Pre Survey Letter

United States

Department

of Agriculture

National

Agricultural

Statistics

Service

08-A62(L1)

07/17/08

DATE

Dear Farmer or Rancher:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requesting your assistance with the 2008 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey (FRIS). The FRIS is conducted once every 5 years, and is the most comprehensive source of data portraying our nation’s irrigated farms and ranches.

Survey participants were selected from a sample of those farms and ranches that reported irrigated acres on the 2007 Census of Agriculture. We are asking that you carefully complete and return the enclosed report form. Responses will be reported in aggregate form only (all individual responses are kept confidential) with trends and composite data available to you, your local community, your congressional representatives, and members of the general public.

As a reminder, the FRIS is both required by law and protected by law (Title 7, U.S. Code). As with all information collected by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Federal law requires that your individual answers are kept completely confidential. No information associated with any individual’s name is shared with any other Federal, State or local agency, nor with any other agency within USDA.

As an alternative to the enclosed report form, the 2008 FRIS can be reported via the Internet at www.agcensus.nass.usda.gov. This option will work better with a high-speed connection. Please follow the instructions on the site. You will need your report form with your survey ID printed on the label. If you have problems accessing or using the Web site, please call (888) 424-7828 (toll free).

Please help us make this survey a success and give your voice to U.S. agriculture by completing and returning the enclosed report form or responding via the Internet by

February XX, 2009. If you need guidance or have questions, call (888) 424-7828. Please have your survey ID number (printed on the address label of your report form) handy if you call.

Thank you for taking part in this effort to provide a complete, accurate and timely 2008 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey. FRIS is your opportunity to provide the facts on irrigated farming and ranching.

Sincerely,

Dr. Cynthia Clark

Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Enclosures

DRAFT