Draft Cover Letter - 2022

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

What should I do next?

Complete your survey in one of the following ways:

Online at agcounts.usda.gov. Online reporting is fast and secure. All you need is the survey code on the enclosed form to begin.

By mail or fax. Complete the questionnaire and mail it back in the pre-paid envelope provided or fax it to 855-415-3687.

July 19, 2022

Why am I getting this letter?

You have been selected to participate in the 2022 Feral Swine Survey. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service is conducting this national survey in cooperation with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Please complete the questionnaire at your earliest convenience.

You can complete it online or return it by mail. If you do not respond by August 5, a trained enumerator will follow-up with you to collect the data by phone.

How will data from this survey be used?

NASS and APHIS are working together to collect information from farm operators to document the amount of damage that feral pigs cause to crops, lawns, landscaping, and natural areas due to their feeding, wallowing, grazing, and trampling activities. This survey focuses on damage to corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, peanuts, and sorghum; your responses will help us assess the extent of the impact that feral swine have on this sector of agriculture.

We recommend you respond online using the new Respondent Portal. On the portal, producers can complete their surveys, access data visualization and reports of interest, link to other USDA agencies, get a local weather update and more.

The information you provide will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with federal law, your responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form.

APHIS will analyze these data as a baseline for future studies and any published information will be made available to the public through the APHIS Feral Swine Resources website:
aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/pests-diseases/feral-swine/feral-swine-resources.

Thank you for participating and for your support of our programs and U.S. agriculture. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us at 888-424-7828.

Sincerely,

Joseph L. Parsons

Chair, Agricultural Statistics Board

Enclosure

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www.nass.usda.gov
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