Non-substantive Change Request for ARMS II Wheat

March 2017

Non-substantive Change Request

(0535-0218) ARMS II – Wheat Production Practices and Costs Report

One of the biggest users of the ARMS data is the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS). NASS works very closely with ERS to make sure that the questions are relevant and current to changes that effect farmers and their production of the targeted crop(s). Based on feedback we received from ERS along with information provided by respondents and enumerators from the previous years’ surveys, several formatting and grammatical changes were made to the 2017 version of the questionnaire.

Section B – Field Characteristics

• Several wording changes were made to the questions relating to seed treatments to add clarity to the questions.

• Added a couple of questions related to livestock that grazed the wheat fields after harvesting.

• Added an extra option for Technical Planning Assistance (Question 22) to include Self-funded (hired provider).

• Added some more detailed questions on subsurface drainage.

• Added 4 questions related to crop insurance for hail damage.

• Dropped cover crop questions.

• Dropped a couple of the questions related to conservation programs that did not need to be asked again this year.

Section C – Nutrient and Fertilizer Applications

• In the fertilizer application table two new options were added for when the fertilizer(s) were applied, to add more clarity.

• Dropped a couple of the questions relating to the application of manure to wheat fields.

• Dropped several of the questions about why the farmer changed cropping practices related to commercial fertilizer usage.

Section E – Pest Management Practices

• Added several clarifying questions regarding the use of beneficial organisms and the timing of their application.

Section F – Field Operations

• Added one question regarding the drying of the wheat that was harvested from the target field.

• Added a question to see if farmers were using any farming specific apps for their phones or tablets.

Section G – Irrigation

• Added a question related to the cost of water purchased for irrigation.

These non-substantive changes will improve the usability of the data and should make it easier for the respondents to report data for their operations. There are no expected changes to burden minutes due to these changes.