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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 14 (Thursday, January 23, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8006-8007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-01610]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-TM-24-0073]

Request for Extension of an Information Collection--Agritourism 
Directory

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's 
(AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and 
Budget, for extension of a currently approved collection titled: 
Agritourism Directory, from the Office of Management and Budget 0581-
0332. Under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, AMS is 
responsible for conducting research to enhance market access for small 
and medium sized farmers. The role of the Local and Regional Foods 
Division of AMS is to facilitate the fair and efficient marketing of 
U.S. agricultural products. This information is used to populate the 
USDA's National Local Food Directories that assists customers looking 
to buy fresh local foods for their families to wholesale food buyers.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 24, 2025 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning 
this notice. Comments should be submitted online at https://www.regulations.gov or mailed to Americo Vega-Labiosa, Local and 
Regional Foods Division, Transportation and Marketing Program, 
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Ave. SW, Room 1529 South Building, Ag Stop 0264, 
Washington, DC 20250-0264. Comments should reference the document 
number and the date and page number of this issue of the Federal 
Register. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be 
included in the public record and can be viewed at: https://www.regulations.gov. Please be advised that the identity of the 
individuals or entities submitting the comments will be made public on 
the internet at the address provided above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Americo Vega-Labiosa, Local and 
Regional Foods Division, Transportation and Marketing Program, 
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Ave. SW, Room 1529 South Building, Ag Stop 0264, 
Washington, DC 20250-0264; Telephone: (202) 384-8936 or Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Agritourism Directory.
    OMB Number: 0581-0332.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2025.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.

[[Page 8007]]

    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 Local and Regional Foods Division (LFRD) 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 strategies including 
methods to diversify farming operations of direct from farm-to-customer 
enterprises.
    The definitions of farmers markets, on-farm markets, community-
supported agriculture (CSA), and food hubs, as utilized by AMS for the 
purposes of the Local Food Directories and Survey are listed below.
    An agritourism operation is a working farm, ranch, aquaculture and 
agroforestry. An agritourism directory is a list of working farms, 
ranches, aquaculture and agroforestry operations that provide education 
and recreation opportunities, active-involvement experiences (e.g., 
farming activities, processing), as well as retailing and hospitality 
(e.g., accommodations, dining) facilities and services for the 
enjoyment of visitors that generate supplemental income, create and 
grow farm product markets i.e., for local foods, and build 
understanding of agriculture. A working farm, ranch, aquaculture or 
agroforestry operation is defined as an area of land and buildings, or 
water (ponds, lakes, rivers, oceans), including within and around 
cities, that is currently being utilized to raise and grow domesticated 
animals, plants, trees, and freshwater and marine fish and shellfish, 
for food and beverages, including vegetables, fruits, herbs, meats, 
dairy products, oils, cereals, fish and shellfish, and products for 
direct sales to customers, and/or immediate consumption or enjoyment of 
customers, that are grown or processed there (e.g., Christmas trees, 
pinyon seeds, ginseng, wool, wine, beer, cheeses, nursery plants).
    An on-farm market is a single farm operation that sells 
agricultural and/or horticultural products directly to customers on its 
farm property or on property adjacent to its farm. Most products sold 
at the on-farm market are either grown on the proprietor's farm or are 
sourced from neighboring farms. 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.
    A CSA enterprise is defined as a farm or network/association of 
multiple farms that offer customers regular (usually weekly) deliveries 
of locally-grown farm products during one or more harvest season(s) on 
a subscription or membership basis. Customers have access to a selected 
share or range of farm products offered by a single farm or group of 
farmers based on partial or total advance payment of a subscription or 
membership fee. The up-front working capital generated by selling 
shares reduces the financial risk to the farmer(s). Generally, farmers 
receive better prices for their crops and have reduced marketing costs. 
Consumers benefit by receiving a periodic (usually 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.
    A food hub is a business or organization that actively manages the 
aggregation, distribution, and marketing of source-identified food 
products to multiple buyers from multiple producers, primarily local 
and regional producers, to strengthen the ability of these producers to 
satisfy local and regional 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 continue building the USDA 
National Local Food Directories describing the characteristics of local 
food operations and working farms.
    Topic areas in the survey:

--Characteristics of local food business
--Contact information
--Types of products sold
--Location of the business
--Operation schedule
--Activities

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 5 minutes per entry.
    Respondents: Local food businesses listing their information on 
USDA National Local Food Directories
    Estimated Number of Potential Respondents: 15,000.
    Estimated Total Potential Annual Responses to all Surveys: 500.
    Maximum Estimated Total Annual Burden on All Respondents: 1,250 
hours.
    Comments: 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 notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

Melissa Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-01610 Filed 1-22-25; 8:45 am]
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