Reply to Dr. Dennis Fixler's Comments

United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service

June 12, 2018
Dr. Dennis J. Fixler
Chief Economist
U.S. Department of Commerce
Bureau of Economic Analysis
1441 L Street NW
Washington, DC 20230

Dear Dr. Fixler and Ms. Burrell,
Thank you for the letter of support and sharing the specific uses of the data. NASS has
been working to standardize and streamline our data collection process to help reduce
any unnecessary burden on the respondents.
The only significant program change that will be made to the upcoming docket will
involve several of the dry bean, dry pea and lentil surveys. Several of these surveys
have been discontinued as standalone surveys, and the data is now collected through
other NASS surveys. The Dry Bean Cleaner and the Dry Bean Dealer Inquiry surveys
have both been incorporated into the Dry Bean Inquiry conducted at the end of the
season. The Dry Bean Inquiry that used to be collected in mid-season has been
replaced by the monthly Ag Yield survey in conjunction with FSA data. The Dry Bean
Planting Intentions have been incorporated into the March and June Quarterly
Agricultural Surveys. The dry bean, dry pea and lentil data will still be available in the
normal NASS publications, only the source of the data has changed.
All other changes to this group of surveys are just minor adjustments to the sample
sizes due to changes in the target population since the previous approval in October
2015.
We will keep you informed of any future modifications.
Again, many thanks!
Sincerely,
Digitally signed by
Joe Parsons
Date: 2018.06.14
07:40:16 -04'00'

Joseph L. Parsons
Chairperson, Agricultural Statistics Board
U.S. Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.