Sample Cover Letter - First Mailing

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

February XX, 20XX

Dear Agricultural Producer,

Enclosed is your 20XX Cash Rents Survey. Please complete the questionnaire at your earliest convenience. Your information is important. By providing your input, you help ensure that cash rental rates accurately represent your locality. In addition, the results will give you a useful tool in negotiating your 20XX rental agreements and making sound business decisions.

Please respond in one of the following ways:

• Online at www.agcounts.usda.gov. Online reporting is fast, cost-effective, and secure. All you need is the 17-digit survey code on the enclosed form to begin.

• By mail or fax. Complete the survey questionnaire and mail it back in the return envelope provided or fax it to (855) 415-3687.

If you do not respond by April XX, 20XX, we will contact you to arrange a telephone or personal interview.

The results of this survey will be available in aggregate form only, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified, as required by federal law. NASS will publish the survey results on September 8, in our Quick Stats database at www.quickstats.usda.gov.

Thank you for participating and for your support of agricultural statistics and U.S. agriculture. If you have any questions or concerns, please call 1-888-424-7828.

Sincerely,

Joseph L. Parsons

Chairperson, Agricultural Statistics Board

U.S. Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

Enclosure

1400 Independence Avenue, SW · Washington, D.C. 20250

www.nass.usda.gov

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.