SUPPORTING STATEMENT  –  Part B

COTTON GINNINGS

OMB No. 0535-0220

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 universe for Cotton Ginings consists of all cotton gins in the 17 program states.  This is a census: all operations will be selected for the survey. Response rates for the 2008-09 marketing season are shown in the table below. 

2.	Describe the procedures for the collection of information.

The respondent universe for the cotton ginnings program consists of all cotton gins in the 17 program states.  No sampling is used.  All operating gins are mailed a letter, optional record book, and Web instructions at the beginning of the season.  Operations that will not gin cotton this season or who have dismantled their equipment will be removed from the sample for the current year. During the crop year they receive a questionnaire on which to enter summary data from the record book or from their own computer files for the current monthly or semi-monthly period.  Contacts conclude when ginnings are completed for the season.  All operations receive a final questionnaire by March.

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.

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) maintains a list (names and addresses) of gins that is annually matched and reconciled with the existing NASS list.  NASS State Statistical Offices perform additional list maintenance as data become available during the surveys and from knowledge of occurrences within the industry.  Maintenance of names and control data provide for an efficient list sampling frame.

After non-response follow-ups, we have a very good overall response rate. However, "ginnings to date" are imputed for firms that do not respond. This creates the possibility that, during the following survey period, gins may report fewer bales ginned to date than the level previously imputed.  The result is that the following ginnings report would show fewer bales ginned than the previous report.  Imputation procedures and other statistical procedures were reviewed by the NASS Statistical Methods Branch, Statistics Division. The resulting estimates provide reliable and useable measures of this industry.

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

No test of procedures is proposed for this survey.

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.

Specifications and survey design were developed by Statistical Methods Branch, Statistics Division; Branch Chief is Dave Aune, (202)720-4008.

The sampling plan was developed by the Sample Design Section of the Sampling Branch, Census and Survey Division; Branch Chief is Bill Iwig, (202)720-3895.

List maintenance, data collection and editing is carried out by NASS State Statistical Offices; Deputy Administrator for Field Operations is Marshall Dantzler, (202)720-3638.

The NASS commodity statistician in Headquarters for cotton is Shiela Corley, (202)720-5944, in the Field Crops Section of the Crops Branch, Statistics Division.  She is responsible for summary, analysis, and publication.

	August 2010