May 5 -- The National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA invites comments to OMB by June 7, 2023 regarding Aquaculture Surveys.
The primary objective of the National Agricultural Statistics Service is to prepare and issue State and national estimates of crop and livestock production, prices, and disposition. The Aquaculture Surveys program produces estimates at the national level on both trout and catfish. Survey results are used by government agencies and others in planning farm programs.
The trout survey includes sales (dollars, pounds, and quantities), percent of product sold by outlet at the point of first sale, distribution (dollars, pounds, and quantities) of fish raised for release into open waters, and losses. The catfish surveys include inventory counts, water surface acreage used for production and sales (dollars, pounds, and quantities).
Survey results are used by members of the Cooperative Extension System and the National Sea Grant College Program who research and work in aquaculture. The information is used to analyze changing trends in the number of commercial operations and production levels by State, as well as to demonstrate the growing importance of aquaculture to officials of federal and State government agencies who manage and direct policy for programs in agriculture and natural resources. Extension specialists use the data to demonstrate the impact of educational programs and other efforts to assist in developing economically viable aquaculture operations. The type of information collected and reported provides extension educators and research scientists with data that indicate important areas that require special educational and/or research efforts, such as causes for fish loss and pond inventories of fish of various sizes.
Census of Aquaculture:
https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Census_of_Aquaculture/index.php
NASS submission to OMB:
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202304-0535-001 Click on IC List for questionnaire, View Supporting Statement for technical documentation. Submit comments through this site.
FR notice inviting public comment:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-09625
For AEA members wishing to submit comments, "A Primer on How to Respond to Calls for Comment on Federal Data Collections" is available at
https://www.aeaweb.org/content/file?id=5806
