of the collection of voluntary
acreage reports. As requested in the ISP hearing, please detail
plans to inform field offices that voluntary information should no
longer be collected, including revisions to handbook 2-CP and any
other relevant handbooks or notices. Also please detail any planned
changes to forms, instructions, software, procedures, and data
processing that will reduce unnecessary and unapproved
collections.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
FSA requires that producers report
acreage for crops that need verification of compliance, loan
eligibility, or crop loss.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Report of Acreage -- 7 CFR Part 718