Alex Wolf, Scoular, Reply Letter

United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service

May 29, 2019
Alex Wolf
Dear Mr. Wolf,
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: The most important way the quality and utility of the information to be
collected can be enhanced is by adding usage (demand), import/export, and ending stocks
data. Ideally, USDA would provide a supply and demand balance sheet for each of the
major organic crops (corn, soybeans, and wheat at minimum), as it does for conventional
crops in the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
Reply: While this is a good question, it would greatly increase the scope and target population of
our current survey. NASS does not currently track imports or exports of commodities or
have a listing of entities that deal with the shipment of organic products. At some future
time we may be able to incorporate organic stocks data into some of our other crop
surveys.
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=120010
00050032
Date: 2019.05.30 10:01:49 -04'00'

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