0039-fruitnut-07-SSB-rev

Response Rates for Fruits, Nuts, and Specialty Crops - 2006
Commodity	Sector	Survey Name	QID	No. States	Freq/ Month	Sent Out	Responses		Resp Rate
							Mail	Total

Supporting Statement - Part B

FRUIT, NUTS, AND SPECIALTY CROPS

OMB No. 0535-0039

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.

The potential respondent universe is approximately 100,000 growers in States with significant commercial production of fruits, nuts, and specialty crops. Complete enumerations of fruit, nut, and specialty crop brokers, buyers handlers, packers, processors, shellers, and shippers (depending on the crop) are conducted because of the small number of firms involved and the significant difference in kind and quantity of product handled. Complete enumerations are also attempted of growers for several of the specialty crops such as coffee, ginger root, grapes (in small production States), hops, all commercial mushroom growers, papayas, and taro. Orchard and vineyard inventory surveys are also conducted as a complete enumeration in order to obtain control data to use in drawing samples for monthly production forecasts.

Samples for the monthly fruit and nut inquiries are selected to represent all fruit areas in a State. Limited funds preclude making all the follow-up interviews necessary for a probability survey. Probability sampling is only used for the Oregon Hazelnut Objective Yield Survey.

Following the Census of Agriculture, conducted by NASS every five years, our Statistics Division reviews all commodities and make adjustments as to which States are included in the samples each year. States that are no longer a major player in a particular commodity will be dropped from the program for that commodity.

Response rates for 2006 are shown in the table below.

TREE FRUITS
Apples	Forecasts	Apple Condition - Forecast (Aug)	200565	1	Aug	161	46	125	77.6
		Apple Forecast (Aug)	200580	4	Aug	619	162	463	74.8
		Apple Inquiry	200512	4	Dec	556	139	368	66.2
		Apple Inquiry - Forecast (Aug)	200508	9	Aug	909	216	595	65.5
		Apple Inquiry - Forecast (Oct)	200511	6	Oct	1,089	158	730	67.0
	End-of-Season Production and Disposition	Apple Prod & Disp	200532	1	Dec	58	11	37	63.8
		Apple Prod & Disp - New York (Jun)	200524	1	Jun	629	133	447	71.1
		Apple Prod & Disp Inquiry (Dec)	200530	10	Dec	822	262	707	86.0
		Apple Prod & Disp (Jun)	200525	10	Jun	2,497	745	1,765	70.7
		Apple Production by Variety - New York (Dec)	200585	1	Dec	542	90	298	55.0
	Processors	Apple Cider Mill Inquiry - New York (Jun)	200590	1	Jun	100	19	86	86.0
		Apple Handlers Inquiry - Colorado (Jun)	200575	1	Jun	4	0	3	75.0
		Apple Processing Inquiry - New York (Jun)	200553	1	Jun	9	4	9	100.0
		Apple Processing Inquiry (Jun)	200560	2	Jun	30	15	19	63.3
		Apple Processing Inquiry (Jun)	200551	2	Jun	86	22	63	73.3
		Apple Processing Inquiry (Jun)	200555	3	Jun	10	4	8	80.0
	Prices	Apple Price Inquiry - Oregon (Jun)	200505	1	Jun	6	2	4	66.7
		Apple Prices - Ohio (Monthly)	200595	1	5 Mos	148	88	148	100.0
Cherries	Forecasts	Cherry Inquiry	000560	7	Jun	728	185	422	58.0
		Cherry Inquiry, Tart	000709	2	Jun	161	37	122	75.8
	End-of-Season Production and Disposition	Cherry Prod & Disp	000606	2	Dec	340	20	306	90.0
		Cherry Prod & Disp Inquiry - New York	200328	1	Dec	117	26	94	80.3
		Cherry Prod & Processing Inquiry	000607	2	Dec	28	14	19	67.9
	Processors	Cherry Processing - New York	200356	1	Nov	4	2	4	100.0
		Cherry Processing Inquiry, Tart	000711	3	Dec	38	14	31	81.6
Citrus	Forecasts	Citrus Fruit Survey - Annual	060134	1	Jun	1	0	1	100.0
		Citrus Survey (Probability) - California	000142	1	3	1,456	2	1,208	83.0
		Citrus Survey (Quarterly)	060142	2	4	119	29	91	76.5
	Processors	Citrus Processors Inquiry - Florida	812001	1	Jun	23	12	21	91.3
	Prices	Citrus Price Inquiry - Florida	050214	1	8 Mos	74	12	13	17.6

Peaches	Forecasts	Peach Inquiry	000551	4	Jun	342	107	308	90.1
		Peach Inquiry - Forecast	200608	1	Aug	77	16	61	79.2
		Peach Inquiry - Forecast	200611	1	Dec	98	11	74	75.5
		Peach Inquiry - Forecast (Jul)	200607	11	Jul	1,347	231	897	66.6
		Peach Inquiry - Forecast (Jul)	200601	1	Jul	166	51	141	84.9
		Peach Inquiry - Forecast (Jun)	200606	3	Jun	412	78	262	63.6
	End-of-Season Production and Disposition	Peach Prod & Disp Inquiry (Dec)	200630		Dec	1,458	322	1,027	70.4
	Processors	Peach Processing Inquiry (Dec)	200660	2	Dec	2		2	100.0
		Peach Processing Inquiry (Dec)	200661	1	Dec	8	4	8	100.0
		Peach Processing Inquiry (Dec)	200651	3	Dec	8	3	7	87.5
		Peach and Prune Packing Costs	030377	1	Dec	28	3	3	10.7
		Apricot, Peach, and Prune Processing Rpt	060152	1	Dec	4		4	100.0
Pears	End-of-Season Production and Disposition	Pear Prod & Disp	000605	5	Dec	383	54	185	48.3
	Processors	Pear Processing Inquiry	000610	4	2	37	16	27	73.0
SMALL FRUITS
Multiple Berries	End-of-Season Production and Disposition	Post-harvest Berry Survey - Washington	000626	1	Dec	525	8	457	87.0
		Berry Inquiry	000620	2	Dec	1,123	195	915	81.5
		Bushberry Inquiry (Dec) California	000625	1	Dec	49	23	34	69.4
Blueberries	Growers	Blueberry Inquiry	000614	6	2	1,504	725	1,167	77.6
	Handlers	Blueberry Handler Inquiry	000617	2	Ann	10	4	7	70.0
	Processors	Blueberry Processors Inquiry	000616	1	Dec	40	11	24	60.0
Cranberries	Forecast	Cranberry Inquiry	000613	3	2	676	160	586	86.7
	Handlers	Cranberry Handlers Inquiry	000612	4	2	34	12	21	61.8

Grapes	Forecast	Grape Inquiry	000609	7	2 Mos	2,047	573	1,525	74.5
		Grape Inquiry, August 1	000701	5	Aug	1,173		698	59.5
		Vineyard Production Forecast - Oregon	060105	1	Jan	774	415	679	87.7
	End-of-Season Production and Disposition	Grape Prod & Disp Inquiry (Dec)	000703	5	Dec	1,472	526	1062	72.1
	Processors	Grape Processing Inquiry (Dec)	000702	7	Dec	627	310	492	78.5
		Winery Survey, Crush, Sales & Inventory -OR	060106	2	Dec	501	204	261	52.1
NUTS
Almonds	Handlers	Almond Price Inquiry - California	050134	1	2	189	24	92	48.7
Hazelnuts	Forecasts	Hazelnut Production Survey - Oregon	060110	1	Dec	20	11	12	60.0
	End-of-Season Production and Disposition	Hazelnut Production & Disposition - Oregon	060112	1	Jun	577	198	430	74.5
	Inventory	Tree Inventory, every 5 years
Macadamia Nuts	Growers	Macadamia Nut Grower Survey - Final (Hawaii)	060126	1	Jun	791	387	401	50.7
		Macadamia Nut Survey, Annual - Hawaii	060124	1	Oct	18	14	14	77.8
	Processors	Macadamia Nut Processor Survey - Hawaii	060125	1	2	16	6	13	81.3
Pecans	Forecast	Pecan Inquiry (Dec - Forecast)	060054	7	Dec	3,321	551	1,841	55.4
		Pecan Inquiry (Oct - Forecast)	060090	9	Oct	3,293	718	2,034	61.8
	End-of-Season Production and Disposition	Pecan Prod & Disp (May)	060072	6	May	2,307	557	1,911	82.8
	Buyers	Pecan Buyers Survey (May)	060071	3	May	72	27	55	76.4
	Processors	Pecan Shellers & Processors Inquiry (May)	060070	8	May	555	138	432	77.8
Pistachios	Handlers	Pistachio Production & Price Inquiry - California	060117	1	2	20	6	20	100.0
Walnuts	Handlers	Walnut Price Inquiry - California	050133	1	May	53	14	38	71.7

SPECIALTY CROPS
Coffee	Growers	Coffee Grower Survey - Annual (Hawaii)	060127	1	Oct	331	113	316	95.5
	Millers	Coffee Millers Report - Hawaii	060128	1	2	39	17	38	97.4
Ginger Root	Growers	Ginger Root Grower Survey - Hawaii	060136	1	Jun	43	10	39	90.7
	Shippers	Ginger Root Shippers Survey - Hawaii	060137	1	Jun	51	12	46	90.2
Hops	Forecast	Hops Acres Strung by Variety (May)	060100	2	May	47	30	47	100.0
		Hops Growers Inquiry (Aug)	060089	3	Aug	69	39	53	76.8
	Prices	Hops Sold-Ahead Survey	060096	3	Mar	76	30	62	81.6
		Hops Inquiry - Quantity and Price	060095	1	Dec	4	2	4	100.0
	End-of-Season Production and Disposition	Hops A & P	060097	2	Dec	46	20	44	95.7
Kiwifruit	Handlers	Kiwifruit Price Inquiry - California	050132	1	May	43	6	21	48.8
Maple Syrup	End-of-Season Production and Disposition	Maple Syrup Inquiry	000520	5	May	3,824	1,339	2,689	70.3
Mushrooms	Growers	Mushroom Growers (Jul)	060085	4	Jul	28	5	25	100.0
		Mushroom Growers - Agaricus (Jul)	060084	11	Jul	174	30	140	80.5
		Mushroom Growers - Specialty (Jul)	060086	16	Jul	186	31	125	67.2
Olives	Handlers	Olive Price and Utilization - California	050136	1	2	30	8	26	86.7
Papaya	Growers	Papaya Acreage Survey, Special - Hawaii	060130	1	Aug	276	69	256	92.8
	Prices	Papaya Price Survey (Monthly) - Hawaii	050041	1	12	55	43	43	78.2
Taro	Growers	Taro for Poi Survey - Hawaii	060132	1	Oct	197	51	178	90.4
	Mills	Taro Millings Survey - Quarterly (Hawaii)	060133	1	4	58	16	54	93.1

MULTIPLE FRUIT SURVEYS
Multiple Crop Inquiries	Forecasts	Fruit Inquiry	200012	1	Sep	49	12	38	77.6
		Fruit Inquiry	000509	1	4 mos	3,545		2,525	71.2
		Fruit Inquiry	000506	6	4 mos	3,881		1,520	39.2
		Fruit Inquiry, August - Forecast	200008	5	Aug	1,001	163	637	63.6
		Fruit Inquiry, October - Forecast	200010	1	Oct	426	114	338	79.3
	Processing	Fruit Processing Inquiry	200060	3	M/s	69	28	52	75.4
	Prices	Fruit Prices - Pennsylvania	200095	1	M/s	731	66	66	9.0
	California	Date Production and Price - California	050135	1	May	14	4	12	85.7
		Dried Fruit Inquiry (Nov) - California	200001	1	Nov	12	4	10	83.3
	Hawaii	Fruit Survey, Hawaii (Annual)	815003	1	Apr	1,145	449	627	54.8
Totals						53,971	11,893	36,465	67.6%

• For Multiple Fruit Surveys – Processing - we conducted the Fruit Price survey in Pennsylvania (sample size of 731) in 2006

and 2007it will be discontinued in 2008. We found suitable administrative data that we will use in the absence of this survey.

2. Describe the procedures for the collection of information including:

• 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

Overview - With all NASS surveys the goal is to collect data from at least 80% of the records sampled and more importantly, achieve coverage for at least 80% of the production data or production area. We utilize mail, phone and personal interviews to collect data. In our ongoing effort to collect quality data in a timely and economic manner, NASS utilizes the mail as the first method of data collection with selected phone or personal interview follow up for non-response. With limited funds for extensive data collection, phone and field enumeration is targeted for the larger operations that will help achieve 80% coverage of production or production area.

Low Response Rates - With surveys that have persistently low response rates, NASS looks for alternative ways of collecting the data; particularly sources of administrative data. In instances where these data provide sufficient coverage and accuracy, we consider the opportunity to discontinue collections and reduce burden.

Sampling - Most fruit, nut, and specialty surveys are non-probability surveys selected to represent and provide coverage for fruit, nut and specialty crop producing regions of each State. Samples are selected based on acreage control data to ensure coverage of all size operations. Probability sampling is only used for the Oregon Hazelnut Objective Yield Survey.

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. For collections based on sampling, a special justification must be provided for any collection that will not yield "reliable" data that can be generalized to the universe studied.

Field Office staff routinely visit producers and industry organizations to promote the program and importance of cooperating. NASS maintains a presence at National industry meetings, often setting up promotional booths at trade shows. Occasionally, letters of endorsement are obtained from industry leaders. Most States conduct a full non-response follow up.

Some of the specialty surveys may have only a few respondents who account for a majority of the data for that given commodity. State Field Offices, in their efforts to reduce respondent burden as well as reduce the costs of data collection will concentrate their data collection efforts on the major producers for each of the commodities. Questionnaires are mailed out to the smaller respondents with minimal follow up. The information received in the mail is used to update control data as well as help States to establish the number of growers for each of the commodities. However, in most cases the total production, prices, area in production, etc. are estimated from data received from the larger operations. More importantly than getting the 80% good response rate for each survey, States strive to get a greater than 80% coverage of data for all surveys.

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

All data collections follow standardized procedures to ensure accurate estimates. Check data are available for most of the crops after the marketing season ends.

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.

Sample sizes for each State are reviewed by the Agency's Statistical Methods Branch, Statistics Division; Branch Chief is Dave Aune, (202)720-4008.

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

Survey data are collected, reviewed, and summarized by the State Field Offices. Publications are released from the State Offices and Headquarters.

March 2007

Revised January 2008

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