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contains documents other than rules or

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Notices Federal Register

28726 

Vol. 76, No. 96 

Wednesday, May 18, 2011 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

[Doc. No. AMS–LS–11–0035] 

Grain Market News Reports; Request 

for Extension of a Currently Approved 

Information Collection 

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, 

USDA. 

ACTION: Request for comments. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 

U.S.C. Chapter 35), this Notice 

announces the Agricultural Marketing 

Service’s (AMS) intention to request 

approval from the Office of Management 

and Budget (OMB) for an extension of 

the currently approved information 

collection used to compile and generate 

grain market news reports. 

DATES: Comments must be received by 

July 18, 2011. 

ADDRESSES: Comments should be 

submitted electronically at http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Comments may 

also be submitted to Mike Lynch, Chief, 

Livestock and Grain Market News 

Branch, 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 docket 

number AMS–LS–11–0035 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 

Notice 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: 

Mike Lynch, Chief, Livestock and Grain 

Market News Branch, AMS, USDA, by 

telephone at (202) 720–6231, or e-mail 

at: Michael.Lynch@ams.usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Grain Market News Reports. 

OMB Number: 0581–0005. 

Expiration Date of Approval: 11–30– 

2011. 

Type of Request: Extension of a 

currently approved information 

collection. 

Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing 

Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621—1627) 

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. 

The grain industry has requested that 

USDA continue to issue market news 

reports on grain. These reports are 

compiled by AMS on a voluntary basis 

in cooperation with the grain and feed 

industry. Market news reporting must 

be timely, accurate, and continuous if it 

is to be useful to producers, processors, 

and other stakeholders. Industry traders 

can use market news information to 

make marketing decisions on when and 

where to buy and sell. For example, a 

producer could compare prices being 

paid at local, terminal, or export 

elevators to determine which location 

will provide the best return. Some 

traders might choose to chart prices over 

a period of time in order to determine 

the most advantageous day of the week 

to buy or sell, or to determine the most 

favorable season. In addition, the 

reports are used by other Government 

agencies to evaluate market conditions 

and calculate price levels, such as 

USDA’s Farm Service Agency that 

administers the Farmer-owned Reserve 

Program. Economists at most major 

agricultural colleges and universities 

use the grain and feed market news 

reports to make short and long-term 

market projections. Also, the 

Government is a large purchaser of grain 

and related products. A system to 

monitor the collection and reporting of 

data is crucial to ensuring fair and 

equitable prices are paid. 

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 forprofit entities, individuals or 

households, farms, and the Federal 

Government. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

160. 

Estimated Number of Responses: 

1,680. 

Estimated Number of Responses per 

Respondent: 11. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: 56 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: May 12, 2011. 

David R. Shipman, 

Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing 

Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–12142 Filed 5–17–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P 


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