0220-cotgin-2013-SSB

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 Ginnings 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 2012-13 marketing season are shown in the table below. Operations that become ineligible later in the season because they have completed ginning for the season are included in the table below. In future dockets they will be removed from the calculations.

NASS does not calculate a monthly coverage rate for the gins reporting data, however, for the year the coverage rate is comparable to the contact rates. The ginning capacity is relatively uniform across the industry.

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 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 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. 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 from administrative AMS data. Imputation procedures and other statistical procedures were reviewed by the NASS Summary, Estimation and Disclosure Methodology Branch, Methodology 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 Summary, Estimation, and Disclosure Branch, Methodology Division; Section Head is Mark Apodaca (202) 720-2857.

The sampling plan was developed by the Sampling and Frame Development Section of the Sampling, Editing, and Imputation Methodology Branch, Methodology Division; Section Head is Eric Porter, (202)720-5269.

Data collection is carried out by NASS Regional Field Offices; Eastern Field Operation’s Director is Norman Bennett, (202) 720-3638 and the Western Field Operation’s Director is Kevin Barnes (202) 720-8220.

The NASS commodity statistician in Headquarters for cotton is Angie Considine, (202)720-7688, in the Field Crops Section of the Crops Branch, Statistics Division. She is responsible for summary, analysis, and publication.

Coordination of data collection, training, and quality control is the responsibility of the Standards and Survey Development Methodology Branch; Branch Chief is Dave Kleweno, (202) 720-2248.

November 2013

Revised March 2014