Hort Cover Letter

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

December 15, 2014

Dear Horticultural Specialist,

The Census of Horticultural Specialties is the only source of comparable and consistent data at the national and state levels for the U.S. nursery, floriculture and specialty crop industries. Last conducted for 2009, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is conducting the 2014 Census of Horticultural Specialties to gather current data. This new information will help ensure that policymakers, organizations and businesses have up-to-date facts to make decisions that affect the sustainability and growth of the industry. Your response is important.

Please respond to the Census promptly in either of the following ways:

• Online at www.agcensus.usda.gov beginning December 15. Responding online is the easiest, fastest and safest way to complete your questionnaire and it saves taxpayer dollars too. All you need is the identification number on the enclosed form to begin.

• By mail. Complete the enclosed form and mail it back in the return envelope provided.

This census is part of the Census of Agriculture Program which is required by law and protected by law (Title 7, U.S. Code and the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act). These federal laws require that NASS keeps your identity and your answers confidential.

Please respond by February 05, 2015. For more information about the Census of Horticultural Specialties, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov. If you have questions, call (888) 424-7828.

Thank you in advance for your participation in the 2014 Census of Horticultural Specialties.

Sincerely,

Joseph Reilly

Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service

United States Department of Agriculture

Enclosures

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.