Supplemental Supporting Statement Part B - Maple 2023

SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORTING STATEMENT Part B

FRUIT, NUTS, AND SPECIALTY CROPS

Substantive Change

OMB No. 0535-0039

This substantive change is being submitted as a supplemental supporting statement to the Fruit, Nuts, and Specialty Crops docket. This document identifies changes made to the Maple Syrup Survey that will be conducted starting in May 2023.

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 are no changes from the original approval.

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

There are no changes to the procedures used for data collection from the original approval.

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.

The industry and NASS have worked closely on the new questionnaire changes which we believe will help maximize response rates for the Maple Syrup Survey. The French version of the Maple Syrup questionnaire has been discontinued due to the lack of usefulness. There are no changes to the modes used for data collection from the original approval.

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

NASS conducted nine cognitive interviews over the phone with respondents to the 2022 version of the Survey. Respondents were operators of maple syrup operations located in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and New York. Interviews lasted approximately 30 minutes in time. Participants were emailed a copy of the survey in advance of the phone call to follow along. The project was “iterative” in nature, meaning that we made adjustments to the questionnaire after a handful of interviews and tested those changes in subsequent interviews.

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), grantee(s), or other person(s) who will actually collect and/or analyze the information for the agency.

Survey sample sizes are determined by the Sampling and Frame Development Section and reviewed and approved by NASS Survey Teams. The Agency's Sampling, Editing and Imputation Methodology Branch, Methods Division; Branch Chief is Mark Apodaca (202) 690-8141.

Data collection is carried out by NASS Regional 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 administrators in Headquarters for the Fruit, Nut and Specialty Surveys are in the Commodity Surveys Section of the Survey Administration Branch, Census and Survey Division; Branch Chief is Gerald Tillman, (202) 720-3918. The survey administrators are responsible for coordination of sampling, questionnaires, data collection, training, Interviewer’s Manuals, Survey Administration Manuals, data processing, and other Regional Office support.

Estimates are compiled and reviewed by the Agency’s Statistics Division, Crops Branch; Branch Chief is Lance Honig, (202) 720-2127.

Survey data are collected, reviewed, and summarized by the Regional Field Offices. Publications are released from the Regional Offices and Headquarters.

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

February 2023

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