December Hog and Pigs - Cover Letter

[Date]

Dear Mr./Ms. [Lastname]:

Enclosed is a copy of the 2013 December Hogs and Pigs survey. This survey collects information from producers around the country on market hog and breeding stock inventory, farrowing intentions, and the latest pig crop. The information helps producers, analysts, and others assess supply and demand, develop production and marketing strategies, estimate farm and national income, and make other critical decisions.

As a pork producer, your participation is important. You have the following ways to respond:

• Online at www.agcounts.usda.gov. This method is fast, easy and secure. See the instructions on the back of this letter. You will need your unique 17-digit survey code from the survey mailing label to begin.

• By mail or fax. Complete the survey questionnaire and return it in the envelope provided or fax it to (XXX) XXX-XXXX.

If you do not respond by [Date of Non-response calling], we will contact you to arrange a telephone or personal interview.

As required by Federal law, your responses are completely confidential. We safeguard the privacy of all respondents, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified. We will publish the aggregate results on December 27, 2013, in the quarterly Hogs and Pigs report available at www.nass.usda.gov.

Thank you for participating and for your support of agricultural statistics and [State] agriculture. If you have questions or concerns, please contact [Firstname Lastname] at (800) XXX-XXXX.

Sincerely,

[Director’s/State Statistician’s Name]

[Director/State Statistician]

Enclosures