This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

committee meetings, agency decisions and

rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

2813 

Vol. 79, No. 11 

Thursday, January 16, 2014 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Submission for OMB Review; 

Comment Request 

January 10, 2014. 

The Department of Agriculture has 

submitted the following information 

collection requirement(s) to OMB for 

review and clearance under the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 

Public Law 104–13. Comments 

regarding (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 to be 

collected; (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, or 

other technological collection 

techniques or other forms of information 

technology should be addressed to: Desk 

Officer for Agriculture, Office of 

Information and Regulatory Affairs, 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB), New Executive Office Building, 

725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 

20502. Commenters are encouraged to 

submit their comments to OMB via 

email to: OIRA_Submission@

omb.eop.gov or fax (202) 395–5806 and 

to Departmental Clearance Office, 

USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, 

Washington, DC 20250–7602. 

Comments regarding these information 

collections are best assured of having 

their full effect if received by February 

18, 2014. Copies of the submission(s) 

may be obtained by calling (202) 720– 

8681. 

An agency may not conduct or 

sponsor a collection of information 

unless the collection of information 

displays a currently valid OMB control 

number and the agency informs 

potential persons who are to respond to 

the collection of information that such 

persons are not required to respond to 

the collection of information unless it 

displays a currently valid OMB control 

number. 

Rural Housing Service 

Title: Single Family Housing 

Guaranteed Loan Program. 

OMB Control Number: 0575–0179. 

Summary of Collection: The Housing 

and Community Facilities Program 

(HCFP), herein referred to as the 

‘‘Agency,’’ is a credit agency for the 

Rural Housing Service (RHS) of the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture. The Agency 

offers supervised credit programs to 

build modest housing and essential 

community facilities in rural areas. 

Section 517(d) of Title V of the Housing 

Act of 1949, as amended, provides the 

authority for the Secretary to issue loan 

guarantees for the acquisition of new or 

existing dwellings and related facilities 

to provide decent, safe, and sanitary 

living conditions and other structures in 

rural areas. The Single Family Housing 

Guaranteed Loan Program (SFHGLP) 

was authorized under the CranstonGonzalez National Affordable Housing 

Act. The purpose of SFHGLP is to assist 

low and moderate-income individuals 

and families in acquiring or 

constructing a single-family residence in 

a rural area with loans made by private 

lenders. 

Need and Use of the Information: 

Information is collected from both a 

potential homebuyer and lender. To 

participate in the program, lenders must 

submit to standards which ensure the 

loan objectives of the SFHGLP are met. 

The lender submits qualifications to the 

Agency and enters into an agreement 

that outlines both the lender and 

Agency’s commitments and 

responsibilities under the guaranteed 

program. Information from a homebuyer 

includes financial documents such as 

confirmation of household income, 

assets and liabilities, a credit record, 

evidence the homebuyer has adequate 

repayment ability for the loan amount 

requested and if the condition and 

location of the property meet program 

guidelines. All information collected is 

vital for the Agency to determine if 

borrowers qualify for all assistance for 

which they are eligible. 

This is a reinstatement with changes 

of a previously approved collection. 

Description of Respondents: Business 

or other for-profit; State, Local or Tribal 

Government. 

Number of Respondents: 3,581. 

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: 

Monthly; Quarterly; Annually. 

Total Burden Hours: 789,139. 

Charlene Parker, 

Departmental Information Collection 

Clearance Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2014–00646 Filed 1–15–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–XV–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

[Doc. No. AMS–TM–13–0092] 

Notice of Request for a New Collection 

of Three Additional Marketing 

Channels for Local Food 

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, 

USDA. 

ACTION: Notice, new collection. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 

notice announces the Agricultural 

Marketing Service’s (AMS) intention to 

request approval of a new collection, 

titled: Local Food Directories and 

Survey, from the Office of Management 

and Budget (OMB). Upon approval, we 

request that this collection be merged 

into OMB 0581–0169, National Farmers 

Market Directory and Survey with 

Modules, which was approved April 19, 

2013. 

DATES: Comments on this document 

must be received by March 17, 2014 to 

be assured of consideration. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit written, 

faxed, or internet comments to: 

• Edward Ragland, Marketing 

Services Division, Transportation and 

Marketing Programs, Agricultural 

Marketing Service, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. 

SW., Room 4523 South Building, Ag 

Stop 0269, Washington, DC 20250– 

0269. 

• Internet: www.regulations.gov. 

• Fax: (202) 690–0031. 

All written comments should be 

identified with the document number 

AMS–TM–13–0092. All comments 

received will be available for public 

inspection during regular business 

hours at the same address. It is our 

intention to have all comments whether 


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2814 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 11 / Thursday, January 16, 2014 / Notices 

submitted by mail or internet available 

for viewing on the Regulations.gov 

(www.regulations.gov) Internet site. 

Comments submitted will also be 

available for public inspection in person 

at USDA–AMS, Transportation and 

Marketing Programs, Marketing Services 

Division, Room 4523-South Building, 

1400 Independence Ave. SW., 

Washington, DC, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon 

and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, (except official Federal 

holidays). Persons wanting to visit the 

USDA South Building to view 

comments received are requested to 

make an appointment in advance by 

calling (202) 720–8317. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Direct Marketing 

Title: Local Food Directories and 

Survey. 

OMB Number: 0581–New. 

Expiration Date of Approval: Three 

years from approval. 

Type of Request: New collection for 

three additional marketing channels for 

local food. 

Abstract: Under the Agricultural 

Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7 

U.S.C. 1621 et seq.), AMS is responsible 

for conducting research to enhance 

market access for small-and medium 

sized farmers. The role of the Marketing 

Services Division (MSD) of AMS is to 

facilitate distribution of U.S. 

agricultural products. The division 

identifies marketing opportunities, 

provides analysis to help take advantage 

of those opportunities and develops and 

evaluates solutions including improving 

farmers markets and other direct-to 

consumer marketing activities. 

On-farm markets, community 

supported agriculture (CSAs) as well as 

food hubs comprise an integral part of 

the urban/farm linkage and have 

continued to rise in popularity, mostly 

due to the growing consumer interest in 

obtaining fresh products directly from 

the farm. The use of these marketing 

channels has enabled farmers to receive 

a larger share of consumer’s food dollar. 

On-farm markets, community supported 

agriculture (CSAs) and food hubs allow 

consumers to have access to locally 

grown, farm fresh produce, enables 

farmers the opportunity to develop a 

personal relationship with their 

customers, and cultivate consumer 

loyalty with the farmers. They are also 

providing greater access to fresh locally 

grown fruits and vegetables, as well as 

playing increasing role in encouraging 

healthier eating. 

An on-farm market is an area of a 

facility affiliated with a farm where 

transactions between a farm market 

operator and customers take place. An 

on-farm market may operate seasonally 

or year-round. On-farm markets are an 

important component of direct 

marketing, adding value by offering 

customers a visit to the farm and the 

opportunity to purchase products from 

the people who grew them. 

CSA is a another type of foodproduction and direct marketing 

relationship between a farmer or farmers 

and a group consumers who purchase 

‘‘shares’’ of the season’s harvest in 

advance of the growing season. The upfront working capital generated by 

selling shares reduces the financial risk 

to the farmer(s). Generally farmers 

receive better prices for their crops and, 

reduced marketing costs. Consumers 

benefit by receiving weekly delivery of 

fresh locally-grown fruits, vegetables, 

meats, eggs and other produce. They 

also benefit from the ability to 

collectively support the sustainability of 

local farmers. 

Food hub is a business or organization 

that actively manages the aggregation, 

distribution, and marketing of sourceidentified food products primarily from 

local and regional producers to 

strengthen their ability to satisfy 

wholesale, retail, and institutional 

demand. This marketing channel also 

allows farm operators to capture a larger 

share of consumers’ food dollar. 

This information will be used to build 

three web-based directories and 

describe the characteristics of on-farm 

markets, CSAs, and food hubs and to 

identify trends in their communities. 

Topic areas in the survey: 

—Characteristics and history of on-farm 

markets, CSAs and food hubs, 

—types of products sold, including 

fresh, locally-grown produce, 

—location of the markets, 

—special events, 

—marketing methods, 

—participation in federal programs 

designed to increase consumption of 

fresh fruits, and vegetables. 

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting 

burden for this collection of information 

is estimated to average 0.167 hours per 

response. 

Respondents: Farm operators that 

operate on-farm stores, operators of 

Community Supported Agriculture, 

(CSA’s), farm operations, and operators 

of food hubs. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

56,750. 

Estimated Total Annual Responses: 

2,125. 

Estimated Number of Responses per 

Respondent: .037. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: 355 hours. 

Comments are invited on: (1) 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; (2) 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; (3) 

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected; and (4) ways to minimize the 

burden of the collection of information 

on those who are to respond, including 

the use of appropriate automated, 

electronic, mechanical, or other 

technological collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology. 

The information collected is used 

only by authorized employees of the 

USDA, AMS. 

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. 

Dated: January 10, 2014. 

Rex A. Barnes, 

Associate Administrator, Agricultural 

Marketing Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–00767 Filed 1–15–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

[Doc. #AMS–CN–13–0091] 

Recommendations of Advisory 

Committee on Universal Cotton 

Standards 

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, 

USDA. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing 

Service (AMS) held meetings of the 

Universal Cotton Standards Advisory 

Committee in Raleigh, North Carolina 

on June 19, 20 and 21, 2013. This notice 

announces the Advisory Committee’s 

recommendation to adopt USDA’s HVI 

(High Volume Instrument) Cotton Trash 

Standards as Universal Standards and to 

change the frequency of Universal 

Cotton Standards Conferences from 

once every three years to once every 

four years. The meeting agenda, 

minutes, and recommendations from the 

Advisory Committee are posted at the 

following Web address: http:// 

www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ 

AdvisoryCommitteeonUniversal

Standards. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before February 18, 2014. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 

invited to submit comments concerning 


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