Notice2024-15511
Agency Information Collection Activities: 2027 Farm to School Census
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 16, 2024
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentFood and Nutrition Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This collection is a revision of a currently approved collection (OMB Number 0584-0646) for the 2027 Farm to School Census.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 136 (Tuesday, July 16, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 136 (Tuesday, July 16, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57845-57850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15511]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: 2027 Farm to School
Census
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment
on this proposed information collection. This collection is a revision
of a currently approved collection (OMB Number 0584-0646) for the 2027
Farm to School Census.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before September 16,
2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Amy Rosenthal, Food and Nutrition
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Braddock Metro Center II, 1320
Braddock Place, 5th Floor, Alexandria, VA 22314. Comments may also be
sent via email to Amy Rosenthal at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bbdad6c295c9d4c8ded5cfd3dad7fbcec8dfda95dcd4cd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d3b2beaafda1bca0b6bda7bbb2bf93a6a0b7b2fdb4bca5">[email protected]</span></a>. Comments
will also be accepted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, and follow the online instructions for
submitting comments electronically.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will
be a matter of public record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of this information collection should be directed to Amy
Rosenthal at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7d1c1004530f120e181309151c113d080e191c531a120b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a1c0ccd88fd3ced2c4cfd5c9c0cde1d4d2c5c08fc6ced7">[email protected]</span></a>, 703-305-2245.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 shall 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
that were 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
use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Title: 2027 Farm to School Census.
OMB Number: 0584-0646.
Expiration Date: 5/31/25.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Abstract: Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School
Lunch Act authorized and funded USDA to establish a farm to school
program in order to assist eligible entities, through grants and
technical assistance, in implementing farm to school programs that
improve food and agriculture education as well as access to local foods
in schools. This work is housed within the FNS Community Food Systems
Division. As part of the Farm to School Program's authorization, CFSD
collects and disseminates information on farm to school activity
throughout the country. CFSD conducted a national census of farm to
school activity in 2013, 2015, 2019, and 2023. The Farm to School
Census provides the only nationally-representative data available on
farm to school participation and activities in the United States.
The 2027 Farm to School Census (Census) will collect and synthesize
data from a national census of SFAs to better understand the
characteristics of SFAs participating in farm to school and the scope
and details of the activities
[[Page 57846]]
they engage in (e.g., local food procurement, gardening, agriculture
education). The Census will be distributed to all public \1\ and
private SFAs (including residential child care institutions)
participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in the 50
states, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto
Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington, DC.
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\1\ Public includes charter schools that operate NSLP.
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The primary mode of data collection will be an online survey,
distributed to SFA directors. The online survey is expected to take 30
minutes to complete. Census questions will be based on prior Farm to
School Census instruments, from the iterations conducted in 2023 (the
currently approved collection, OMB Number 0584-0646), 2019 (OMB Number
0584-0646), 2015 (OMB Number 0584-0593), and 2013 (OMB Number 0536-
0069). The 2027 survey instrument will closely follow the 2023
instrument in order to insure comparability. Some questions and/or
response options may be removed, added or adjusted based on current
research interests and to make the instrument as streamlined as
possible. Respondents will receive an invitation to complete the Census
along with a worksheet to help them prepare to respond to the survey
and a document with answers to frequently asked questions.
To construct the contact list for the Census, State Child Nutrition
(CN) directors will be sent a list of all SFAs in their State or
territory, based on the most recently available FNS data. They will be
asked to (1) add or remove any SFAs that have begun or ended
participation in the NSLP and (2) provide contact information for the
director of each SFA. State CN directors will also be asked to forward
an announcement email (and one email reminder about the Census to SFAs.
Non-respondents will receive a reminder phone call and up to nine
reminder emails. Study team staff will also be available for technical
and completion assistance via a toll-free phone number.
Affected Public: The affected public includes State, Local, and
Tribal Government (directors of public SFAs participating in the NSLP
and State Child Nutrition directors); Business or Other For Profit
(directors of private SFAs participating in the NSLP); and Not for
Profit (directors of not for profit SFAs participating in the NSLP).
Estimated Number of Respondents: The estimated number of
respondents is 19,056. This includes 12,406 respondents and 6,650 non-
respondents. The number of unique respondents expected to provide data
for this study are 9,806 State/local government respondents (56 CN
directors and 9,750 directors of public SFAs), 1,625 business
respondents (directors of private SFAs), and 975 not for profit
respondents (directors of not for profit SFAs). These numbers are based
on an estimated 65% response rate to the survey for SFAs (based on the
2023 Census response rate) and a 100% response rate to requests to
State CN directors.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: All respondents will
be asked to respond to each specific data collection activity only
once. The overall average number of responses per respondent across the
entire collection is 13.4.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: The estimated number of total
annual responses is 255,088.
Estimated Time per Response: The estimated time of response varies
from 2 minutes (for some emails) to 30 minutes (for completion of the
Census survey), as shown in the burden table below. The estimated time
per response is 4.7 minutes (0.08 hours).
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 20,110 hours. This
includes 14,267 hours for respondents and 5,843 hours for non-
respondents. See the table below for estimated total annual burden for
each type of respondent.
[[Page 57847]]
Respondent Burden Table
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Responsive Non-responsive
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Estimated total
Respondent type Respondent description Data collection Original Estimated Frequency Total Estimated number of Frequency Total Estimated annual
activity sample size number of of annual Hours per annual non- of annual Hours per annual hour
respondents response responses response burden respondents response responses response burden burden
(hours) * (hours)
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State/local government State Child Nutrition Announcement email from 56 56 1 56 0.0668 3.74 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 3.74
directors. FNS to State Child
Nutrition Directors.
Contact list request 56 56 1 56 1.00 56.00 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 56.00
from Study Team to
State Child Nutrition
Directors \1\.
Announcement email from 56 56 1 56 0.50 28.00 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 28.00
State Child Nutrition
Directors to SFAs.
Reminder email from 56 56 1 56 0.25 14.00 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 14.00
State Child Nutrition
Directors to SFAs.
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Subtotal (States)... 56 56 4 224 0.45 101.74 0 0.00 0 0.00 0.00 101.74
SFA directors: Public Census survey pretest.. 9 9 1 9 1.50 13.50 0 0 .......... 0.00 0.00 13.50
schools. Announcement email from ........... ........... .......... .......... ......... ......... ............ .......... .......... ......... ......... ..........
State Child Nutrition 15,000 9,750 1 9,750 0.0668 651.30 5,250 1 5,250 0.0334 175.35 826.65
Directors to SFAs.
Introductory email from 15,000 9,750 1 9,750 0.0668 651.30 5,250 1 5,250 0.0334 175.35 826.65
Study Team to SFAs.
Census preparation 15,000 4,875 1 4,875 0.50 2,437.50 10,125 1 10,125 0.0334 338.18 2,775.68
worksheet.
Census frequently asked 15,000 4,875 1 4,875 0.25 1,218.75 10,125 1 10,125 0.0334 338.18 1,556.93
questions (FAQ)
document.
Census survey.......... 15,000 9,750 1 9,750 0.50 4,875.00 5,250 1 5,250 0.0501 263.03 5,138.03
Reminder email #1...... 14,100 846 1 846 0.0501 42.38 13,254 1 13,254 0.0334 442.68 485.07
Reminder email #2...... 13,254 795 1 795 0.0501 39.84 12,459 1 12,459 0.0334 416.12 455.96
Reminder email #3...... 12,459 748 1 748 0.0501 37.45 11,711 1 11,711 0.0334 391.16 428.61
Reminder email #4...... 11,711 703 1 703 0.0501 35.20 11,009 1 11,009 0.0334 367.69 402.89
Reminder email #5...... 11,009 661 1 661 0.0501 33.09 10,348 1 10,348 0.0334 345.62 378.72
Reminder email #6...... 10,348 621 1 621 0.0501 31.11 9,727 1 9,727 0.0334 324.89 355.99
Reminder email #7...... 9,727 584 1 584 0.0501 29.24 9,144 1 9,144 0.0334 305.39 334.63
Reminder email #8...... 9,144 549 1 549 0.0501 27.49 8,595 1 8,595 0.0334 287.07 314.56
[[Page 57848]]
Reminder email from 15,000 9,750 1 9,750 0.0668 651.30 5,250 1 5,250 0.0334 175.35 826.65
State Child Nutrition
Directors to SFAs.
Reminder telephone call 8,595 1,719 1 1,719 0.0501 86.12 6,876 1 6,876 0.0334 229.66 315.78
Thank you email........ 9,750 9,750 1 9,750 0.0334 325.65 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 325.65
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Subtotal (SFAs: 15,000 9,750 7 65,733 0.17 11,186.23 5,250 25.59 134,372 0.03 4,575.71 15,761.93
Public Schools).
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Subtotal (All State/local government) 15,056 9,806 7 65,957 0.17 11,287.97 5,250 25.59 134,372 0.03 4,575.71 15,863.67
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Business............................. SFA directors: Private Announcement email from 2,500 1,625 1 1,625 0.0668 108.55 875 1 875 0.0334 29.23 137.78
schools. State Child Nutrition
Directors to SFAs.
Introductory email from 2,500 1,625 1 1,625 0.0668 108.55 875 1 875 0.0334 29.23 137.78
Study Team to SFAs.
Census preparation 2,500 813 1 813 0.50 406.25 1,688 1 1,688 0.0334 56.36 462.61
worksheet.
Census frequently asked 2,500 813 1 813 0.25 203.13 1,688 1 1,688 0.0334 56.36 259.49
questions (FAQ)
document.
Census survey.......... 2,500 1,625 1 1,625 0.50 812.50 875 1 875 0.0501 43.84 856.34
Reminder email #1...... 2,350 141 1 141 0.0501 7.06 2,209 1 2,209 0.0334 73.78 80.84
Reminder email #2...... 2,209 133 1 133 0.0501 6.64 2,076 1 2,076 0.0334 69.35 75.99
Reminder email #3...... 2,076 125 1 125 0.0501 6.24 1,952 1 1,952 0.0334 65.19 71.43
Reminder email #4...... 1,952 117 1 117 0.0501 5.87 1,835 1 1,835 0.0334 61.28 67.15
Reminder email #5...... 1,835 110 1 110 0.0501 5.52 1,725 1 1,725 0.0334 57.60 63.12
Reminder email #6...... 1,725 103 1 103 0.0501 5.18 1,621 1 1,621 0.0334 54.15 59.33
Reminder email #7...... 1,621 97 1 97 0.0501 4.87 1,524 1 1,524 0.0334 50.90 55.77
Reminder email #8...... 1,524 91 1 91 0.0501 4.58 1,432 1 1,432 0.0334 47.85 52.43
Reminder email from 2,500 1,625 1 1,625 0.0668 108.55 875 2 1,750 0.0334 58.45 167.00
State Child Nutrition
Directors to SFAs.
Reminder telephone call 1,432 286 1 286 0.0501 14.35 1,146 1 1,146 0.0334 38.28 52.63
Thank you email........ 1,625 1,625 1 1,625 0.0334 54.28 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 54.28
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[[Page 57849]]
Subtotal (Business) 2,500 1,625 7 10,954 0.17 1,862.12 875 26.59 23,270 0.03 791.84 2,653.96
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Not For Profit....................... SFA directors: Not for Announcement email from 1,500 975 1 975 0.0668 65.13 525 1 525 0.0334 17.54 82.67
profit schools. State Child Nutrition
Directors to SFAs.
Introductory email from 1,500 975 1 975 0.0668 65.13 525 1 525 0.0334 17.54 82.67
Study Team to SFAs.
Census preparation 1,500 488 1 488 0.50 243.75 1,013 1 1,013 0.0334 33.82 277.57
worksheet.
Census frequently asked 1,500 488 1 488 0.25 121.88 1,013 1 1,013 0.0334 33.82 155.69
questions (FAQ)
document.
Census survey.......... 1,500 975 1 975 0.50 487.50 525 1 525 0.0501 26.30 513.80
Reminder email #1...... 1,410 85 1 85 0.0501 4.24 1,325 1 1,325 0.0334 44.27 48.51
Reminder email #2...... 1,325 80 1 80 0.0501 3.98 1,246 1 1,246 0.0334 41.61 45.60
Reminder email #3...... 1,246 75 1 75 0.0501 3.75 1,171 1 1,171 0.0334 39.12 42.86
Reminder email #4...... 1,171 70 1 70 0.0501 3.52 1,101 1 1,101 0.0334 36.77 40.29
Reminder email #5...... 1,101 66 1 66 0.0501 3.31 1,035 1 1,035 0.0334 34.56 37.87
Reminder email #6...... 1,035 62 1 62 0.0501 3.11 973 1 973 0.0334 32.49 35.60
Reminder email #7...... 973 58 1 58 0.0501 2.92 914 1 914 0.0334 30.54 33.46
Reminder email #8...... 914 55 1 55 0.0501 2.75 859 1 859 0.0334 28.71 31.46
Reminder email from 1,500 975 1 975 0.0668 65.13 525 2 1,050 0.0334 35.07 100.20
State Child Nutrition
Directors to SFAs.
Reminder telephone call 859 172 1 172 0.0501 8.61 688 1 688 0.0334 22.97 31.58
Thank you email........ 975 975 1 975 0.0334 32.57 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 32.57
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Subtotal (Not for profit) 1,500 975 7 6,572 0.17 1,117.27 525 26.59 13,962 0.03 475.11 1,592.38
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Total Reporting Burden.............................................................. 19,056 12,406 7 83,483 0.17 14,267 6,650 25.81 171,605 0.03 5,843 20,110
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Tameka Owens,
Assistant Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-15511 Filed 7-15-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
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