Sample News Release - Pre-Survey

NEWS RELEASE

United States Department of Agriculture

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE

[STATE NAME] FIELD OFFICE

[ADDRESS]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: [Firstname] [Lastname]
	(###) ###-#### email

USDA to Collect Data on Farmland Rental Rates

[CITY, STATE] – [(Month day, year)] Beginning in February, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will contact [State] farmers and ranchers to gather land rental rate information for the Cash Rents and Leases survey. The results of this survey will serve as a valuable decision-making tool for farmers, ranchers and other landowners and can be used for 2018 rental agreement negotiations.

“This brief survey is our only source of county cash rental rates,” said NASS’ [Region] Field Office Director [FirstName LastName]. “By responding, producers help the farming community and ensure USDA bases its decisions on the most accurate data.”

NASS will publish average cash rental rates at national, state and county levels for non-irrigated cropland, irrigated cropland, and pastureland on September 8, 2017.

[More than/Nearly][Rounded Sample Size] of [State] farmers will receive the survey forms. NASS offers the option of responding online via a secure internet connection. In April, NASS representatives will begin calling and visiting landowners who have not yet responded.

“NASS will combine your responses with your fellow producers nationwide, providing the only accurate and comprehensive estimate of U.S. average rent and lease rates,” [LASTNAME] added.

For more information about the Cash Rents and Leases survey, call the NASS [Regional ] Field Office at [Toll-free Number]. All NASS reports and data are available online at www.nass.usda.gov.

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NASS provides accurate, timely, useful and objective statistics in service to U.S. agriculture. The agency invites you to express your thoughts and provide occasional feedback on our products and services by joining a data user community.  To join, sign in at http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/subscriptions and look for “NASS Data User Community.”

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.