Dr. Helga Willer, FiBL - Reply Letter

United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service

May 29, 2019
Dr. Helga Willer, FiBL

Dear Dr. Willer,
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 1: We think it would be very useful, if the data from the NASS Certified
Organic Survey could be made available in a more accessible format than a PDF (e.g. as
an interactive online database with the option to extract MS Excel excerpts).
Reply: Currently, NASS data is also available through our QuickStats feature
https://www.nass.usda.gov/Quick_Stats/ that allows data users to pull customized fields
rather than the entire pdf release. Data users can also request Special Tabulations from
the following link
https://www.nass.usda.gov/Data_and_Statistics/Special_Tabulations/Request_a_Tabulat
ion/index.php.
Recommendation 2: It would also be good, if the survey could be carried out annually and if the
data were published annually.
Reply: Currently, NASS is funded to collect the comprehensive data collection once every five
years as a follow-on survey to the Census of Agriculture. In the past, the USDA Risk
Management Agency (RMA) was able to secure funding for a shorter version of the
questionnaire to be conducted in several of the years between the Organic Surveys.

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.

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.
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=120010000500
32
Date: 2019.05.30 10:18:33 -04'00'

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

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