0581-0009 Supporting Statement 2016 (02-23-2017)

2017 SUPPORTING STATEMENT

Cotton Classification and Market News Service

OMB NO. 0581-0009

A. Justification.

1. EXPLAIN THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAKE THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION NECESSARY. IDENTIFY ANY LEGAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS THAT NECESSITATE THE COLLECTION.

The Cotton Statistics and Estimates Act, 7 USC 471-476, authorizes and directs the Secretary of Agriculture, to:

a. Collect and publish annually, statistics or estimates concerning the grades and staple length of stocks of cotton, known as the carryover, on hand on the 1st of August of each year in warehouses and other establishments of every character in the continental U.S.; and following such publication each year, to publish at intervals, in his/her discretion, his/her estimate of the grades and staple length of cotton of the then current crop (7 USC 471).

b. Collect, authenticate, publish, and distribute by radio, mail, or otherwise, timely information of the market supply, demand, location, and market prices for cotton (7 USC 473B).

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.

The information required under 7 USC 471-476 is gathered on the following forms and will be used by the cotton industry and/or the USDA as outlined below:

1. Cotton on Hand in Mills (CN-110): This form is filled out by textile mills that process raw cotton to provide the number of bales of cotton and the quality of that cotton stored at the mill on August 1 each year. The quality of cotton in the carryover stocks along with the size or volume of the carryover is information that is needed and used by all segments of the cotton industry. The quality of raw cotton is an important factor in determining the end use of the commodity since textile mills manufacturing different products use different qualities of raw cotton. The quality of cotton in the carryover stocks along with the size or volume of the carryover is information that is needed and used by all segments of the cotton industry. Growers can use this information in making decisions relative to marketing their present crop and planning for the next one; cotton merchants can use the information in marketing decisions; and the mills that provide the data also use the combined data in planning their future purchase to cover their needs. Importers of U.S. cotton use the data in making their plans for purchases of U.S. cotton. In addition, other USDA agencies (Economic Research Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Farm Service Agency) can use the information on carryover stocks for calculating accurate projections and estimates used in policy decisions. Verbal requests are used for collecting data for this publication.

In recent years, however, there has not been enough participation and sources of information have been dwindling.

2. Cotton Sampling Inspection Report –Part 3 Market News (CN-59): This form is filled out by USDA, AMS Cotton and Tobacco Program employees who collect information verbally, in conjunction with other field work. Cotton and Tobacco Program’s personnel record cotton market news information obtained from ginners regarding disposition of current ginnings, qualities of cotton sold by farmers and prices received, and prices paid farmers for cottonseed. This information is used in market news reports to supplement and broaden market information received from other sources.

Cotton market news reports are used primarily by anyone who buys or sells cotton; this includes producers, merchants, commodity exchanges, cooperatives, and textile mills. Cotton and Tobacco Program price reports are also used by other government agencies and to establish value, on any given date, of cotton involved in insurance of legal claims. Prices paid for cotton vary widely and are determined by a complex interaction of such factors as quality, area of growth, location and costs of storage, transportation costs, and the type of manufactured products in demand and supply. All of these factors are subject to constant shifts as the market adjusts to changing economic factors. Data for the market news reports are solicited verbally by the Cotton and Tobacco Program market reporters without the completion of a Cotton and Tobacco Program form.

Part 3 of Form CN-59 is used to record cotton market news information obtained from ginners regarding disposition of current ginnings, qualities of cotton sold by farmers and prices received, and prices paid farmers for cottonseed. This information is used in market news reports to supplement and broaden market information received from other sources. The information is collected verbally, in conjunction with other field work and the form is filled out by Cotton and Tobacco Program personnel.

3. Cotton Market Canvass (Collected Verbally): USDA, AMS Cotton and Tobacco Program employees contact cotton merchants, brokers, cotton ginners, warehouse operators, county extension agents, and other knowledgeable persons to collect information on supply and demand, prices, quality, stocks, offerings, inquiries, sales (domestic and foreign), textile mill activity, crop development, and harvesting progress to be used in cotton market news reports. Data for the market news reports is solicited verbally by the Cotton and Tobacco Program market reporters without the completion of a Cotton and Tobacco Program form.

Cotton market news reports are used primarily by anyone who buys or sells cotton; this includes producers, merchants, commodity exchanges, cooperatives, and textile mills. Cotton and Tobacco Program price reports are also used by other government agencies and to establish value, on any given date, of cotton involved in insurance of legal claims. Prices paid for cotton vary widely and are determined by a complex interaction of such factors as quality, area of growth, location and costs of storage, transportation costs, and the type of manufactured products in demand and supply. All of these factors are subject to constant shifts as the market adjusts to changing economic factors.

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.

The forms in this information collection are part of the AMS Integrated eGovernment Report. AMS is committed to complying with the E-Government Act, which requires Government agencies in general to provide the public the option of submitting information or transacting business electronically to the maximum extent possible.

We are constantly exploring means of reducing the reporting burden. There is no technical or legal obstacle (of which we are aware) to reducing the burden. The bulk of the information is collected verbally. Some merchandisers provide information on the forms by electronic methods (Email). Also, Cotton and Tobacco Program verbally collects market information while conducting Sampling Inspections and records it on the Cotton Sampling Inspection Report (CN-59). Since this form is completed internally we have filed a justification for exemption not to provide it on the Internet for public submission.

4. DESCRIBE EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY DUPLICATION. SHOW SPECIFICALLY WHY ANY SIMILAR INFORMATION ALREADY AVAILABLE CANNOT BE USED OR MODIFIED FOR USE FOR THE PURPOSE(S) DESCRIBED IN ITEM 2 ABOVE.

There is no other Federal entity collecting this (or similar) information from cotton gins, mills, warehouses, etc.

5. IF THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION IMPACTS SMALL BUSINESSES OR OTHER SMALL ENTITIES (ITEM 5 OF THE OMB FORM 83-1), DESCRIBE THE METHODS USED TO MINIMIZE BURDEN.

Information collected is only the minimal amount needed to meet the needs for preparation of timely and accurate publications. The 752 respondents compose both large and small businesses. The information gathered is the same for both small and large entities and has no significant impact on small businesses. Out of the 752, the agency estimates 5 percent of producers and 90 percent of gins are small businesses.

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.

Since the cotton market is highly volatile and prices usually fluctuate daily, it would be impossible for the USDA to fulfill its responsibility to publish accurate and timely information of market conditions.

Elimination of this information collection would not permit the Cotton and Tobacco Program to carry out the mandates delineated in the Cotton Statistics and Estimates Act. In addition, it would be impossible for the USDA to carry out its responsibility to publish timely and accurate market news reports and the annual report (and subsequent interval reports) concerning the grades and staple length of stocks of cotton. This would leave the cotton industry without any centralized and organized entity for compiling and publishing data relevant to planning, forecasting, marketing, etc.

7. EXPLAIN ANY SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WOULD CAUSE AN INFORMATION COLLECTION TO BE CONDUCTED IN A MANNER:

- REQUIRING RESPONDENTS TO REPORT INFORMATION TO THE AGENCY MORE OFTEN THAN QUARTERLY;

Since prices may fluctuate daily, information is collected daily.

- REQUIRING RESPONDENTS TO PREPARE A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO A COLLECTION OF INFORMATION IN FEWER THAN 30 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF IT;

- REQUIRING RESPONDENTS TO SUBMIT MORE THAN AN ORIGINAL AND TWO COPIES OF ANY DOCUMENT;

- REQUIRING RESPONDENTS TO RETAIN RECORDS, OTHER THAN HEALTH, MEDICAL, GOVERNMENT CONTRACT, GRANT-IN-AID, OR TAX RECORDS FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS;

- IN CONNECTION WITH A STATISTICAL SURVEY, THAT IS NOT DESIGNED TO PRODUCE VALID AND RELIABLE RESULTS THAT CAN BE GENERALIZED TO THE UNIVERSE OF STUDY;

- REQUIRING THE USE OF A STATISTICAL DATA CLASSIFICATION THAT HAS NOT BEEN REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY OMB;

- THAT INCLUDES A PLEDGE OF CONFIDENTIALITY THAT IS NOT SUPPORTED BY AUTHORITY ESTABLISHED IN STATUE OR REGULATION, THAT IS NOT SUPPORTED BY DISCLOSURE AND DATA SECURITY POLICIES THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE PLEDGE, OR WHICH UNNECESSARILY IMPEDES SHARING OF DATA WITH OTHER AGENCIES FOR COMPATIBLE CONFIDENTIAL USE; OR

- REQUIRING RESPONDENTS TO SUBMIT PROPRIETARY TRADE SECRET, OR OTHER CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION UNLESS THE AGENCY CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT IT HAS INSTITUTED PROCEDURES TO PROTECT THE INFORMATION'S CONFIDENTIALITY TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

There are no other special circumstances. The collection of information is conducted in a manner consistent with the guidelines in 5 CFR1320.6

8. IF APPLICABLE, 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. SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS COMMENTS RECEIVED ON COST AND HOUR BURDEN.

The notice of information collection and request for comments was published in the Federal Register on October 21, 2016, Vol. 81 No. 204,

pages 72770-72771. The Agency did not receive any comments.

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.

CONSULTATION WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THOSE FROM WHOM INFORMATION IS TO BE OBTAINED OR THOSE WHO MUST COMPILE RECORDS SHOULD OCCUR AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 3 YEARS -- EVEN IF THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION ACTIVITY IS THE SAME AS IN PRIOR PERIODS. THERE MAY BE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAY PRECLUDE CONSULTATION IN A SPECIFIC SITUATION. THESE CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD BE EXPLAINED.

Since Market News information is collected from a variety of sources outside the agency, frequent consultations are conducted to ensure satisfaction with procedures and practices. Below are industry representatives. Note that these are the same as the previous information collection. These contacts are active in the industry, and the Cotton and Tobacco Program routinely contacts them because they represent the different segments of the cotton industry who utilize Cotton and Tobacco Program services and/or provide data.

Jordon Lea

Eastern Trading

(864) 233-0613

Claude Aker

Cal-Cot

(661) 395-5961

Gene Fry

Parkdale Mills

(704) 825-7993

9. EXPLAIN ANY DECISION TO PROVIDE ANY PAYMENT OR GIFT TO RESPONDENTS, OTHER THAN REMUNERATION OF CONTRACTORS OR GRANTEES.

We make no payment 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.

Confidentiality of information furnished by individual establishments is assured by the Cotton Statistics and Estimates Act (7 USC 472), and is well established with the respondents. There has never been a breach of this confidentiality.

11. PROVIDE ADDITIONAL JUSTIFICATION FOR ANY QUESTIONS OF A SENSITIVE NATURE, SUCH AS SEXUAL BEHAVIOR AND ATTITUDES, RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, AND OTHER MATTERS THAT ARE COMMONLY CONSIDERED PRIVATE. THIS JUSTIFICATION SHOULD INCLUDE THE REASONS WHY THE AGENCY CONSIDERS THE QUESTIONS NECESSARY, THE SPECIFIC USES TO BE MADE OF THE INFORMATION, THE EXPLANATION TO BE GIVEN TO PERSONS FROM WHOM THE INFORMATION IS REQUESTED, AND ANY STEPS TO BE TAKEN TO OBTAIN THEIR CONSENT.

Questions of a sensitive nature are not found in this information collection.

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. UNLESS DIRECTED TO DO SO, AGENCIES SHOULD NOT CONDUCT SPECIAL SURVEYS TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ON WHICH TO BASE HOUR BURDEN ESTIMATES. CONSULTATION WITH A SAMPLE (FEWER THAN 10) OF POTENTIAL RESPONDENTS IS DESIRABLE. IF THE HOUR BURDEN ON RESPONDENTS IS EXPECTED TO VARY WIDELY BECAUSE OF DIFFERENCE IN ACTIVITY, SIZE, OR COMPLEXITY, SHOW THE RANGE OF ESTIMATED HOUR BURDEN, AND EXPLAIN THE REASONS FOR THE VARIANCE. GENERALLY, ESTIMATES SHOULD NOT INCLUDE BURDEN HOURS FOR CUSTOMARY AND USUAL BUSINESS PRACTICES.

The total number of respondents is 752 with 4,854 responses. Frequency of response ranges from 1 time per year to 18 times per year. Frequency of response varies by the type of information being collected. Since the cotton market is highly volatile and prices usually fluctuate daily, respondents that supply information on prices and market conditions are contacted about once every two weeks, resulting in a higher number of responses per respondent. Information collected on the Cotton Sampling Inspection Report - Part 3 Market News, CN-59, is collected each time Cotton and Tobacco Program employees make sampling inspections at gins. The Cotton on Hand at Mills, CN-110, is for an annual report. The hour burden per respondent ranges from .018 to .5 hours per response. The annual hour burden was calculated by average actual response time since most of the information is collected verbally. The annual response time was estimated using the average time to enter the data on the sheet from a computer print-out readily available to most respondents. Respondents may, at their option simply provide a computer print out and many do. The print-out is a report generally done as a routine business practice.

- 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 83.1.

Estimate of the burden of the collection of information has been summarized on the AMS-71, enclosed.

- PROVIDE ESTIMATES OF ANNUALIZED COST TO RESPONDENTS FOR THE HOUR BURDENS FOR COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION, IDENTIFYING AND USING APPROPRIATE WAGE RATE CATEGORIES. THE COST OF CONTRACTING OUT OR PAYING OUTSIDE PARTIES FOR INFORMATION COLLECTION ACTIVITIES SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED HERE. INSTEAD, THIS COST SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN ITEM 14.

Estimated annualized cost to respondents involves primarily only the amount of time involved in the collection since the data is current and, by nature of the respondent’s position in cotton merchandising, the information is either given from memory or is readily at hand.

Estimated respondent cost per year is: $24,432.01.

Estimated as follows:

Annual Salary = $82,260

Salary per week (52 wks) = $1581.92 per week

Salary per hour (40 hrs) = $39.55 per hour

617.75 hours per year = $24,432.01

The hourly wages as quoted above were obtained from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics News Release, “Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2015,” published March 30, 2016 (USDL 16-0661). This publication can be found at the following website:  http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ocwage.pdf. 

(National estimates for Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products, Mean annual wage.)

13. PROVIDE AN ESTIMATE OF THE TOTAL ANNUAL COST BURDEN TO RESPONDENTS OR RECORDKEEPERS RESULTING FROM THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION. (DO NOT INCLUDE THE COST OF ANY HOUR BURDEN SHOWN IN ITEMS 12 AND 14).

- THE COST ESTIMATE 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. THE ESTIMATES SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH GENERATING, MAINTAINING, AND DISCLOSING OR PROVIDING THE INFORMATION. INCLUDE DESCRIPTIONS OF METHODS USED TO ESTIMATE MAJOR COST FACTORS INCLUDING SYSTEM AND TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION, EXPECTED USEFUL LIFE OF CAPITAL EQUIPMENT, THE DISCOUNT RATE(S), AND THE TIME PERIOD OVER WHICH COSTS WILL BE INCURRED. CAPITAL AND START-UP COSTS INCLUDE, AMONG OTHER ITEMS, PREPARATIONS FOR COLLECTING INFORMATION SUCH AS PURCHASING COMPUTERS AND SOFTWARE; MONITORING, SAMPLING, DRILLING AND TESTING EQUIPMENT; AND RECORD STORAGE FACILITIES.

- IF COST ESTIMATES ARE EXPECTED TO VARY WIDELY, AGENCIES SHOULD PRESENT RANGES OF COST BURDENS AND EXPLAIN THE REASONS FOR THE VARIANCE. THE COST OF PURCHASING OR CONTRACTING OUT INFORMATION COLLECTION SERVICES SHOULD BE A PART OF THIS COST BURDEN ESTIMATE. IN DEVELOPING COST BURDEN ESTIMATES, AGENCIES MAY CONSULT WITH A SAMPLE OF RESPONDENTS (FEWER THAN 10), UTILIZE THE 60-DAY PRE-OMB SUBMISSION PUBLIC COMMENT PROCESS AND USE EXISTING ECONOMIC OR REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RULEMAKING CONTAINING THE INFORMATION COLLECTION, AS APPROPRIATE.

- GENERALLY, ESTIMATES SHOULD NOT INCLUDE PURCHASES OF EQUIPMENT OR SERVICES, OR PORTIONS THEREOF, MADE: (1) PRIOR TO OCTOBER 1, 1995, (2) TO ACHIEVE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE INFORMATION COLLECTION, (3) FOR REASONS OTHER THAN TO PROVIDE INFORMATION OR KEEPING RECORDS FOR THE GOVERNMENT, OR (4) AS PART OF CUSTOMARY AND USUAL BUSINESS OR PRIVATE PRACTICES.

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. ALSO, PROVIDE A DESCRIPTION OF THE METHOD USED TO ESTIMATE COST, WHICH SHOULD INCLUDE QUANTIFICATION OF HOURS, OPERATION EXPENSES (SUCH AS EQUIPMENT, OVERHEAD, PRINTING, AND SUPPORT STAFF), AND ANY OTHER EXPENSE THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INCURRED WITHOUT THIS COLLECTION OF INFORMATION. AGENCIES ALSO MAY AGGREGATE COST ESTIMATES FROM ITEMS 12, 13, AND 14 IN A SINGLE TABLE.

The estimated annual cost to the Federal government, which includes salaries, benefits, travel, rent, communication, supplies, equipment, etc. to administer this regulation is $2,276,000. The cost was developed by estimating the number of hours that the Agency employees will spend providing oversight and assistance for the collection, verification, computation, assembly, tabulation, checking and disseminating market news collected.

Estimated Annual Cost to Federal Government for FY 2016:

Salaries and benefits for 16 GS-5 through GS-14 employees	$1,753,000
Travel	$31,000
Rent Communications & Utilities	$305,000
Transportation of things and printing	$1,000
Contractual Services	$36,000
Supplies and materials	$7,000
Equipment	$12,000
Program Overhead	$131,000
Total	$2,276,000

15. EXPLAIN THE REASON FOR ANY PROGRAM CHANGES OR ADJUSTMENTS REPORTED IN ITEMS 13 OR 14 OF THE OMB FORM 83-1.

There is an overall decrease of 34.97 burden hours since the last submission. There is a slight increase in respondents due to an increase of contacts as part of the Market News Canvass. There also was a decrease in the number of responses per respondent, down from 20 to 18. There was a decrease of 10 respondents for CN-59. This decrease represents a decrease in the average number of gins operating during the past two cotton crop years.

PREVIOUS NEW TYPE OF

REG. NO. REASON BURDEN BURDEN DIFFERENCE CHANGE

28.904 Increase in 528.52 hrs. 508.25 hours. - 20.27 hrs. ADJ

7 USC 473B respondents but

Decrease in

No. of Responses

Per Respondent

28.904 CN-59 decrease 116.20 hrs. 101.50 hrs. - 14.70 hrs. ADJ

7USC 473B in respondents

Total - 34.97

PC = Program Change ADJ = Adjustment

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.

This information is collected weekly from respondents who volunteer to provide it. Data is compiled by Growth area, averaged and adjusted for changes in the NY futures market. Published each Friday.

7 USC 71 Cotton On Hand at Mills, Form CN-110

Collected from 16 randomly selected mills from list of mills provided by the Farm Service Agency. Data is compiled and raised to Department of Commerce “carryover” data. Published each October for carryover stocks at mill as of August 1.

28.904 Cotton Market Canvass

7 USC 473B (Collected verbally)

Collected on a daily basis from volunteer individuals and firms involved in buying and selling of cotton. Number of respondents varies from day to day and week to week depending on marketing activity. Prices collected are compiled, compared with previously published cotton quotations, adjusted if necessary and published. Daily report that is compiled and summarized on a monthly and annual basis.

28.904 Cotton Sampling Inspection Report, Form CN-59

7 USC 473B (Part 3 Market News)

(Collected verbally)

Program personnel contact ginners in the course of their work related to cotton grading. They obtain general market information including cottonseed prices. Prices are averaged and published weekly.

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 some confusion to respondents thinking their annual applications are good for the length of time noted in the expiration date rather than expiring at the end of their application period. Therefore, the Cotton and Tobacco Program is seeking approval to not display the OMB expiration date on the forms associated with this information collection.

18. EXPLAIN EACH EXCEPTION TO THE CERTIFICATION STATEMENT IDENTIFIED IN ITEM 19, "CERTIFICATION FOR PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT SUBMISSIONS," OF OMB FORM 83-1.

“The agency is able to certify compliance with all provisions under Item 19 of OMB Form 83-1.”

B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

The information collection does not employ statistical methods.

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