ARMS Core Pre-Survey letter

United States

Department

of Agriculture

National

Agricultural

Statistics

Service

December 20, 2006

Dear [Mr./Ms. LastName]:

As a farm operator, you rely on quality information and sound government policies in order to run a successful business. That’s why your participation in the 2006 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) is so important.

ARMS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s primary source of information on the production practices, resource use and economic well-being of America’s farm households. ARMS gives U.S. farmers, like you, the opportunity to set the record straight about the issues that affect you – and to ensure that policies and programs are based on accurate, real-world data that come straight from the producers themselves.

Only one out of every 58 farm operators nationwide has been selected to participate in this upcoming survey. You are part of this small, but representative sample, being asked to provide critical information on the financial state of U.S. agriculture. Within the next few days you should receive an ARMS questionnaire in the mail. Please respond to all of the questions as accurately as possible and return the form in a timely manner.

As is the case with all surveys conducted by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), be assured that your responses to ARMS will be kept completely confidential, as required by federal law. NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents and publishes only state- and national-level data, ensuring that no individual respondent or operation can be identified.

I realize that your time is valuable. Remember your participation in ARMS ensures that decisions affecting you, your family, your business, and your community are based on the facts, straight from the source. And better data mean better decisions.

Please read the enclosed information to learn more about how ARMS – and your responses – help shape the policies and programs that affect U.S. farmers and farm families.

Sincerely,

R. Ronald Bosecker

Administrator

Enclosure