Supplemental Supporting Statement Part B for Substantive Change July 2022

SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORTING STATEMENT Part B

Agricultural Resource Management and Chemical Use Surveys

Substantive Change

OMB No. 0535-0218

This substantive change is being submitted as a supplemental supporting statement for including the 2022 Agricultural Resource Management Surveys (ARMS) 2 and 2022 Vegetable Chemical Use Survey.

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.

There will be no changes in the respondent universe documented in the substantive change request approved on May 31, 2022.

Depending on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) field enumerators will be conducting surveys by in person interviews. During to the pandemic, NASS made changes to our data collection efforts to accommodate social distancing. If the current situation of the pandemic allows, NASS will resume personal interviewing using the National Association of State Department of Agriculture (NASDA) enumerators to collect the data. The surveys have been changed to allow for data collection by computer assisted web interviews (CAWI) and computer assisted telephone interviews (CATI).

There will be no changes to the universe covered by these revised 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 additional questions.

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 be utilizing in-person enumeration and computer assisted web interviews depending on the status of 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.

Burden for additional mailings is included in this substantive change request. In addition to the added physical mailings, NASS is beginning to implement electronic mail (e-mail) reminders with a link to for the respondent to complete the survey online. E-mail reminders will be used for respondents who opted-in to receiving E-Mail reminders.

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

There are no changes from the original approval on test of procedures.

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 operations are carried out by NASS Regional Field Offices; Western Field Operation’s Director is Troy Joshua, (202) 720-8220. Eastern Field Operation’s Director is Jody McDaniel, (202) 720-3638.

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.

July 2022a

2