Jamie Ryan Lockman, MT Organic Association - Reply Letter

United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service

April 23, 2019
Jamie Ryan Lockman,
Executive Director
Montana Organic Association
Subject: The need for comprehensive organic data. – Docket Number 0535 – 0249

Dear Jamie,
Thank you for your recent letter concerning the renewal of the Organic Survey. The content of
the Organic Survey has been developed over the years at the request of numerous data users,
including, but not limited to: Risk Management Agency, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation,
Agricultural Marketing Service, Economic Research Service, Natural Resource and
Conservation Service and many others. The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will
be conducting cognitive interviews in the upcoming months to improve the questionnaire. NASS
is also looking for ways to streamline the questionnaire while still providing data users with the
data they need.
The Organic Survey is extremely important to our data users.
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Again, many thanks!
Digitally signed by JOSEPH PARSONS
DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=Department
of Agriculture, cn=JOSEPH PARSONS,
0.9.2342.19200300.100.1.1=12001000050032
Date: 2019.04.29 09:57:47 -04'00'

Joseph L. Parsons
Chair, Agricultural Statistics Board
U.S. Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service

1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250
(202) 720-2127 · (202) 720-3578 FAX · www.nass.usda.gov
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.