Reply to Public Comment from Mike McCarthy - McCarthy Family Farm - 06-13-2024

United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service

June 10, 2024

Mike McCarthy, PhD
McCarthy Family Farm, llc
Parkdale, Oregon 97041
Dear Dr. McCarthy:
Thank you for your letter pertaining to the National Agricultural Statistics Service’ (NASS)
intention to renew the surveys in the Agricultural Labor Information Collection Request (ICR).
Your support of the Agricultural Labor Survey is appreciated.
NASS is transparent in our methodologies for data collection and estimation of the farm labor
data. The Farm Labor Methodology and Quality Measures documents response rates along with
information how the surveys are conducted. The Quality Measures document can be found at
this link on NASS’ public website:
https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Methodology_and_Data_Quality/Farm_Labor/index.php
Hopefully, the Farm Labor Methodology and Quality Measures documents will answer your
questions about how data are collected for the Agricultural Labor Survey.
The Farm Labor Methodology and Quality Measures and other documents pertaining to the
Agricultural Labor Survey along with a proposed questionnaire and other comments NASS
received will be made available later this summer for a 30-day public comment period. A
Federal Register Notice (FRN) for OMB Control Number 0535-0109 will be published when
that happens; the FRN will include instructions on how to review and comment further on the
survey before official action is taken by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
As a reminder, the U.S. Department of Labor is responsible for all policy and implementation of
the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR). Federal Register Notices on AEWR provide a
Department of Labor contact for more information about AEWR. Federal Register Notices may
provide the public an opportunity to comment on proposed methodology changes for setting the
AEWR.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

We will keep you informed of the progression of the Agricultural Labor Survey through Federal
Register Notices.
Sincerely,

LANCE
HONIG

Digitally signed by
LANCE HONIG
Date: 2024.06.13
10:27:52 -04'00'

Lance Honig
Chair, Agricultural Statistics Board
U.S. Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service