Initial Cover Letter

United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service

December 202x
Dear Sir/Madam,
Enclosed is an official USDA survey to identify agricultural activity on the land you operate. The
results will ensure that we include all U.S. agricultural activity in the 2027 Census of
Agriculture.
Even if you are not currently engaged in agricultural activity, your response is critical.
Please report all agricultural land, including field crops, vegetables, horticulture, floriculture,
fruit and nut trees, and all livestock, including cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, poultry, bees,
aquaculture, horses, and livestock products.
If you do not have agricultural activity, we still need your response to update our records
and remove you from future mailings.
Please respond by [date] either:
 Online – Secure, fast, and easy. Go to www.agcounts.usda.gov with your unique survey
code from the mailing label on your form.
OR


By Mail – Return your completed form in the envelope provided.

If you receive more than one form, please complete one for each separate farm operation. If you
only have one operation, please complete one form, write “duplicate” on the others, and return
them all in the same envelope.
Thank you for your participation. Your response is voluntary but very important. Your
information will be kept confidential, as required by Federal law. To learn more, visit
www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus. If you have any questions, call toll-free (888) 424-7828.
Sincerely,

Administrator National Agricultural Statistics Service
United States Department of Agriculture
Enclosures

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

It’s Convenient. It’s Secure.

Online Survey Response
Responding online is easier than ever before.
The online form:
 skips questions that don’t apply to you
 calculates totals automatically

To complete your survey online, follow these steps:
1. Go to www.agcounts.usda.gov.
2. Enter your unique Survey Code from the label on the report form, then click
“Continue.”

3. Find the survey you are completing and click on it.
4. Verify and complete your contact information, then continue to the survey.
5. Complete the survey questions.
If you need to stop, click “Save & Return Later” at the top of the page. When you return,
go back to Step 1 above. After the opening page, you will be taken to the last page you
completed.
6. When you finish the survey, click “Submit.” If you do not see the Submit button,
reduce the zoom setting on your screen.
You will receive a confirmation code and can choose to view your completed survey
form. Using the options provided by your browser (Internet Explorer, Chrome, Mozilla,
etc.), you can print, copy, or save the completed form.