Non-substantive Change Request

April 2018

Non-substantive Change Request

(0535-0213) Cattle on Feed

NASS is currently approved to conduct monthly Cattle on Feed surveys. Included on these surveys were questions relating to the prices of alfalfa and other hays. NASS has been directed by the “AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2018” to expand the scope of the data collected. The BILL states

“Alfalfa Prices.—The Committee is concerned that the National Agricultural Statistics Service monthly Agricultural Prices Report only lists the average price received by agricultural producers for alfalfa sold, with no further breakdown of alfalfa hay that meets the higher quality standards required for dairy feed (graded as premium or better, or the equivalent). The Committee directs the National Agricultural Statistics Service to calculate and report in the monthly Agricultural Prices Report on the average price of premium or better alfalfa sold in the United States can be attributed to the adjustment to sample sizes to reflect changes in the target population.” (Published July 20, 2017).

NASS will be making this non-substantive change by adding a couple of questions to the Cattle on Feed monthly questionnaire. These questions are not expected to add any additional burden on the respondent, since the alfalfa questions that were previously asked are being reworded and supplemented to add clarity and focus to target premium and supreme alfalfa hay prices.

Identical questions have also been added to the quarterly Milk Production (0535-0020) questionnaires to collect data from dairy operations.