Supplemental Supporting Statement Part B for County Estimates Substantive Change Request

SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORTING STATEMENT Part B

FIELD CROPS PRODUCTION

Substantive Change

OMB No. 0535-0002

This substantive change is being submitted as a supplemental supporting statement to the Field Crops Production docket. This document identifies changes made to the County Estimates surveys for row crops and small grains conducted in 2019 and 2020.

B. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

1. Describe (including a numerical estimate) the potential respondent universe and any sampling or other respondent selection method to be used. Data on the number of entities (e.g., establishments, State and local government units, households, or persons) in the universe covered by the collection and in the corresponding sample are to be provided in tabular form for the universe as a whole and for each of the strata in the proposed sample. Indicate expected response rates for the collection as a whole. If the collection has been conducted previously, include the actual response rate achieved during the last collection.

The only change that is being made to this docket, is a reduction in the County Estimates survey for Row Crops. Individuals on the NASS List Frame that have control data for only the following commodities:

• Dry Edible Beans

• Flaxseed

• Hay – Alfalfa and Other

• Potatoes

• Sugarbeets

• Sugarcane

• Sunflower – Non-Oil and Oil and

• Tobacco

will be removed from the enumerated sample. Resulting in a reduction in total data collection costs.

In addition, NASS will drop county estimates based on irrigated/non-irrigated practices. The approved annual sample size for the CAPS for row crops is approximately 175,000. Removing the above-mentioned crops and irrigated/non-irrigated practices will remove approximately 51,000 operations from the enumerated CAPS sample.

If total data collection cost savings are not obtained through this change to row crops, in early 2020 a reduction in county estimates for small grains will be implemented.

All other surveys will remain the same.

2. Describe the procedures for the collection of information including:

• statistical methodology for stratification and sample selection,

• estimation procedure,

• degree of accuracy needed for the purpose described in the justification,

• unusual problems requiring specialized sampling procedures

There are no changes to the procedures used for data collection from the original approval.

3. Describe methods to maximize response rates and to deal with issues of non-response. The accuracy and reliability of information collected must be shown to be adequate for intended uses. For collections based on sampling, a special justification must be provided for any collection that will not yield "reliable" data that can be generalized to the universe studied.

There are no changes to the modes used for data collection from the original approval.

4. Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken.

No testing has been conducted for this substantive change request. NASS will be using existing questionnaires that will have only minor modifications made to them. However, NASS has included burden in A-12 to allow for cognitive testing if our survey methodologists feel it is necessary.

5. Provide the name and telephone number of individuals consulted on statistical aspects of the design and the name of the agency unit, contractor(s), grantee(s), or other person(s) who will actually collect and/or analyze the information for the agency.

Sample sizes for each state are determined by the agency’s Sampling, Editing, and Imputation Methodology Branch, headed by Branch Chief Mark Apodaca, (202) 690-8141

Summary programs are prepared by the Summary, Estimation, and Disclosure Methodology Branch, headed by Branch Chief Jeff Bailey, (202) 690-8141.

Data collection operations are carried out by NASS Regional Field Offices; Western Field Operation’s Director is Troy Joshua, (202) 720-8220. Eastern Field Operation’s Director is Jay Johnson, (202) 720-3638. Survey data are also reviewed and summarized by the Regional Field Offices. Publications are released from the Regional Offices and Headquarters.

November 2019

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