May 7, 2020
Non-substantive Change Request to Field Crop Objective Yield Surveys for Corn, Cotton and Soybeans 0535-0088
NASS is requesting a non-substantive change to the Objective Yield Program. This change is being requested due to the COVID-19 virus and the need for social distancing. Previously, the Objective Yield Form A surveys were conducted face to face with a NASDA Field Enumerator and the farm operator. This form was used to identify the target fields and to explain the survey process to the farm operator. In addition, the forms were used to obtain the respondent’s permission to collect data from their fields during the growing season. The corn and soybean Form A’s will be completed in early to mid-August. The cotton Form A’s will be completed in early to mid-July due to the earlier harvest dates. This is similar to the change that was made for wheat Form A’s and approved by OMB on April 1, 2020. With the COVID-19 virus, NASS enumerators will be conducting this initial survey by telephone.
Minor changes are needed to the questionnaires to accommodate this change in data collection modes and the selection of the targeted field(s) via the telephone. The new questionnaires are attached to this submission. The amount of respondent burden will not change. In addition, the revised pre-survey letter is also attached to this submission
The Objective Yield corn, soybeans and cotton sampling frames comprises reported corn, soybeans and cotton acreages, respectively, on the 2020 June Crops Acreage, Production and Stocks Survey. There are no changes to the sample size determination or sample selection processes. However, the farm operator’s field selection process is modified. The selected corn, soybean and cotton field is defined as the corn, soybean and cotton field, respectively, closest to the farm operator’s residence. A random selection process to select additional fields will be employed for farm operators that have more than one selected field.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | Hancock, David - NASS |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-01-14 |