Comment Request - SFMNP Information Collection

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: Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)
Form Number: Annual Financial and Program Data Report, FNS-683A
OMB Number: 0584-0541
Expiration Date: Oct. 31, 2019
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), created the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) in 2000 as a pilot program awarding grants to State agencies (including geographic States, U.S. Territories, and federally recognized Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs)) on a competitive basis. The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm Bill), PL 107-171, authorized the SFMNP, beginning FY 2003, and gave USDA the authority to develop regulations for the SFMNP. These regulations are published at 7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 249. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill), PL 115-334, reauthorized the SFMNP through FY 2023.

The purpose of the SFMNP is to provide resources in the form of fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey from farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture (CSA) programs to low income seniors; to increase the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities by expanding or aiding in the expansion of domestic farmers' markets, roadside stands, and CSA programs; and to develop or aid in the development of new and additional farmers' markets, roadside stands, and CSA programs.

The 2018 Farm Bill and SFMNP regulations at 7 CFR part 249 require that certain program-related information be collected and that full and complete records concerning SFMNP operations are maintained. The information reporting and recordkeeping requirements are necessary to ensure appropriate and efficient management of the SFMNP program. Information reporting and recordkeeping includes, but is not limited to, the authorization and monitoring of State agencies; the certification of SFMNP recipients; nutrition education that is provided to recipients; farmer, farmers' market, roadside stand, and CSA program authorization, monitoring, and management; and reporting on the financial management and operational aspects of program administration. This information collection is used by USDA to manage, plan, evaluate, and provide oversight to SFMNP program operations. Likewise, this information is used for reporting to Congress, as needed.

This information collection is requesting a revision to the previously approved burden hours due to program adjustments that primarily reflect expected changes in the number of SFMNP State agencies, individual/households (program recipients), and the number of farmers, farmers' markets, roadside stands, and CSA programs, from year to year. Additionally, the burden hours associated with State agency financial and program recipient reporting on the Annual Financial and Program Data Report (FNS-683A), are now included in the information collection for the Food Programs Reporting System (FPRS), OMB #0584-0594, expiration date of 9/30/2019. As such, with this revision we are removing the burden associated with the FNS-683A from this information collection, a decrease of 2,080 hours. Overall, program adjustments have increased the net annual burden from 427,280 to 449,090 burden hours (difference of 21,810 burden hours). Likewise, there is an increase in the total annual responses from 2,408,659 to 2,549,454 (difference of 140,795 annual responses).