0004-poult-15-SSA

Supporting Statement

POULTRY SURVEYS

OMB No. 0535-0004

TERMS OF CLEARANCE

Date 01/24/2013

NASS agrees, once the instruments have been fully standardized across participating states, to implement the response rate calculation identified in the OMB statistical directive (1 and 2), Standards and Guidelines for Statistical Surveys, when calculating and publishing response rates for prospective rounds of this information collection. NASS estimates this to occur in approximately 3-5 years. If the instruments have not been standardized at the time of renewal, NASS agrees to submit an appropriate plan for prompt implementation.

NASS Action: All response rates referenced in this docket are calculated using the guidelines set forth in OMB Statistical Directives 1 and 2.

A. JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.

The primary function of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is to prepare and issue current official State and national estimates of crop and livestock production, disposition, and prices. Thousands of farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses, and others voluntarily respond to nationwide surveys about their agricultural activities. Estimates of egg, chicken, and turkey production are an integral part of this program.

General authority for these data collection activities is granted under U.S. Code Title 7, Section 2204. This statue specifies that "The Secretary of Agriculture shall procure and preserve all information concerning agriculture which he can obtain ... by the collection of statistics ... and shall distribute them among agriculturists."

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.

Information published from the surveys in this docket is needed by USDA economists and government policy makers to ensure the orderly marketing of broiler chickens, turkeys, and eggs. Statistics on these poultry products contribute to a comprehensive program of keeping the government and poultry industry abreast of changes.

The poultry reports are used by producers, processors, feed dealers, and others in the marketing and supply channels as a basis for their production and marketing decisions. Government agencies use these estimates to evaluate poultry product supplies. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) uses statistics from these surveys as check data for their published statistics on daily and weekly slaughter, egg movements, and market conditions. AMS also uses NASS data in their decision-making process when buying poultry and eggs for the school lunch program. Similarly, the data are used by Department of Defense when buying poultry and eggs for the U.S. military. The Foreign Agricultural Service uses NASS data when designing market promotion programs and other export assistance programs. The Farm Service Agency uses poultry data in models to estimate feed use when designing grain programs.

These data are also used by the Economic Research Service and the World Agricultural Outlook Board to compute balance sheets for the Agricultural Situation and Outlook reports. Land Grant Universities use the data for research, especially poultry science departments. The data are used by the Food Safety and Inspection Service as check data for their slaughter data, to plan food inspections services, and in preparing their annual report to Congress. The data are used by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to plan the scope of their work. Data are used by the American Egg Board to administer the marketing order assessment program. Poultry data are used by the Environmental Protection Agency, state governments, the Poultry Water Quality Consortium, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to inform decisions on environmental concerns. Many state, county, and township governments use poultry data for economic analysis and economic development programs and loans.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.

Web-based data reporting is available to respondents for all surveys in this docket.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Item 2 above.

NASS collaborates with state agricultural agencies and land grant universities to conduct agricultural surveys. This eliminates data gathering by more than one agency. NASS constantly builds and maintains a list frame for sampling which contains egg, chicken, and turkey control data. The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of operations and individuals are continuously monitored to eliminate duplication in this frame.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities (Item 5 of OMB Form 83-I), describe any methods used to minimize burden.

Information requested can be provided with a minimum of difficulty from normal operating records. Approximately 30 percent of the operations contacted in this survey can be classified as small operations.

6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

Poultry and egg numbers can change rapidly because of relatively short reproductive cycles (unlike cattle and hogs, for example). Collecting information less frequently would erode our list frame, result in less precise knowledge of production levels in the poultry industry, and eliminate data needed to keep federal and state agencies, agribusiness suppliers, and other data users abreast of industry changes.

7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with the general information guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5.

There are no special circumstances associated with this survey.

8. Provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8 (d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments.

The Notice soliciting comments was published in the Federal Register on May 26, 2015, on pages 30038-30039. Two public comments were received which are attached to this renewal request.

Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.

NASS personnel frequently meet with representatives from other government agencies such as the Agricultural Marketing Service and World Agricultural Outlook Board, as well as agricultural extension programs, cooperatives, and trade associations. Statisticians also maintain contacts with private agricultural groups by attending their meetings whenever possible. NASS holds data user meetings each year, as well, as part of an effort to obtain input from a cross-section of agricultural interests.

As an example of NASS consulting with industry groups, NASS representatives recently met with the United Egg Producers’ (UEP) “Information Sharing Committee” with the common goal of improving the accuracy of industry statistics. The committee suggested changes to the sequencing and wording of some of the questions on the monthly Chicken and Egg questionnaire, while NASS sought help from UEP to improve response rates. As a result, the questionnaire was redesigned and UEP ran a story in their United Voices Newsletter about the collaboration with NASS.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents.

There are no payments or gifts to respondents.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

Questionnaires include a statement that individual reports are kept confidential. U.S. Code Title 18, Section 1905 and U.S. Code Title 7, Section 2276 provide for the confidentiality of reported information. All employees of NASS and all enumerators hired and supervised under a cooperative agreement with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) must read these regulations and sign a statement of compliance.

Additionally, NASS and NASS contractors comply with OMB Implementation Guidance, Implementation Guidance for Title V of the E-Government Act, Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA), (Public Law 107-347). CIPSEA supports NASS’ 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.

The following CIPSEA Pledge statement appears on all NASS questionnaires.

The information you provide will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection provisions of Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law 107–347, and other applicable Federal laws, your responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone other than employees or agents. By law, every employee and agent has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term, a fine, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about you or your operation.

All individuals who may access these confidential data for research are also covered under Titles 18 and CIPSEA and must complete a Certification and Restrictions on Use of Unpublished Data (ADM-043) agreement.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature.

There are no questions of a sensitive nature.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. The statement should indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated. If this request for approval covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden estimates for each form and aggregate the hour burdens in Item 13 of OMB Form 83-I. Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens for collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories.

The following table contains the estimated burden hours for the surveys included in this docket. Cost to the public for completing the questionnaire is assumed to be comparable to the hourly rate of those requesting the data. Average annual reporting time of 2,493 hours is multiplied by $25 per hour for a total annual cost to the public of $62,325.

NASS regularly checks the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics. Wage rates for bookkeepers, farm managers, and farm supervisors are averaged to obtain the wage used to calculate the burden cost. The May 2014 mean wage rates for bookkeepers, farm managers, and farm supervisors are $18.30, $34.89, and $22.86, respectively. The mean wage of the three is $25.35.

Calculation of burden hours is shown in the table below. Response counts are estimated based on a target response rate of 80 percent unless previous rates were higher. Minutes per response shown are average questionnaire completion times for each survey.

13. Provide estimates of the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of information, (do not include the cost of any hour burden shown in items 12 and 14). The cost estimates should be split into two components: (a) a total capital and start-up cost component annualized over its expected useful life; and (b) a total operation and maintenance and purchase of services component.

There are no capital/start-up or ongoing operation/maintenance costs associated with this information collection.

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government; provide a description of the method used to estimate cost which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses, and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information.

The total cost to the federal government for the poultry surveys is approximately $1,900,000. Almost all of the total (approximately $1,880,000) goes to federal personnel wages and benefits. Under the NASDA (National Association of State Departments of Agriculture) Memorandum of Understanding, the agency also reimburses the regional field offices approximately $18,000 for NASDA enumerator wages. About $2,000 is used for printing, supplies, postage, computer processing, and similar items.

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or 14 of the OMB Form 83-I (reasons for changes in burden).

Decreases in sample sizes and burden hours compared to the previous docket are due to several program changes, including improved sampling and the standardization of questionnaires. The result is a reduction of 7,611 responses and 1,182 total burden hours from the previous docket.

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.

Weekly broiler hatchery data are collected by NASS regional field offices (RFOs) from questionnaires mailed each week. Data are for the full week, ending on Saturday. Any reports not received by the following Monday are followed up by telephone or personal interview. Each RFO summarizes the data and sends a report to NASS Headquarters in Washington, DC by Wednesday. After national information is summarized and reviewed by the statisticians in the Poultry Section, it is released to the public the same day in the Broiler Hatchery report, as described in the Data Collection and Publication table below. The Broiler Hatchery report can be found on the Web at:

http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1010

Monthly chicken hatchery, chicken and egg growers, and turkey hatchery survey data are collected by the RFOs from questionnaires mailed to respondents near the end of the reference month and returned early the following month. Survey data and state RFO statistician recommendations are sent to NASS Headquarters by the middle of the following month. Data are summarized and published about the 22^nd in the monthly Chickens and Eggs

(http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1028)

or about the 15^th in the monthly Turkey Hatchery

(http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1176).

The monthly Placement of Pullet Chicks for Hatchery Supply Flocks survey is conducted from the Poultry Section in NASS Headquarters. This specialized data is collected from the leading breeders who usually have facilities in several states. The data are collected at the national level only and are also published in the monthly Chickens and Eggs release.

Semi-Annual turkeys raised data are collected primarily by questionnaires mailed to producers on September 1 and on February 1. Telephone follow-up interviews are conducted of non-respondents in mid-September and mid-February to meet published release dates. The September data is published in the Turkeys Raised release at the end of September:

http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1498

The February data is published in the Poultry Production & Value annual summary in April:

http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1130

Annual hatchery capacity, chicken hatchery, and chicken and egg grower’s data are collected primarily by questionnaires mailed in late December. Telephone follow-ups are completed in January to meet the various due dates. The annual publications are Hatchery Production:

http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1499,

and the Chickens and Eggs Annual Summary:

http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1509,

These publications also include data from the monthly surveys.

Poultry data are also published in the Agricultural Prices Summary

(http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1003)

and in the Cold Storage monthly and annual reports

(http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1034).

Data Collection and Publication
Survey	Data Collection			Publication
	Timing	Survey Period	Reference Date	Date of Release	Name of Release
Hatchery Capacity	Annual	Jan	Jan 1st	Apr 15th -19th	Annual Hatchery Production
Placement of Pullet Chicks for Hatchery Supply Flocks	Monthly	10th -22nd	Previous month	Monthly: around the 22nd of each month, and annually: mid-April	Monthly Chickens and Eggs and Annual Hatchery Production
Chicken Hatchery – Broiler Type	Weekly	Sat -Tues	Previous week ending on Saturday	Weekly: Wed.	Weekly Broiler Hatchery and Monthly Chickens and Eggs
Chicken Hatchery – Egg Type	Monthly	1st -18th	Previous month	Around the 22nd	Monthly Chickens and Eggs
Chicken and Egg Report	Dec	1st-15th	First of the month and previous month	Around the 22nd	Monthly Chickens and Eggs
	Jan-Nov				Chicken and Eggs Annual Summary
Turkey Hatcheries	Monthly	1st-12th	First of the month and previous month	Around the 15th	Monthly Turkey Hatchery
				Mid April	Annual Hatchery Production
Turkeys Raised	Semi-Annual	Feb.	Previous year	April	Poultry Production and Values
		Sept	Current year	September	Turkeys Raised

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.

There is no request for approval of non-display of the expiration date.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in Item 19, “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions” of OMB Form 83-I.

There are no exceptions to the certification statement.

November 2015

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