Sample Respondent Letter

Sample respondent letter for Nursery and Floriculture Chemical Use Survey

[Date]

Dear Grower:

Your operation has been selected to participate in the 2009 Nursery and Floriculture Chemical Use Survey, conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Your cooperation ensures that NASS will be able to provide timely, accurate and unbiased reporting on nursery and floriculture production and chemical usage according to the best frontline source – YOU, the grower.

All sectors of the industry – whether producers, buyers, suppliers, policymakers or others – rely on NASS nursery and floriculture data to make sound business decisions. Although 2005 was a very successful year for many (State) growers, we know this season has produced new challenges with uncertain input costs and (specific State concerns).

Responding to this survey will produce some of the most valuable information growers and others depend on to help plan the future of their business. Operations in six states were selected from a sample of growers with gross sales in excess of $10,000 of either nursery or floriculture crops.

This survey provides a small sample of 4,000 growers the opportunity to establish the facts about the industry’s use of agricultural chemicals and integrated pest management practices.

Between now and (month) we will contact you to set up a personal interview.

Your survey response will be kept completely confidential, as required by federal law. NASS safeguards the privacy of all responses and publishes only state- and national-level data, ensuring that no individual operation or grower can be identified.

Thank you in advance for your support of our programs and (State) agriculture. If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact me at (800) xxx-xxxx.

Sincerely,

(Director’s Name)

Director

Enclosure