Overview
Title
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Department of Agriculture wants to ask people questions about farms to learn more about farming, and they asked for everyone's ideas on how to do it better. They will work with schools and other farm helpers to make sure they don't ask the same questions too many times.
Summary AI
The Department of Agriculture is seeking public comments on a proposed information collection to be reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget. This collection, related to surveys by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), aims to gather data on various agricultural topics like farm management, food safety, and conservation practices. NASS will work with cooperators such as state departments of agriculture and land-grant universities to conduct these surveys. Responses are voluntary, and data collected will help update lists of farm operators and reduce duplicated survey efforts.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The Federal Register notice under consideration involves the Department of Agriculture's effort to engage the public in a comment period regarding a proposed information collection initiative. This initiative, stemming from the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), involves conducting surveys on various agricultural topics. Aimed at optimizing the agency's function, these surveys will seek to gather data relevant to farm management, food safety, conservation practices, and more. Feedback is invited on the necessity, accuracy, and feasibility of these surveys, and whether there are ways to improve them or reduce the burden on respondents.
General Summary
The notice outlines a proposal for a series of surveys conducted by NASS in collaboration with cooperative partners like state departments of agriculture and land-grant universities. These surveys will be voluntary, and the data collected will serve to update lists of farm operators and help streamline survey efforts. NASS aims to conduct up to 10 surveys annually on various topics within agriculture. The goal is for these surveys to generate high-quality agricultural data beneficial on both federal and local scales. Public comments are requested to refine this process and ensure transparency and efficiency.
Significant Issues
Several concerns arise from the document. Firstly, while broad topics for the surveys are mentioned, there is a lack of specificity regarding the kind of surveys that will be conducted, which may lead to ambiguity and concern among respondents and stakeholders. Additionally, the document fails to break down the financial aspects under the labeled "full-cost recovery basis," leaving a gap in understanding the economic implications of these surveys. Furthermore, the method by which NASS updates the list of farm operators lacks detailed explanation, raising questions about data accuracy and integrity.
Public Impact
For the general public, this document opens a pathway to contributing opinions on how the Department of Agriculture collects data that ultimately drives policy and decision-making. The correction and enhancement of this process can lead to more effective strategies that benefit agricultural sectors and, by extension, consumers who rely on agriculture for food and resources.
Impact on Stakeholders
Stakeholders, including state departments and land-grant universities, stand to benefit from improved coordination and reduced redundancy in survey efforts. However, the lack of clarity in specifics may impose challenges in participation and cooperation. Overlapping areas of concern such as food safety and conservation practices could prompt tailored approaches that better meet regional needs. For those involved in agricultural pursuits, these surveys promise protection of their data under federal laws while striving to ease their reporting burden. Yet, without clear insights into evaluation measures, the effectiveness of these surveys in shaping impactful agricultural policies remains uncertain.
Ultimately, while the initiative carries the potential for positive outcomes, the effective engagement of stakeholders through clearer guidance and detailed plans remains essential for achieving its objectives.
Issues
• The document does not clearly define what specific surveys will be conducted under the Quick Response for Cooperator-funded Surveys Generic Clearance, only broad topics are mentioned.
• The document lists multiple areas for potential surveys but does not provide detailed explanations or examples of what each topic might specifically cover, leaving room for ambiguous interpretation.
• There is no clear breakdown of the full costs involved in conducting these surveys, which could be indicated under the 'full-cost recovery basis'.
• The document mentions coordination of Federal survey activities to reduce redundancy, but does not provide specifics on how this reduction will be efficiently managed or measured.
• The role and qualifications of the cooperators are not fully explained, potentially raising concerns about why certain organizations are chosen for cooperative agreements.
• The methodology for updating the list of farm operators and ensuring its accuracy is not detailed, which could be important in evaluating the value and effectiveness of this initiative.
• While the number of respondents and total burden hours are provided, there is no context or comparison to previous years or similar initiatives to evaluate if these numbers are reasonable or efficient.
• The document does not provide insight into how the effectiveness of the surveys and subsequent decision-making based on their results will be evaluated.