Reply Letter to Dr. Fixler at BEA

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

August 30, 2017

Dr. Dennis J. Fixler

Chief Statistician

U.S. Department of Commerce

Bureau of Economic Analysis

1441 L Street NW

Washington, DC 20230

Dear Dr. Fixler and Ms. Garrick,

Thank you for your letter of continued support of NASS surveys. The Livestock Slaughter program will only have minor changes this time. The most noticeable is the reducing of the frequency in which we contact the smaller custom operations. This will reduce respondent burden on the smaller operations who will now be contacted either quarterly or annually, rather than monthly as it was done in the past. .

We will keep you informed of any future modifications.

Again, many thanks!

Joe Parsons

Agricultural Statistics Board, Chairman

U.S. Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

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