0005 - Livestock Slaughter - Cover Letter

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

[Date]

Dear Mr./Ms. [Lastname]:

The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service has enclosed a copy of the Livestock Slaughter Survey form. Data for this survey supports American producers, livestock industry and your business by providing USDA and the livestock industry with basic data to project future meat supplies and producer prices. Agricultural economists in both the public and private sectors use this information in economic analysis and research.

Because we want to make it as easy as possible for you to participate, we offer the following options to respond:

• Online at www.agcounts.usda.gov beginning on [Date EDR opens]. Responding online is the easiest, fastest and safest way to complete your survey and it saves taxpayer dollars too. All you need is the identification number on the enclosed form to begin. Instructions are also 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 (XXX) XXX-XXXX.

If you do not respond by [Date of Non-response calling], we will attempt to contact you by phone to collect your data.

Under Title 7 of the U.S. Code and Title V of the E-Government Act of 2002, facts about your operation are kept confidential and used only for statistical purposes in combination with similar reports from other producers. Response is voluntary.

We will publish the survey findings in the monthly Livestock Slaughter reports and an annual summary. All NASS publications are available online at www.nass.usda.gov. Thank you for participating and for your support of our programs and [State] agriculture. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact [Firstname Lastname] at (800) XXX-XXXX.

Sincerely,

[Name]

[State Statistician/Director/Title]

Enclosures