2019 SUPPORTING STATEMENT
OMB NO. 0581-0033
EXPLAIN THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAKE THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION NECESSARY. IDENTIFY ANY LEGAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS THAT NECESSITATE THE COLLECTION.
The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) (AMA), as amended, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture "to collect and disseminate marketing information, including adequate outlook information on a market-area basis, for the purpose of anticipating and meeting consumer requirements, aiding in the maintenance of farm income, and bringing about a balance between production, and utilization of agricultural products." The collection of information in this request is based on the AMA, title II, subtitle A, § 203, principally, paragraphs (b), (g), and (k) that direct the Secretary of Agriculture to determine agricultural marketing costs and develop efficient marketing methods to reduce the price spread between producer and consumer; to collect and disseminate marketing information to bring about a balance between production and utilization of agricultural products; and to collect, tabulate, and disseminate agricultural marketing statistics.
Under this authority, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News (LPGMN) Division works to provide current nationwide coverage of prices, supply, demands, trends, movement, and other pertinent information affecting the trade of livestock, poultry, meat, eggs, grain, and their related products, as well as locally produced and marketed products. The information requested is used to compile and disseminate market reports that provide current, unbiased, and factual information to all stakeholders in the U.S. agricultural industry. Market News reports assist producers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, and others to make informed decisions concerning production, purchasing, and sales.
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35 (1995 Act), AMS requests approval for an extension of the currently approved information collection in order to describe the reporting and recordkeeping burden associated with the 1995 Act.
INDICATE HOW, BY WHOM, AND FOR WHAT PURPOSE THE INFORMATION IS TO BE USED. EXCEPT FOR A NEW COLLECTION, INDICATE THE ACTUAL USE THE AGENCY HAS MADE OF THE INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE CURRENT COLLECTION.
Market News reports of the AMS Livestock and Poultry Program’s (LP) Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News (LPGMN) Division provide industry stakeholders and the general public with comprehensive and unbiased livestock, poultry, meat, eggs, wool, and grain market data which help equalize the competitive position of all market participants. The issuance of timely information about market trends ensures efficient marketing and distribution of the nation’s food supply to the benefit of producers and consumers alike. All LPGMN reports are available free to the public at https://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/livestock-poultry-grain. These reports receive approximately 4.5 million page views each year with an estimated 1.3 million custom reports generated by the public. Additionally, reports are sent via e-mail to subscribers who specifically request this information.
LPGMN reporters communicate with buyers and sellers of livestock, poultry, meat, wool, grain, and egg commodities on a daily basis through the use of telephone conversations, face-to-face meetings, facsimile transmissions, and electronic mail messages in order to collect the data. Market information solicited from respondents includes supply, demand, trade activity, prices, volume, market conditions, and quotations by class, grade, and/or weight affecting the trade of livestock, poultry, meat, eggs, grain, and their related products, as well as locally produced and marketed products. Price data, trends, and volume in direct trading are obtained by telephone conversations, face-to-face meetings, facsimile transmissions, and electronic mail messages with buyers or sellers. Livestock and hay auction data is compiled by LPGMN reporters being physically present at the market to grade animals. The physical presence of the market reporter at the market is crucial in that it allows the reporter to not only have a better opportunity to grade the animals, but it also allows them to witness and converse with the trade to gain a better understanding of the market that day.
LPGMN reports are used primarily by the livestock, poultry, wool, grain, hay, and egg industries to determine future production and marketing projections. Federal agencies involved in food purchase programs and institutional buying rely on LPGMN reports as a source of supply and price data, to make policy decisions, settle trade discrepancies, and perform a variety of other functions. Other USDA agencies including the Foreign Agricultural Service, Economic Research Service, and the National Agricultural Statistics Service use Market News reports to track prices, market conditions, and agricultural productivity, and to serve as indicators of economic growth. LPGMN reports are often used in value determination settlements, contracting, and to resolve international trade disputes. Economists, investors, and agricultural analysts use Market News reports to make financial decisions based on available supplies and current pricing. LPGMN reports are also widely used by the private sector including producers, farmers, processors, distributors, retailers, restaurants, consultants, brokers, forecasters, and transportation, financial, and educational institutions. Also, during the aftermath of catastrophic events, LPGMN reports are a critical resource of information for government policymakers as a source of shared information with producers, shippers, transportation companies, and others.
The following form, LP-90 Monthly Dried Egg Solids Stocks Report, is used in the collection of inventory information from commercial dried egg product plants in the United States. Data from this form is entered into a database creating a universal vehicle to keep market trend information proprietary, but publically available.
Since the form was last updated, the AMS Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program (LPS) reorganized to form the AMS Livestock and Poultry Program (LP). Therefore, the form number in this collection package is changing from LPS-90 to LP-90 to reflect the new program acronym LP (Livestock and Poultry Program).
Monthly Dried Egg Solids Stocks Report (LP-90): Data is collected by LPGMN reporters from commercial dried egg products plants throughout the United States. The information is then assembled, summarized, and disseminated monthly to interested parties by email subscription and internet posting. The monthly release includes total pounds of egg products, by class, in cooperating firms’ possession at the close of the inventory month, and a percentage change from the previous month and previous year. The report provides information on stocks of dried egg solids on hand which may have a substantial bearing on prices and output of both processed and shell eggs, since dried egg solids may be stored for relatively long periods of time. The information collected using form LP-90 assures that marketing channels are filled, but not overflowing, preventing unnecessary overages and/or shortfalls. The release of the summarized information is used by industry as an aid in making these knowledgeable marketing decisions.
3. DESCRIBE WHETHER, AND TO WHAT EXTENT, THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION INVOLVES THE USE OF AUTOMATED, ELECTRONIC, MECHANICAL, OR OTHER TECHNOLOGICAL COLLECTION TECHNIQUES OR OTHER FORMS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, E.G. PERMITTING ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES, AND THE BASIS FOR THE DECISION FOR ADOPTING THIS MEANS OF COLLECTION. ALSO DESCRIBE ANY CONSIDERATION OF USING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO REDUCE BURDEN.
Information for LPGMN reports is collected in-person and face-to-face meetings, and via e-mail, telephone, and fax. Data is collected through interviews or free-form industry data sheets, allowing industry to provide information using records kept in normal business practice. Currently, all respondents for form LP-90 supply information via e-mail, easing the burden of providing information to Market News.
Additionally, LPGMN provides free public access to market reports on the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/livestock-poultry-grain. LPGMN offers a free subscription service to LPGMN reports through Cornell University allowing registered users to receive specific reports via e-mail at no charge. E-mail subscription service is also provided for LPGMN reports in Adobe PDF format upon request.
In 2019, LPGMN will finalize moving market information to the Market Analysis and Reporting Services (MARS) platform, a standardized information management system which will assist Market News reporters to collect and distribute information from remote locations by combining all reporting functions into a single, user-managed platform. This internal data collection platform does not affect the burden on market participants. Once data have been entered into MARS, datasets and reports are published on an external website for public consumption. Overall, the new platform increases data collection efficiency by decreasing the time needed to collect, generate, and release reports. The external website provides the public with greater access to data and reports and provides more opportunities for data analysis and customization. The website can be accessed at: https://mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov/. Examples (screenshots) of the website are found under the Supplementary Documents in ROCIS.
4. DESCRIBE EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY DUPLICATION. SHOW SPECIFICALLY WHY ANY SIMILAR INFORMATION ALREADY AVAILABLE CANNOT BE USED OR MODIFIED FOR USE FOR THE PURPOSE(S) DESCRIBED IN ITEM 2 ABOVE.
LPGMN maintains regular contact with members of the livestock, poultry, meat, swine, sheep, eggs, wool, and grain industries that provide the market information used in reports. Stakeholders and industry trade association officials are contacted regularly in an attempt to avoid a duplication of requests for information. As previously stated, LPGMN provides comprehensive, unbiased market information which directly affects their business and marketing decisions. Similar information is not available that can be used or modified.
5. IF THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION IMPACTS SMALL BUSINESSES OR OTHER SMALL ENTITIES (ITEM 5 OF THE OMB FORM 83-1), DESCRIBE THE METHODS USED TO MINIMIZE BURDEN.
The Small Business Administration defines, in 13 CFR part 121, small agricultural producers as those having annual receipts of no more than $750,000 and small agricultural service firms as those having annual receipts of no more than $7,500,000. Under these definitions, all of the companies that would be affected are considered small businesses. We have estimated the number of respondents for this collection is 2,939 and we estimate that 99% are considered small businesses. However, no difference in burden exists between small and large businesses. The information collected is the same regardless of business size. Although the information collection involves both small and large entities, we consider the information collected to be a minimal burden upon respondents and can be supplied without data processing equipment or outside technical expertise. Collection of the information requested by LPGMN is voluntary and does not present any additional effort on the part of small businesses or other small entities as this information is assembled and maintained by these entities as part of their regular business practice for internal recordkeeping.
6. DESCRIBE THE CONSEQUENCE TO FEDERAL PROGRAM OR POLICY ACTIVITIES IF THE COLLECTION IS NOT CONDUCTED OR IS CONDUCTED LESS FREQUENTLY, AS WELL AS ANY TECHNICAL OR LEGAL OBSTACLES TO REDUCING BURDEN.
Information collected through LPGMN voluntary market reporting provides an unbiased third party to collect and disseminate market information. If the collection was not conducted, producers would soon be at a disadvantage to buyers without the timely, accurate, and unbiased market knowledge of their commodity. A less frequent collection of data would hinder the timely use of the data making the information obsolete to stakeholders needing to sensibly market their commodities. Market News users are provided with current information on the price, supply, demand, and movement of product. This allows for necessary adjustments in product flow, sales, and purchasing decisions. There are no technical or legal obstacles in reducing burden.
7. EXPLAIN ANY SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WOULD CAUSE AN INFORMATION COLLECTION TO BE CONDUCTED IN A MANNER:
REQUIRING RESPONDENTS TO REPORT INFORMATION TO THE AGENCY MORE OFTEN THAN QUARTERLY;
This information needs to be collected more frequently than quarterly due to the nature of the Market News report releases which have daily, weekly, and monthly deadlines to be consistent with the production and movement of products, thereby meeting current demand. Quarterly reports would not provide timely information and would not be effective in providing information to the public when needed.
REQUIRING RESPONDENTS TO PREPARE A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO A COLLECTION OF INFORMATION IN FEWER THAN 30 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF IT;
REQUIRING RESPONDENTS TO SUBMIT MORE THAN AN ORIGINAL AND TWO COPIES OF ANY DOCUMENT;
REQUIRING RESPONDENTS TO RETAIN RECORDS, OTHER THAN HEALTH, MEDICAL, GOVERNMENT CONTRACT, GRANT-IN-AID, OR TAX RECORDS FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS;
IN CONNECTION WITH A STATISTICAL SURVEY, THAT IS NOT DESIGNED TO PRODUCE VALID AND RELIABLE RESULTS THAT CAN BE GENERALIZED TO THE UNIVERSE OF STUDY;
REQUIRING THE USE OF A STATISTICAL DATA CLASSIFICATION THAT HAS NOT BEEN REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY OMB;
THAT INCLUDES A PLEDGE OF CONFIDENTIALITY THAT IS NOT SUPPORTED BY AUTHORITY ESTABLISHED IN STATUE OR REGULATION, THAT IS NOT SUPPORTED BY DISCLOSURE AND DATA SECURITY POLICIES THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE PLEDGE, OR WHICH UNNECESSARILY IMPEDES SHARING OF DATA WITH OTHER AGENCIES FOR COMPATIBLE CONFIDENTIAL USE; OR
REQUIRING RESPONDENTS TO SUBMIT PROPRIETARY TRADE SECRET, OR OTHER CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION UNLESS THE AGENCY CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT IT HAS INSTITUTED PROCEDURES TO PROTECT THE INFORMATION'S CONFIDENTIALITY TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
The reports collected and disseminated by Market News reporters are intended to provide both buyers and sellers with the information necessary for making intelligent, informed marketing decisions, thus putting marketing stakeholders in equal bargaining positions. LPGMN provides a timely exchange of accurate and unbiased information on current marketing conditions (supply, demand, prices, trends, movement, and other information) affecting trade in livestock, poultry, meat, swine, sheep, eggs, wool, grain, and related products.
AMS does not require respondents to submit information for the LPGMN voluntary market reporting; respondents choose to voluntarily submit information to trained and certified Market News reporters. Information collected by LPGMN is handled responsibly in accordance with AMS policy which states, “It is the responsibility of all AMS employees to protect all sensitive information from unauthorized disclosure in order to protect the identities of employees and the public, as well as to safeguard the public’s confidence in the Agency’s mission delivery. Sensitive information is to be collected, stored, and used by AMS programs only when absolutely necessary for the conduct of official business.”
The LPGMN Reporter’s Handbook further addresses the confidential nature of this information collection stating, “Information regarding sales, stocks, prices, etc., obtained from individuals or firms voluntarily is of a confidential nature and must not be revealed.”
Confidentiality was established as paramount in importance concerning individuals’ and firms’ proprietary trade information. All AMS employees with access to the information collected receive regular training on the importance of confidentiality and sign statements in which they agree to keep the identity of persons and proprietary business information confidential.
There are no other special circumstances. This collection of information is conducted in a manner consistent with guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5 (d)(2).
8. IF APPLICABLE, PROVIDE A COPY AND IDENTIFY THE DATE AND PAGE NUMBER OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER OF THE AGENCY'S NOTICE, REQUIRED BY 5 CFR 1320.8(d), SOLICITING COMMENTS ON THE INFORMATION COLLECTION PRIOR TO SUBMISSION TO OMB. SUMMARIZE PUBLIC COMMENTS RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THAT NOTICE AND DESCRIBE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE AGENCY IN RESPONSE TO THESE COMMENTS. SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS COMMENTS RECEIVED ON COST AND HOUR BURDEN.
The 60-day notice for comments on this collection of information was published in the Federal Register on March 14, 2019 (Federal Register, Vol. 84, No. 50, 9289). No comments were received.
DESCRIBE EFFORTS TO CONSULT WITH PERSONS OUTSIDE THE AGENCY TO OBTAIN THEIR VIEWS ON THE AVAILABILITY OF DATA, FREQUENCY OF COLLECTION, THE CLARITY OF INSTRUCTIONS AND RECORDKEEPING, DISCLOSURE, OR REPORTING FORMAT (IF ANY), AND ON THE DATA ELEMENTS TO BE RECORDED, DISCLOSED, OR REPORTED.
AMS works closely with industry trade organizations whose membership include producers, processers, and interested members of the trade. These organizations include the National Pork Producers Council, American Sheep Industry Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, North American Meat Institute, United Egg Producers, National Turkey Federation, National Chicken Council, and the U.S. Poultry and Egg Export Council, among others. AMS and industry members regularly discuss possible changes to voluntary Market News reporting that could improve efficiency, optimize processes, enhance AMS reports, and minimize reporting burdens. By attending the regular meetings of these organizations, Market News is able to receive industry feedback concerning market reports.
American Sheep Industry Association
Contact: Peter Orwick
303-771-3500
North American Meat Institute
Contact: Mark Dopp
202-587-4262
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
Contact: Colin Woodall
202-638-0607
CONSULTATION WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THOSE FROM WHOM INFORMATION IS TO BE OBTAINED OR THOSE WHO MUST COMPILE RECORDS SHOULD OCCUR AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 3 YEARS -- EVEN IF THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION ACTIVITY IS THE SAME AS IN PRIOR PERIODS. THERE MAY BE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAY PRECLUDE CONSULTATION IN A SPECIFIC SITUATION. THESE CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD BE EXPLAINED.
There are no special circumstances.
9. EXPLAIN ANY DECISION TO PROVIDE ANY PAYMENT OR GIFT TO RESPONDENTS, OTHER THAN REMUNERATION OF CONTRACTORS OR GRANTEES.
No payments or gifts are provided to respondents.
10. DESCRIBE ANY ASSURANCE OF CONFIDENTIALITY PROVIDED TO RESPONDENTS AND THE BASIS FOR THE ASSURANCE IN STATUTE, REGULATION, OR AGENCY POLICY.
Information collected by LPGMN is handled responsibly in accordance with AMS policy which established confidentiality as paramount in importance in LPGMN reporting concerning individuals’ and firms’ proprietary trade information. Respondents are assured of this responsibility by LPGMN and possible disclosures of information are investigated. Jeopardizing confidentiality would taint the reputation of LPGMN thereby hampering the ability for LPGMN to collect information and provide the Market News service.
11. PROVIDE ADDITIONAL JUSTIFICATION FOR ANY QUESTIONS OF A SENSITIVE NATURE, SUCH AS SEXUAL BEHAVIOR AND ATTITUDES, RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, AND OTHER MATTERS THAT ARE COMMONLY CONSIDERED PRIVATE. THIS JUSTIFICATION SHOULD INCLUDE THE REASONS WHY THE AGENCY CONSIDERS THE QUESTIONS NECESSARY, THE SPECIFIC USES TO BE MADE OF THE INFORMATION, THE EXPLANATION TO BE GIVEN TO PERSONS FROM WHOM THE INFORMATION IS REQUESTED, AND ANY STEPS TO BE TAKEN TO OBTAIN THEIR CONSENT.
There are no questions regarding sensitive language.
12. PROVIDE ESTIMATES OF THE HOUR BURDEN OF THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION. THE STATEMENT SHOULD:
INDICATE THE NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS, FREQUENCY OF RESPONSE, ANNUAL HOUR BURDEN, AND AN EXPLANATION OF HOW THE BURDEN WAS ESTIMATED. UNLESS DIRECTED TO DO SO, AGENCIES SHOULD NOT CONDUCT SPECIAL SURVEYS TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ON WHICH TO BASE HOUR BURDEN ESTIMATES. CONSULTATION WITH A SAMPLE (FEWER THAN 10) OF POTENTIAL RESPONDENTS IS DESIRABLE. IF THE HOUR BURDEN ON RESPONDENTS IS EXPECTED TO VARY WIDELY BECAUSE OF DIFFERENCE IN ACTIVITY, SIZE, OR COMPLEXITY, SHOW THE RANGE OF ESTIMATED HOUR BURDEN, AND EXPLAIN THE REASONS FOR THE VARIANCE. GENERALLY, ESTIMATES SHOULD NOT INCLUDE BURDEN HOURS FOR CUSTOMARY AND USUAL BUSINESS PRACTICES.
IF THIS REQUEST FOR APPROVAL COVERS MORE THAN ONE FORM, PROVIDE SEPARATE HOUR BURDEN ESTIMATES FOR EACH FORM AND AGGREGATE THE HOUR BURDENS IN ITEM 13 OF OMB FORM 83-I.
PROVIDE ESTIMATES OF ANNUALIZED COST TO RESPONDENTS FOR THE HOUR BURDENS FOR COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION, IDENTIFYING AND USING APPROPRIATE WAGE RATE CATEGORIES. THE COST OF CONTRACTING OUT OR PAYING OUTSIDE PARTIES FOR INFORMATION COLLECTION ACTIVITIES SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED HERE. INSTEAD, THIS COST SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN ITEM 14.
This renewal submission reflects a total of 2,939 respondents for 15,970 (rounded) burden hours. Minor differences in estimated annual costs associated with each form and burden reason are attributable to a change in the order of calculation and subsequent differences in numerical rounding.
MONTHLY DRIED EGG SOLIDS STOCKS REPORT– Form LP-90
Number of Respondents = 7
Frequency of Response = 1 per month for 12 months.
Per Response Burden = .0830 hours per submission.
Annual Hour Burden = 6.97 hours.
Estimated Annual Cost = $263
POULTRY REPORTS
Number of Respondents = 485
Frequency of Response = 98 per respondent per year.
Per Response Burden = .0830 hours per submission.
Annual Hour Burden = 3,945 hours (rounded).
Estimated Annual Cost = $148,874
(3) LIVESTOCK & MEAT REPORTS
Number of Respondents = 822
Frequency of Response = 104 per respondent per year.
Per Response Burden = .0833 hours per submission.
Annual Hour Burden = 7,121 hours (rounded).
Estimated Annual Cost = $268,734
(4) GRAIN REPORTS
Number of Respondents = 912
Frequency of Response = 95 per respondent per year.
Per Response Burden = .0333 hours per submission.
Annual Hour Burden = 2,885 hours (rounded).
Estimated Annual Cost = $108,877
(5) HAY REPORTS
Number of Respondents = 618
Frequency of Response = 79 per respondent per year.
Per Response Burden = .0333 hours per submission.
Annual Hour Burden = 1,626 hours (rounded).
Estimated Annual Cost = $61,353
(6) LOCAL AND REGIONAL MARKET REPORTS
Number of Respondents = 95
Frequency of Response = 49 per respondent per year.
Per Response Burden = .0830 hours per submission.
Annual Hour Burden = 386 hours (rounded).
Estimated Annual Cost = $14,580
Methodology Used for Calculating Estimates
To calculate total annual hour burden for this collection, the total number of respondents reporting daily, weekly, or monthly was estimated and multiplied by the number of times a respondent was contacted per day (156 reporting days per year), week (52 reporting weeks per year), or month (12 reporting months per year), as applicable. (Although there is a range of daily reporting burden dependent upon individual respondents, it does not vary widely; therefore, “daily” was calculated as respondents reporting on an average of 3 days per week, thereby totaling 156 days per year rather than 260 days per year as calculated with 5 days per week.) The figure was then divided by the overall total number of respondents to obtain a total yearly burden.
It is estimated that approximately 75 percent of respondents are in sales and 25 percent are in administrative support. Based upon the Bureau of Labor Statistics September 2018 data, total compensation, benefits, and hourly wage is $42.17 for staff under buyers and purchasing agents, farm products (includes an hourly wage of $32.02 plus $10.15 in benefits and compensation), and $24.44 for staff under office and administrative support occupations (includes an hourly wage of $18.56 plus $5.88 in benefits and compensation). The benefits and compensation were published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in a press release, December 14, 2018. See AMS-71 for details; differences in estimated annual costs associated with each form and burden reason are attributable to a change in the order of calculation and subsequent differences in numerical rounding.
SUMMARY:
Total estimated burden hours = 15,970 hours
Respondents sales (75%) = 11,977 hours
Respondents administrative support (25%) = 3,993 hours
Subtotal cost for burden costs:
Respondents - sales: 11,977 hours @ $42.17 = $ 505,070
Respondents - administrative support:
3,993 hours @ $24.44 = $ 97,589
TOTAL BURDEN = 15,970 hours
TOTAL COST = $ 602,659
13. PROVIDE AN ESTIMATE OF THE TOTAL ANNUAL COST BURDEN TO RESPONDENTS OR RECORDKEEPERS RESULTING FROM THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION. (DO NOT INCLUDE THE COST OF ANY HOUR BURDEN SHOWN IN ITEMS 12 AND 14).
There are no capital/start-up or ongoing costs to the respondents associated with this information collection.
14. PROVIDE ESTIMATES OF ANNUALIZED COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. ALSO, PROVIDE A DESCRIPTION OF THE METHOD USED TO ESTIMATE COST, WHICH SHOULD INCLUDE QUANTIFICATION OF HOURS, OPERATION EXPENSES (SUCH AS EQUIPMENT, OVERHEAD, PRINTING, AND SUPPORT STAFF), AND ANY OTHER EXPENSE THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INCURRED WITHOUT THIS COLLECTION OF INFORMATION. AGENCIES ALSO MAY AGGREGATE COST ESTIMATES FROM ITEMS 12, 13, AND 14 IN A SINGLE TABLE.
Based on historical expenditures, AMS estimates the cost of maintaining a voluntary livestock and related markets reporting program to be $8.085 million per year, as itemized below.
Salaries and Benefits = $ 7,576,000
(average salary for GS-5 clerks to GS-15 Director)
Travel Expenses = $ 225,000
Space rental = $ 112,000
Printing = $ 2,000
Computer hardware/software = $ 170,000
Total = $ 8,085,000 per year
15. EXPLAIN THE REASON FOR ANY PROGRAM CHANGES OR ADJUSTMENTS REPORTED IN ITEMS 13 OR 14 OF THE OMB FORM 83-I.
Since the last submission, there is a decrease of -44 respondents, a decrease of -3,743 responses, and an overall decrease of -68 in burden hours. (This figure has been rounded due to ROCIS rounding.) The overall decrease is attributed to industry consolidation.
The Question 15 worksheet (Q #15 - Change In Burden Worksheet) showing changes made to this collection since the last submission is found under the Supplementary Documents in ROCIS.
16. FOR COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION WHOSE RESULTS WILL BE PUBLISHED, OUTLINE PLANS FOR TABULATION, AND PUBLICATION. ADDRESS ANY COMPLEX ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES THAT WILL BE USED. PROVIDE THE TIME SCHEDULE FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT, INCLUDING BEGINNING AND ENDING DATES OF THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION, COMPLETION OF REPORT, PUBLICATION DATES, AND OTHER ACTIONS.
The information collected to produce LPGMN publications and market reports is gathered into an electronic database where it is processed and aggregated for publication. This process occurs daily, weekly, monthly, and annually, and once prepared, the market reports are published through an electronic communication system and posted on the AMS website.
17. IF SEEKING APPROVAL TO NOT DISPLAY THE EXPIRATION DATE FOR OMB APPROVAL OF THE INFORMATION COLLECTION, EXPLAIN THE REASONS THAT DISPLAY WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE.
Form includes an expiration date.
18. EXPLAIN EACH EXCEPTION TO THE CERTIFICATION STATEMENT IDENTIFIED IN ITEM 19, "CERTIFICATION FOR PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT SUBMISSIONS," OF OMB FORM 83-I.
AMS does not request an exception to the certification of this information collection.
B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS
This information collection does not employ statistical methods.
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 0000-00-00 |