Overview
Title
Notice of Intent To Request To Conduct a New Information Collection
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The government wants to ask farmers some questions about growing a plant called hemp to help make better rules. They're planning to send these questions to a lot of farmers and hope everyone answers quickly, like in 15 minutes!
Summary AI
The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is seeking approval to conduct a new information collection to gather data on hemp production. This initiative is in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and will help inform programs under the 2018 Farm Bill. The survey will target up to 20,000 farmers and ranchers, with an estimated burden of 15 minutes per response. Public comments on this proposed data collection must be submitted by April 26, 2021, to ensure consideration.
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to seek approval to conduct a new information collection to gather data related to the production of hemp.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document from the Federal Register outlines the National Agricultural Statistics Service's (NASS) plan to collect new information regarding hemp production. This effort is in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and is initiated under the broader framework of the 2018 Farm Bill, which defines and regulates hemp production in the United States. With this survey, NASS aims to gather data to support governmental and legislative requirements related to the agricultural sector, specifically targeting hemp.
General Summary
The document identifies a need to gather feedback from up to 20,000 farmers and ranchers concerning hemp acreage and production. This survey is framed as a necessary information collection to assist with various federal programs established under the 2018 Farm Bill. The call for comments invites the public to respond to specific queries around the necessity, accuracy, and utility of such a collection, with a submission deadline of April 26, 2021.
Significant Issues and Concerns
There are several issues worth noting in the notice. First, while the estimated burden on respondents is calculated at 15 minutes per response, the document lacks detailed information on the methodologies that will be employed in data collection. This omission reduces transparency regarding the operational execution of the survey.
Additionally, there is a general lack of clarity regarding the confidentiality and data security measures that will be taken, particularly significant given the variety of collection methods, including mail, internet, and phone. Without specific security assurances, potential respondents may be wary of participating.
Moreover, although the document provides a government-mandated definition of "hemp," a direct quote from the 2018 Farm Bill could aid in uniform understanding among all stakeholders, especially those unfamiliar with legal text.
Potential Impact on the Public
For the general public, this initiative may seem distant, but it plays a crucial role in the broader context of agricultural regulation and legislative compliance. The data collected will inform the implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill and shape the future regulations concerning hemp production. Accurate data benefits everyone by ensuring fair and effective governance.
Positive and Negative Impacts on Stakeholders
Positive Impacts:
Hemp Farmers and Ranchers: This survey presents an opportunity for those involved in hemp production to influence future agricultural policy and regulation. By participating, they can ensure that their operational realities are considered.
Regulatory Bodies: Collecting accurate data will assist NASS and other federal agencies in making informed decisions, potentially leading to more efficient and responsive agricultural policies.
Negative Impacts:
Privacy Concerns: Stakeholders might be concerned about the confidentiality of their responses due to omnipresent security issues with electronic and telephonic data collection.
Non-Representative Sampling: If the respondent pool is not representative of the entire hemp sector, the data collected may skew results, leading to potential policy missteps if assumptions about the production are inaccurate.
In conclusion, while the intentions behind this survey align with legislative and agricultural objectives, ensuring transparent methodologies, data security, and representative sampling will be critical for its success and acceptance by stakeholders.
Issues
• The notice provides an estimate of the burden of information collection but does not detail the specific processes or methodologies that will be used for data collection, which could provide more transparency.
• The definition of 'hemp' could be made clearer by directly quoting the specific language from the 2018 Farm Bill to ensure uniform understanding.
• While confidentiality is mentioned, there is no specific mention of how data security will be managed in the methods described for collection, such as mail, internet, and phone.
• The notice lacks information on how the results of the hemp production survey will be utilized beyond compliance with the Farm Bill requirements, which could enhance stakeholder understanding of its practical utility.
• The notice does not specify how it will ensure that the respondent pool of farmers and ranchers is representative of the total U.S. hemp production sector, which could affect the validity of the survey results.