Overview
Title
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Department of Agriculture wants to ask people questions about how schools use local farms for food, and they are checking with another group called the Office of Management and Budget to make sure it's okay. They want people to share their thoughts on this idea by the end of April 2025.
Summary AI
The Department of Agriculture has submitted an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. They are seeking public comments on various aspects of this collection, including its necessity and the burden it imposes. This effort pertains to the 2027 Farm to School Census, which is a nationwide survey that gathers data on farm-to-school activities. The information collected will help assess the participation levels and support sources for these programs, and guide future USDA priorities and outreach. Public comments on the notice are accepted until April 25, 2025.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document titled "Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request" by the Department of Agriculture, as published in the Federal Register, details a submission for review and clearance by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This submission pertains to the 2027 Farm to School Census data collection initiative, part of a broader effort to assess and support farm-to-school activities across the United States.
Overview
The Department of Agriculture seeks public feedback on the proposed information collection, which is mandated by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The 2027 Farm to School Census aims to gather comprehensive data from school food authorities (SFAs) on their participation in farm-to-school activities, such as the procurement of local foods. This information is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of current programs and shaping the USDA's future outreach and support strategies.
Issues and Concerns
A notable gap in the document is the absence of an abstract, which would ordinarily provide a concise summary of the document's purpose and content. This omission could hinder readers' quick understanding of the document's context and objectives.
The document does not sufficiently detail how the collected data will directly benefit SFAs participating in the Farm to School program. For stakeholders, this may cause concerns regarding the practical application of their efforts in providing data.
Additionally, there are no clear criteria outlined for how the information collected will influence the allocation of funding or resources to various SFAs. This lack of transparency might raise questions about potential biases or inequities in distributing support.
The document does not address privacy measures or how sensitive data collected from SFAs will be managed or protected, a significant concern for participants who prioritize data confidentiality.
The language used to describe the "Frequency of Responses" as "Once, Annually" could add unnecessary confusion. Typically, this information is described directly as "Annually" or "Once a year." Such ambiguity could lead to misunderstandings for those completing the responses.
Furthermore, the document instructs the public on how to submit comments via an online platform. However, the process is described in a way that may be challenging for individuals unfamiliar with the system, potentially deterring valuable public participation.
Public and Stakeholder Impact
Broad Public Impact:
The document aims to enhance the Farm to School program by using collected data to inform future USDA priorities. This initiative can ultimately lead to improved food and agriculture education nationwide and better access to local foods within schools. Such benefits may indirectly enhance community health and economic support for local farmers.
Stakeholder Impact:
For state, local, and tribal governments, as well as businesses involved in the Farm to School program, the data collection serves as a benchmark to measure their contribution and engagement. These entities could potentially benefit from a clearer understanding of national trends and support needs.
However, without clear guidelines on how the collected data will directly affect funding or how privacy will be ensured, stakeholders may feel uncertain about the return on their time and the data's value to them. This hesitation might affect their level of engagement and openness in future Census rounds.
Overall, while the initiative has the potential to support valuable improvements in farm-to-school engagements, clarifications on data usage, privacy protections, and mechanisms for equitable resource distribution are needed to address key stakeholder concerns and foster broader public trust and participation.
Issues
• The abstract section in the metadata is null, which might omit important information for readers to understand the context or summary of the document.
• The document does not provide detailed information on how the collected data will be specifically used to benefit participating SFAs in the Farm to School program.
• There is no mention of the specific criteria for how information collected will impact funding or resources allocated to different SFAs, which might raise concerns about potential biases or inequities.
• The document does not address potential privacy concerns related to how data from SFAs, including potentially sensitive information, will be protected or managed.
• The language describing the 'Frequency of Responses' as 'Once, Annually' could be considered confusing; typically, responses are described as either 'Annually' or 'Once a year.', not both.
• The process for submitting comments is described in a way that might be difficult for someone unfamiliar with the system to understand, particularly the steps regarding using the website and finding the correct section.