QID 248010 ARS Residue & Biomass Field Survey - September Permissio

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ARS RESIDUE & BIOMASS FIELD SURVEY – 2012 PILOT September, 2012 Field Sample Permission Form
			OMB No. 0535-0248 Approval Expires: 8/31/2014 Project Code: 516 QID: 248010
					NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE

National Agricultural Statistics Service U.S Department of Agriculture Iowa Field Office 210 Walnut St., Room 833 Des Moines, IA 50309 Phone: 1-800-772-0825 Fax: 1-800-719-1794 Email: [email protected]

We are collecting information on cost and returns and need your help to make the information as accurate as possible. Under Title 7 of the U.S. Code and CIPSEA (Public Law 107-347), facts about your operation are kept confidential and used only for statistical purposes. Response is voluntary. You may skip any question(s) you prefer not to answer. Thank you for your help.

Dear Operator,

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Iowa Field Office is working on a joint project with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Hydrology and Remote Sensing Lab to conduct research on biomass and crop production in the South Fork watershed area. This study requires sampling corn plants from fields in this watershed area around the mid to late September timeframe. Data on the field crop yields and biomass collected will be used for two purposes:

1. Validate crop yield assessment based on satellite images (photos) collected during the

growing season to be used in statistical models, which will provide additional parameters to help NASS predict county and state yield estimates more accurately.

2. Biomass data from corn fields at the end of the season helps to assess the potential for development of biofuels for ethanol production.

The sample area will be approximately 6 corn plants. There will be two such samples within each field. The plants will be removed from the field and separated into biomass and grain for use in crop yield models.

There will be multiple satellite systems acquiring data over the South Fork watershed. Upon project completion, ARS will be glad to provide you with processed pictures of the South Fork watershed.

Yes, I give permission_____________________________________________ (signed name)

Yes, I would like results mailed to me ________________________________ (printed name)

________________________________ (address)

________________________________

Please feel free to call my office at 1-800-772-0825 if you have any questions.

S

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0535-0218. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 20 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

incerely,

Greg Thessen

Director , USDA NASS, Iowa Field Office