Dr. David Granastein, WSU - Reply Letter

United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service

May 29, 2019
Dr. David Granastein

Dear Dr. Granastein,
Thank you for your recent letter concerning the renewal of the Organic Survey. The primary
functions of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) are to prepare and issue State
and national estimates of crop and livestock production, disposition, and prices and to collect
information on related environmental and economic factors, whole farm characteristics, and
operator demographics. Timely, reliable, and detailed statistics help maintain a stable economic
atmosphere and reduce risk for production, marketing, and distribution operations. NASS is the
primary data collection Agency of the US Dept. of Agriculture.
The content of the Organic Survey has been developed over the years at the request of numerous
data users, including, but not limited to: Risk Management Agency, Federal Crop Insurance
Corporation, Agricultural Marketing Service, Economic Research Service, Natural Resource and
Conservation Service and many others. NASS has been conducting cognitive interviews in the
larger organic producing states looking for ways to improve the questionnaire. NASS is also
looking for ways to streamline the questionnaire to reduce respondent burden and data collection
costs, while still providing data users with the detailed data they need.
Recommendation: It seems to me that USDA would be well served by making an investment in
electronic records compatibility and access for all certifiers in the country that would then
enable simple tabulation of organic farm data each year.
Reply: NASS agrees that this is a good idea, but NASS conducts over 300 different surveys a
year from farmers, ranchers, grain elevators, feed lots, slaughter plants, dairy processing
plants, farm supply stores, and many other groups. We have not been able to find a
software that is both secure and can interact with other software systems. We will
continue to look for a solution to this suggestion.
Once a finalized draft of the questionnaire is ready it will be submitted to OMB along with the
supporting statements, samples of publicity materials, and other documents for the public to
review for 30 days. After that OMB will be able to begin their review of the complete docket
materials. The materials will be available in the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
system https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
The Organic Survey is extremely important to our data users. Your comments will be provided
as a part of this submission to the Office of Management and Budget.

1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250
(202) 720-2127 · (202) 720-3578 FAX · www.nass.usda.gov
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Again, many thanks!
Digitally signed by JOSEPH PARSONS
DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government,
ou=Department of Agriculture,
cn=JOSEPH PARSONS,
0.9.2342.19200300.100.1.1=1200100005
0032
Date: 2019.05.30 10:12:26 -04'00'

Joseph L. Parsons
Chair, Agricultural Statistics Board
U.S. Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service

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