[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20508-20509]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11298]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Economic Research Service


Notice of Intent To Extend a Currently Approved Information 
Collection

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Economic Research Service's (ERS) intention to 
extend a currently approved information collection in support of the 
annual ERS report on cotton ginning charges, harvesting practices, and 
selected marketing costs.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by no later than July 
11, 1996.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Fred Hoff, Associate 
Director, Information Services Division, Economic Research Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1301 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, 
DC 20005-4788, (202) 219-0511.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

    Title: Cotton Ginning Charges, Harvesting Practices and Selected 
Marketing Costs.
    OMB Number: 0536-0001.
    Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 1996.
    Type of Request: Intent to extend currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Information on cotton ginning charges and harvesting 
practices has been collected annually from U.S. cotton gins by the 
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) since 1957. This 
information is used by the USDA and cotton industry participants as a 
primary source of data for planning and analysis, and is not available 
in any form elsewhere. Results are shown for each cotton growing state 
detailing charges paid by producers for ginning services, the 
proportion of the crop harvested by different harvesting technologies, 
and the average volume of seed cotton needed to yield a standard 480-
pound net-weight bale. Also, information is provided on the methods of 
temporary seed cotton storage used in each state. All required 
information is collected from cotton gins on a simple one-page 
questionnaire with a postage-paid return envelope enclosed.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 10 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Private owned or cooperative cotton ginning facilities 
located in 14 states.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,300.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 217 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Edward 
H. Glade, Jr., Commercial Agriculture Division, ERS, (202) 219-1286.

Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) 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; (b) 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; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (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. Comments may be sent to: Fred 
Hoff, Associate Director, Information Services Division, Economic 
Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1301 New York Avenue, 
NW., Washington, DC 20005-4788, (202) 219-0511.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval.
    All comments will also become a matter of public record.


[[Page 20509]]


    Signed at Washington, DC., April 18, 1996.
Susan Offutt,
Administrator, Economic Research Service.
[FR Doc. 96-11298 Filed 5-6-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-18-M