0003-agprice-07-SSB-rev.wpd

Supporting Statement – Part B

AGRICULTURAL PRICES

OMB No. 0535-0003

B. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

1. Describe (including a numerical estimate) the potential respondent universe and any sampling or other respondent selection method to be used. Data on the number of entities (e.g., establishments, State and local government units, households, or persons) in the universe covered by the collection and in the corresponding sample are to be provided in tabular form for the universe as a whole and for each of the strata in the proposed sample. Indicate expected response rates for the collection as a whole. If the collection has been conducted previously, include the actual response rate achieved during the last collection.

Universe lists for the prices received surveys are made up of all known firms that purchase agricultural commodities directly from farmers. Collecting most of the data from firms, instead of farmers, greatly reduces respondent burden. The farm-to-farm sales marketing channel is not currently surveyed except for the semi-annual survey for hay prices. Farm-to-farm sales make up a small proportion of total sales for other commodities and that portion of total sales is valued based on the market channels that are surveyed.

The NASS prices paid surveys sample consists of firms selected from a target population of establishments that sell selected input items to farmers and ranchers. This sample is rotated annually, dropping approximately 20 percent of the old sample and adding a new replicate of 20 percent from the sampled population. Rotation of the sample reduces respondent fatigue.

Updating of the prices received and prices paid universe is done annually. An important part of this process is updating the prices received control data on the list frame for capacity, amount purchased, and other appropriate criteria to stratify the list.

The overall response rates for prices surveys are shown below. There has been a decline in overall response to price questionnaires over several years so NASS has recently assigned a survey administrator in Headquarters to coordinate the programs and aid the State and Headquarters commodity statisticians. She will also be working with our expanded Marketing and Information Services Office on publicity and promotional materials.

Agricultural Prices 2006 Response Rates
Prices Received	Response Rate %	Prices Paid	Response Rate %
Cotton, Monthly	74	Farm Machinery	65
Eggs and Chickens	100	Feed	80
Grain and Beans	77	Fertilizer and Ag Chem	69
Hay, Monthly, Handlers	var.	Fuels	85
Hay, Biennial Prod and Sales	var.	Seed	65
Milk (Milk Prod Survey)	84
Peanuts	91
Rice	95

2. Describe the procedures for the collection of information.

• statistical methodology for stratification and sample selection,

• estimation procedure,

• degree of accuracy needed for the purpose described in the justification,

• unusual problems requiring specialized sampling procedures

The first time a prices received respondent is included in the sample, the respondent is contacted in person by Field Office staff or professional interviewer. The NASS price program is explained to the respondent; for cotton, grains, pulse crops, oil seeds, peanuts, and rice an operation profile form (see IC list for this and others mentioned below) is completed at this time. This profile verifies that each firm is purchasing the commodities of interest according to technical specifications, such as standard moisture content, purchase directly from farmers, and exclusion of storage costs. Follow-up visits are made as necessary to answer any questions the respondents may have. After the initial interview, questionnaires are generally mailed to the respondent or data are collected by telephone or EDR. Most Field Offices (FOs) use telephone follow-up of mail non-response. Field Offices are also encouraged to mail an advance letter at the beginning of each cycle. The instructions for surveys available on the Web accompany the questionnaire and are included in the minutes-per-response allowance.

As part of the prices received surveys, information is collected on the quantity purchased and comparable dollars paid to the farmer for the entire previous month and the average price paid to farmers around the 15th of the current month. The quantity purchased during the previous entire month includes all purchases made on a daily basis "over the scale" as well as purchases made under contract for which payment was made during the month. The dollars paid for the comparable quantities reflect all premiums and discounts for the commodity at the "point of first sale."

For some commodities, price survey questions are included on questionnaires in other information collections for the ease of securing information. For example, the hay price item is included on some cattle on feed questionnaires (OMB No. 0535-0213) and the monthly milk production survey (OMB No. 0535-0020). This has the advantage of sending the respondent only one questionnaire instead of two, thus reducing cost and respondent burden.

The prices paid surveys use mail, phone, EDR and personal interview as its modes of data collection. Field Offices are encouraged to use the personal interview to increase response rates as well as reduce the burden on the respondent by assisting the respondent in the completion of the form(s). The farm machinery, fertilizer and agricultural chemicals, and the seed questionnaires are the versions that headquarters is encouraging Field Offices to conduct personal interviews for non-response to mail questionnaires.

3. Describe methods to maximize response rates and to deal with issues of non-response. The accuracy and reliability of information collected must be shown to be adequate for intended uses.

In April 2008, NASS headquarters will be providing Field Offices with a review and listing of potential updates to the master List Frame for firms or agribusinesses that interact (buy or sell products) with farmers or ranchers. This screening survey will be conducted under the List Frame maintenance docket, OMB No. 0535-0140, with a simple mail questionnaire to approximately 25,000 firms.

The first time a prices received or prices paid respondent is included in the sample, the respondent is contacted in person and the NASS price program is explained. Follow-up visits are made as necessary to answer any questions the respondents may have. After the initial interview, questionnaires are mailed to the respondent unless a different arrangement is requested. There is a full telephone follow-up of mail non-response. Recurring nonrespondents may be personally visited by Field Office managers to encourage cooperation.

NASS has established targets of precision for the prices received program. Survey results are assessed for eight different commodities in two of their respective peak marketing months. The commodities are No. 2 yellow corn, soybeans, upland cotton, all wheat, barley, oats, sorghum, and all sunflowers. Standards are given in terms of the coefficient of variation and run from 0.5 percent for the most common crops (corn and soybeans) to 2.5 percent for smaller volume crops (barley and oats). In any given year, NASS survey results meet prescribed standards 14 of 16 times.

Point estimates for the prices paid program are average price paid by farmers for inputs. No expanded totals are computed. Full nonresponse follow up allows NASS to safely assume nonresponse is random and no nonresponse adjustment is needed. Results of the survey are compared to price indices for all sectors from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Energy Information Agency.

The 2006 value of production for hay totaled $13.5 billion. Data collection for hay prices requires special procedures because of the high percentage of sales between farmers, the relative infrequency of hay purchases, and the lack of organized marketing channels. A biennial survey is conducted to determine the difference between the price level of hay sold to dealers and for all hay sold to farmers. Monthly prices reported by hay dealers are adjusted by this difference.

Estimates from the prices received are used to administer programs involving budget outlays. Consequently, this program is periodically audited by the USDA Office of the Inspector General.

4. Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken.

No testing is done.

5. Provide the name and telephone number of individuals consulted on statistical aspects of the design and the name of the agency unit, contractor(s), grantee(s), or other person(s) who will actually collect and/or analyze the information for the agency.

Survey design and methodology are determined by the Statistical Methods Branch, Statistics Division; Branch Chief is Dave Aune, (202)720-4008.

Sample sizes for each State are determined by the Sampling Branch, Census and Survey Division; Branch Chief is William Iwig, (202)720-3895.

Data collection is carried out by NASS Field Offices; Deputy Administrator for Field Operations is Marshall Dantzler, (202)720-8220.

The NASS survey statistician in Headquarters for the Agricultural Prices Surveys is Lorna Drennen, in the Environmental and Economic Surveys Section of the Survey Administration Branch, Census and Survey Division; Branch Chief is Norman Bennett, (202)720-2248. She is responsible for coordination of sampling, questionnaires, data collection, training, Interviewers Manual, Survey Administration Manual, data processing, and other Field Office support.

The NASS commodity statisticians in Headquarters for the Agricultural Prices Surveys are Daryl Brinkman and Jennifer Sissom in the Economics Section of the Environmental, Economics, and Demographics Branch of Statistics Division; Branch Chief is Kevin Barnes (202)720-6146. Commodity statisticians are responsible for national and regional summaries, analysis, presentation to the Agricultural Statistics Board for final estimates, publication, and the Estimation Manual.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Commerce, was consulted concerning methodology for the CPI-U and index components in studying comparability to USDA computed indexes for published prices.

March 2007

Revised November 2007

0003-agprice-07-SSB-rev.wpd