Pre-Survey Letter

United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service

December 10, 2012

Dear Producer,
The apiary industry has faced a number of serious issues in recent years, including loss of
colonies. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)
measures the size and condition of the industry each year through the annual nationwide Bee and
Honey Survey. The results of the survey are important to the industry. The resulting statistics are
used to compare conditions from year to year and to help promote programs as well as to ensure
the viability of beekeepers and agricultural pollination services.
Please respond to the attached survey, which asks you for information on honey production,
colony numbers and value. Your participation is important. To make responding as convenient as
possible, NASS offers the following options to respond:
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By Internet at www.agcounts.usda.gov. This method is fast, easy and secure. You will need
the 17-digit response code found on the survey mailing label to begin; then follow the
instructions on the back of this letter.
By mail or fax. Complete the survey questionnaire and mail it back in the return envelope
provided or fax it to (314) 595-9990.

If you do not respond by January 22, 2013, a NASS representative will contact you to arrange a
telephone or personal interview. Please be assured that NASS will keep your responses to this
survey completely confidential, as required by Federal law. NASS safeguards the privacy of all
respondents, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified.
NASS will publish the survey results in its annual Honey report, to be released on March 18,
2013.
Thank you in advance for your responding to the survey and for your support of U.S. agriculture.
Sincerely,

Hubert Hamer
Chair, Agricultural Statistics Board
Enclosure
1400 Independence Avenue, SW · Washington, D.C. 20250
www.nass.usda.gov
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.