Document Headings

                    Document headings vary by document type but may contain                    the following:                  
                -                       the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document                    
                -                       the number of the CFR title and the number of each part                      the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly                      related to                    
                -                       the agency docket number / agency internal file number                    
                -                       the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in                      the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory                      Actions                    

                    See the                                          Document Drafting Handbook                                        for more details.                  

###### Department of Agriculture

###### Agricultural Marketing Service

          - [Doc. No. AMS-CN-23-0072]

# AGENCY:

Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

# ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

# SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget for an extension of and revision to the currently approved information collection Cotton Classification and Market News Service.

# DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by February 20, 2024 to be assured consideration.

# ADDRESSES:

                        Written comments may be submitted via mail or hand delivery to Cotton Research and Promotion, Cotton and Tobacco Program, AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 22406. All comments received will be posted without change, including any personal information provided, at                         *https://www.regulations.gov*                         and will be included in the record and made available to the public. Please do not include personally identifiable information (such as name, address, or other contact information) or confidential business information that you do not want publicly disclosed. Comments may be submitted anonymously. All comments received will be made available for public inspection at Cotton and Tobacco Program, AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 22406. A copy of this document may be found at:                         *https://www.regulations.gov.*

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Shethir M. Riva, Director, Research and Promotion, Cotton and Tobacco Program, AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 22406, Telephone (540) 361-2726, Facsimile (540) 361-1199, or Email at                         *CottonRP@usda.gov.*

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

*Title:*                     Cotton Classification and Market News Service.                

*OMB Number:*                     0581-0009.                

*Expiration Date of Approval:*                     March 31, 2024.                

*Type of Request:*                     Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection.                

*Abstract:*                     The Cotton Classification and Market News Service program provides market information on cotton prices, quality, stocks, demand and supply to growers, ginners, merchandisers, textile mills and the public for their use in making sound business decisions. The Cotton Statistics and Estimates Act (7 U.S.C. 471-476), authorizes and directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (a) Collect and publish annually, statistics or estimates concerning the grades and staple lengths of stocks of cotton, known as the carryover, on hand on the 1st of August 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 current crop (7 U.S.C. 471) and (b) Collect, authenticate, publish and distribute by radio, mail, or otherwise, timely information of the market supply, demand, location, and market prices of cotton (7 U.S.C. 473b). The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) authorizes and directs the Secretary of Agriculture to collect and disseminate 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 bringing about a balance between production and utilization of agricultural products.                

The information collection requirements in this request are essential to carry out the intent of the Acts and to provide the cotton industry the type of information they need to make sound business decisions. The information collected is the minimum required. Information is requested from growers, cooperatives, merchants, manufacturers, and other government agencies. This includes information on cotton, cottonseed and cotton linters.

The information collected is used only by authorized employees of the USDA, AMS. The cotton industry is the primary user of the compiled information and AMS and other government agencies are secondary users.

*Estimate of Burden:*                     Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.13 hours per response.                

*Respondents:*                     Cotton Merchandisers, Textile Mills, Ginners.                

*Estimated Number of Respondents:*                     635.                

*Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent:*                     6.57.                

*Estimated Number of Responses:*                     4,175.                

*Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents:*                     540.                

*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. Comments may be sent to Shethir M. Riva, Director, Research and Promotion, Cotton and Tobacco Program, AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22406, Telephone (540) 361-2726, Facsimile (540) 361-1199, or Email at                     *CottonRP@usda.gov.*                     All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All                           ( print page 88361)                        comments will become a matter of public record.                

Melissa Bailey,

Associate Administrator,  Agricultural Marketing Service.

[FR Doc. 2023-28074 Filed 12-20-23; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE P