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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 9, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48796-48797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20113]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-LS-11-0065]

Plan for Estimating Daily Livestock Slaughter Under Federal 
Inspection; Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. chapter 35), this document announces the Agricultural Marketing 
Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget, for an extension of the currently approved 
information collection used to compile and generate the Federally 
Inspected Estimated Daily Slaughter Report.

DATES: Comments must be received by October 11, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted electronically at http://www.regulations.gov. Comments may also be submitted to Jennifer Porter, 
Deputy Director, Livestock and Grain Market News Division, Livestock 
and Seed Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture; Stop 0252; 1400 Independence Avenue SW.; Room 2619-S; 
Washington, DC 20250-0252. All comments should reference document 
number AMS-LS-11-0065 and note the date and page number of this issue 
of the Federal Register.
    Submitted comments will be available for public inspection at 
http://www.regulations.gov or at the above address during regular 
business hours. Comments submitted in response to this

[[Page 48797]]

document will be included in the records and will be made available to 
the public. Please be advised that the identity of the individuals or 
entities submitting the comments will be made public on the Internet at 
the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Porter, Deputy Director, 
Livestock and Grain Market News Division, AMS, USDA, by telephone at 
(202) 720-6231, or via e-mail at Jennifer.Porter@ams.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Plan for Estimating Daily Livestock Slaughter Under Federal 
Inspection.
    OMB Number: 0581-0050.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 01-31-2012.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-
1627), section 203(g) directs and authorizes the collection and 
dissemination of marketing information including adequate outlook 
information, on a market area basis, for the purpose of anticipating 
and meeting consumer requirements, aiding in the maintenance of farm 
income, and to bring about a balance between production and 
utilization.
    Under this market news program, USDA issues a market news report 
estimating daily livestock slaughter under Federal inspection. This 
report is compiled by AMS on a voluntary basis in cooperation with the 
livestock and meat industry. Market news reporting must be timely, 
accurate, and continuous if it is to be useful to producers, 
processors, and the trade in general. The daily livestock slaughter 
estimates are provided at the request of industry and are used to make 
production and marketing decisions.
    The Daily Estimated Livestock Slaughter Under Federal Inspection 
Report is used by a wide range of industry contacts, including packers, 
processors, producers, brokers and retailers of meat and meat products. 
The livestock and meat industry requested that USDA issue slaughter 
estimates (daily and weekly), by species, for cattle, calves, hogs and 
sheep in order to assist them in making immediate production and 
marketing decisions and as a guide to the volume of meat in the 
marketing channel. The information requested from respondents includes 
their estimation of the current day's slaughter at their plant(s) and 
the actual slaughter for the previous day. Also, the Government is a 
large purchaser of meat and related products and this report assists 
other Government agencies in providing timely information on the 
quantity of meat entering the processing channels.
    The information must be collected, compiled, and disseminated by an 
impartial third-party, in a manner which protects the confidentiality 
of the reporting entity. AMS is in the best position to provide this 
service.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .0333 hours per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities, individuals or 
households, farms, and the Federal Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 72.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 18,720.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 260.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 624 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.
    All responses to this document will be summarized and included in 
the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: August 3, 2011.
David R. Shipman,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-20113 Filed 8-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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