2012 Census of Agriculture - Pre-survey Letter

United States
Department
of Agriculture

December 28, 2012

Dear Agricultural Producer:
National
Agricultural
Statistics
Service

On behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture, I am requesting your assistance with the 2012
Census of Agriculture. This census is conducted once every 5 years, resulting in valuable
information that is used by local communities to plan for their futures.
The 2012 Census of Agriculture must be accurate to provide the most benefit. As such, we
are asking you to carefully complete and return the enclosed census form. Responses will be
reported in aggregate form only (all individual responses are kept confidential) with trends
and composite data available to you, your local community, your congressional
representatives, and members of the general public.
As a reminder, the Census of Agriculture is both required by law and protected by law (Title
7, U.S. Code). As with all information collected by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics
Service, Federal law requires that your individual answers are kept completely confidential.
No information associated with any individual’s name is shared with any other Federal, State
or local agency, nor with any other agency within USDA.
As an alternative to the enclosed form, the 2012 Census of Agriculture can be reported via the
Internet at www.agcensus.nass.usda.gov. This option will work better with a high-speed
connection. Please follow the instructions on the site. You will need your report form with
your Census ID printed on the label. If you have problems accessing or using the Web site,
please call (888) 424-7828 (toll free).
Please help us make the census a success and give your voice to U.S. agriculture by
completing and returning the enclosed report form or responding via the Internet by
February 4, 2012. If you need guidance or have questions, call (888) 424-7828 (toll free).
Please have your Census ID number (printed on the address label of your report form) handy
if you call.
Thank you for taking part in this effort to provide a complete, accurate and timely 2012
Census of Agriculture. This truly is your opportunity to speak out and make a positive impact
for your community and for U.S. agriculture. It is your future, your voice, your responsibility.
Sincerely,

Cynthia Clark
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Enclosures

It’s Convenient. It’s Secure.

Online Survey Response

Completing your survey online saves you time by allowing you to skip over questions that don’t apply
to you, by calculating totals automatically, and by providing drop-down menus for common answers.
It also saves taxpayer dollars that would otherwise be spent on return postage and data entry.
To complete your survey online, just follow these steps:

1. Go to: www.agcounts.usda.gov. When you are ready to proceed, click “Next Page.”
2. Enter the 17-digit SURVEY CODE found on your mailing label.
SURVEY CODE = AA BBBBBBBBB 123456

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ID AABBBBBBBBB CCC DD EEE F GG
JQP FARMS
JOHN Q PUBLIC
123 CTY RD1
ANYTOWN, ST 12345-6789

3. Select your survey by clicking the “Click for Survey” button.
4. Answer the questions then click “Continue with Survey.”
Do not click the “Submit” button until you are sure you are finished with your survey. If you wish to save
your form and return later, click “Save and Return Later.” To return, just go back to step 1 above.
After you submit your survey, select the “click here” link to view your completed form. You may select
the “Print” link to print a copy for your files.

United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service
NASS Online Survey Support (800) 727-9540

www.nass.usda.gov