Supplemental Supporting Statement Part B for Substantive Changes April 2022

SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORTING STATEMENT Part B

ARMS 1, ARMS 2, ARMS 3, Fruit Chemical Use Survey and State Cooperative Surveys

Substantive Change

OMB No. 0535-0218

This substantive change is being submitted as a supplemental supporting statement to the existing clearance for the Agricultural Resource Management Surveys (ARMS), the Fruit Chemical Use Survey, and State Cooperative Chemical Use Surveys for the following purposes:

• Announce target commodities for 2022 cycle, and

• to collect data from additional historically underserved farm producer groups.

B. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

1. Describe (including a numerical estimate) the potential respondent universe and any sampling or other respondent selection method to be used. Data on the number of entities (e.g., establishments, State and local government units, households, or persons) in the universe covered by the collection and in the corresponding sample are to be provided in tabular form for the universe as a whole and for each of the strata in the proposed sample. Indicate expected response rates for the collection as a whole. If the collection has been conducted previously, include the actual response rate achieved during the last collection.

The goal of the increased sample size for the ARMS 3 survey is to obtain an additional 1,500 completed, positive reports from traditionally underserved operators to derive national-level estimates for certain underserved groups. Underserved operations to be investigated for the 2022 survey are operations whose primary operator is either Black, American Indian-Alaska Native, Asian or Hispanic.

The ARMS surveys are not conducted in Alaska and Hawaii, so Alaska and Hawaii native populations are not targeted for this research. The current operational sample along with the proposed additional sample should also be capable of creating estimates for women, beginning farmers, and farmers below a certain income threshold group. As a result, no additional targeting will be needed at this time. Future ARMS surveys will continue to look at all of the groups classified as underserved.

Data for the universe of traditionally unserved operators comes from the NASS list frame.

To maximize the probability of achieving the 1,500 complete, positive reports for underserved operators, additional sampling targets were established for Black, American Indian – Alaska Native, Asian, and Hispanic operators. The ARMS screening phase will verify if the operations selected to represent the scope of traditionally underserved operators is still in business. The ARMS screening phase will not verify if the operator is an underserved operator.

There will be no other changes to the universe defined for the ARMS and chemical use surveys. Training will be provided to the NASDA enumerators so that they can respond to any questions or concerns the respondents may have relating to these changes.

2. Describe the procedures for the collection of information including:

• statistical methodology for stratification and sample selection,

• estimation procedure,

• degree of accuracy needed for the purpose described in the justification,

• unusual problems requiring specialized sampling procedures

NASS will utilize field enumeration for the ARMS and Chemical Use Surveys depending on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic. If field enumeration is not possible, then NASS will continue to utilize phone enumeration and computer assisted web interviews, when possible, for these surveys in response to the need for social distancing due to the pandemic.

3. Describe methods to maximize response rates and to deal with issues of non-response. The accuracy and reliability of information collected must be shown to be adequate for intended uses. For collections based on sampling a special justification must be provided for any collection that will not yield "reliable" data that can be generalized to the universe studied.

NASS will utilize field enumeration for the ARMS and Chemical Use Surveys depending on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic. If field enumeration is not possible, then NASS will continue to utilize phone enumeration and computer assisted web interviews, when possible, for these surveys in response to the need for social distancing due to the pandemic.

4. Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken.

No changes to the ARMS screening survey questionnaire is included in this request.

5. Provide the name and telephone number of individuals consulted on statistical aspects of the design and the name of the agency unit, contractor(s), or other person(s) who will actually collect and/or analyze the information for the agency.

Survey design and methodology are determined by the Summary, Estimation, and Disclosure Methodology Branch, Statistics Division; Branch Chief is Jeff Bailey, (202) 690-8141.

Sample sizes for each State are determined by the Sampling, Editing, and Imputation Methodology Branch, Methods Division; Branch Chief is Mark Apodaca, (202) 690-8141.

Data collection is carried out by NASS Field Offices; Eastern Field Operation’s Director is Jody McDaniel (202) 720-3638 and the Western Field Operation’s Director is Troy Joshua, (202) 720-8220.

The NASS survey statisticians in Headquarters listed below are responsible for coordination of sampling, questionnaires, data collection, and other Field Office support. Branch Chief is Gerald Tillman, (202) 720-3918; Section Head is Torey Lawrence (202) 720-5921.

April 2022

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