Agricultural Identification Survey
 

I got a 2006 agricultural identification survey in the mail today, has anyone else got one? It says that you are required by law to answer the survey and return it. It was sent by the NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE.
Does anyone know just what this thing is? :shrug:

Its a leagal document that you MUST fill out so that rich commodity traders can take advantage of you.
acorrding to the last one I filled out I raise 2000 acres of coconuts on my 120 acre farm! and thats only one of my crops.(I cant wait to see the crop off my 200 acres of ranched frogs)

Statistics survey
 

We got one too. It is my understanding that the questions that they ask you are for income crops and livestock only. I answered it but what we use for our individual use is none of their business. They pretty much got a blank survey. This is only my opinion. I do think one could deline answering it. You might be contacted several times but I don't think it is against the law to decline.

Yep! It is a survey of what you grow and how much you make from it. It goes to the Agriculture department and they use the information to make a guess at what is out theire.

Sounds like those livestock "surveys" some people got in the mail a while back...they didn't know it until later, but the data was entered in the National Animal ID System.

I'd do some digging and find out if you really are required to fill it out...sometimes those forms say they're mandatory when they actually aren't. :nono:

Well...I can understand someone not wanting to fill the survey out.....I don't care to fill mine out... I'm just small scale.. I can even understand someone refusing to fill it out.. But why lie on the forms? why BS with it?
And everyone here knows that you can't ranch frogs under coconut trees...the loss is far to heavy to be profitable.....

Here's there website.... http://www.nass.usda.gov/


FM, If your running for king...make it burger king and you have my vote :p

Ours is in the compost pile. If it was required by law to be retuned, they should have sent it certified mail. Otherwise, how do they even know you received it.
Jill

I got one today too.....still trying to decide what to do with it. :baby04:

Well at least i got a good laugh. :p :p

I got mine today, too.

So, how exactly do I calculate the blackberry canes that line my driveway and turn that into acreage? My one pear tree? Nope, wait, there's two pear trees. I have 11 pecans, but 6 are seedlings.

My total storage space for grains? I have six 55 gallon drums and another six galvanized 33 gal trash cans to store feed in, but it's not always full of whole grains. I think I have about a bushel of wheat. Should I list that?

It asks about nursery operations. I have a light bank with six 2-bulb shop lights where I was planning to grow a few heirloom tomatoes to sell. How many acres is that?

And aquaculture....Something is growing in the stock tank that floated out to the middle of the improptu storm pond, but I'm not sure what it is...do I have swim out there and see?

:shrug:

I think I'm going to call them tomorrow and make somebody walk this poor hick through the entire thing, one question at a time...nice and slow so I can understand what the government wants of poor little me.....

Meg

Well you can't take the tag off the sofa either, the tag police will get you.
(Even says so)

They've probably outsourced the information dept, your call will be directed overseas and they won't speak english very well :)

A few years back, I got one and called and asked what would happen if I refused. She was really puzzled why I wouldn't fill it out but said that the fine was about $100. She also said that quite a few people were refusing to fill it out and they couldn't understand why we were so hesitant...... I told her to send me a bill. I never got one. I have since tossed each and every one I have ever gotten. Last year, I got a rude phone call demanding that I answer her questions. I told her I wasn't telling her anything and hung up. I got mine today and it will go in the trash, too.
Tana Mc

ours go straight to the trash--none of Uncle Sam's business what I do on my farm. dee

Your entire post was funny, but this bit had me in stitches!

My Grandma used to work for the IRS and they actually would receive notes like this scribbled on the forms (you were writing for humor but those folks were serious - still awfully funny though). I think you should write that in as your answer!

Around here the University of TN is sending out surveys.... I filled out the first one as best I could but the entire survey did not pertain to what I raise - go figure that one.....
I can not see how in the world they could police such a survey - their computer people can keep our taxes right never mind a survey.... and the first thing they need to state on the survey is EXACTLY what the results will be used for or I would never fill it out.... I will not even talk to the ones that call unless they can answer that first question other than their full name and position.
This to me is to find out how they can insource what you are raising so they can cut you out... bring in what you need for less than you can raise it - then they have you by the parts of your body that hurt - your wallet! This is also a means to find out if they are taxing you properly.... if you can not show how your farm is a farm - then they can tax you as a HOBBY. ouch......
And I would not ask them if I should swim to identify your floating fungus - tell them to send that ag man out with his wetsuit! He gets PAID for stuff like that......

I trashed mine last year. Haven't heard from them since.

I worked for the last census (the one that comes every ten years since the country was founded). There was a law that said people had to answer the questions. It simply wasn't enforced. The data is worthless anyway since the computers messed everything up. The computer system was suppossed to eliminate double counting of people. It did the reverse. The idea of a accurate census itself was very important since it decides how many seats in congress a state gets. All the other stuff that added into the census beyond what was required in the constitution is just ridiculous. If you mention any chickens on that paperwork don't be suprised if someone comes later for that chicken. That whole bird flu scare has goverment officials all interested in every last chicken. The whole bird flu thing sounds made up.

Agricultural Survey-thanks from a Newbie!
 

Whew! I received one in yesterday's mail, too, and I had no idea what it was for.

Hi, I'm sort of new here--I've been reading for a while but this is my first post. We live in south central Wisconsin on a small farm raising and selling asparagus in the spring. We have been doing this for about 6 years without receiving any kind "survey" like this. My first thought was info for taxing purposes, too, but we pay our taxes for our small business. I guess I don't want to give out any more info than I have to, either. You are sure that it's not Due by January 29, 2007?

I want to thank everyone for all the information I've received from the homesteading list. I love to come here right after checking my email and getting my daily "fix." I'll try not to be a stranger. :)

Teresa

We got a survey from somebody can't remember who. Crop questions, livestock, etc.
Second time. We trashed it. Now they are phoning!!! Haven't taken the call.

Always throw them away here. Yes, they have called us in the past and I tell them I throw them away! Told them I quit farming and they still asked me to send them in.

Well, I for one don't trust the gov't with the information. :flame: With how the NAIS stuff is worded about a "national herd", the collective farms of communist Russia comes to mind. Are they wanting to claim all crops? Animals? Yep I am into conspiracy theories too :shrug: Just how I was brought up.
Melissa

We got one about 6 weeks ago.

I have my own private jihaid going with the USDA, so everything goes

BACK INTO THE MAIL BOX WITH

RETURN TO SENDERwritten on the envelope.

This farm is not cooperating with USDA :flame: any more.

They can come and get us :hobbyhors

veme

Welcome to the forum, Teresa!

Back on track, we've never received anything like this. But I'm with whoever said that if it isn't sent certified mail, they can't prove you received it. If (or when) I get one, it'll be fuel for the burn barrel.

We got one this week too.

The Government never asks me anything, they just keep making deposits in our bank account, and I keep spending it.

I haven't gotten mine for 2007, got 2 last year, though. 1 before the deadline and one after, plus 1 phone call during which I told them I was busy and promptly hung up.

I'm just wondering HOW do they get my name and address??? I'm sure the neighbors with the itsy-bitsy "yard" didn't get a farm survey. It came addressed to me to my parents' address where my animals live. How'd that happen? I thought the scrapie program was supposed to be confidential! Are the animal registries giving out the info?

Oh, and by the by, this is my first time posting in the forum, so, hi!
~Carrie C.

How about 120 acres of Auto Plants. This years crop will be domestic sedans. Send them this photo so they take you seriously:

http://static.blogo.it/ecoblog/06051...0a.hmedium.jpg

I got mine also.Why would they need to know how much grain I have stored?Bee's?Sounds like they want too much personal info.I will fill it out as I use farm exemptions on my taxes .Alot of the questions sound like they are trying to check up on the exemptions you are taking on taxs.How many people I employ??It all sounds like and invasion of privacy to me.

All their keeping track of is farming/commodity trends. The info doesn't get used for anything else and the surveys are shredded after the info is entered.

Bobg

I used to work for them. We loved it when they didn't answer the surveys because it meant more working hours for us. We had the right to see their paperwork at the Farm Service Agency and all their property lines. If they didn't talk to us we used drive bys and binoculars to see what was planted and when it was harvested. This was only for farms not hobby farmers with only a few acres. The more difficult they were the more money I made. We were paid hourly wages and mileage. I drove up to 300 miles a day quite often. I only quit because it was turning into a full-time job and I only wanted a part-time job. Most big farms do cooperate because they knew the surveys would tell them how many acres were planted in different crops and what the planned harvest was going to be. We also took soil and grain samples from certain fields. All this info was only used for the agency involved and then destroyed. None of it went to the IRS or local government. There is nothing there that could harm you in any way.

Proof, please. (I'm opposed to nais, but you need to be able to back up the claim.)

I got one in the mail today and it will be used in the fire tonight. It is none of their business what I do with my four acres as long as I am not growing illegal herb. My husband looked up Title seven US code and it has nothing to do with mandatory compliance for filling out that form.

Sherry in GA

From the looks of it most of you aren't really "farming" by their definition anyway. If you file a schedule F with your income taxes you are essentially providing the same info, so I don't see the problem.

Also, if it is tied to the NAIS I would like a source.

We got our survey today. :(

Rest of article is at http://nonais.org/index.php/2007/01/...eys-mandatory/

From Walter's article, it doesn't sound mandatory....at any rate, they can only fine you $100 for not complying.

Most of our property in enrolled in this farm land-use program, which gives us a tax break because we "farm". I wonder, if we don't answer the survey, will they remove us from the land-use program?

Anyhow...

§ 2204g. Authority of Secretary of Agriculture to conduct census of agriculture
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/h...4---g000-.html
It probably won't burn very well...lol :cowboy:

I suppose I could save them the effort and shred them myself before I send them in.

I'm sorry, bad info... it actually wasn't a *written survey*, but people were getting calls from the USDA asking questions about their farms. The USDA was using the phone calls and other ways to enroll people in NAIS without their consent.

"The USDA called"
http://nonais.org/index.php/2006/02/01/the-usda-called/

Next time I shall get my facts straight before ranting. :)

I have tried to call and get a recording that the phone lines are unusually busy due to the survey, and to try again later. My girlfriend got through first try. :shrug: They recently bought 20 acres of woods, and were still required to file, even though there's nothing on there but woods...not even a driveway!

I know that they need statistics on agriculture...but I'm not 'agriculture'. And I REALLY don't see why they need my race (down to tribe if American Indian), or my sex. That's not "agricultural statistics." Most government forms make disclosing race an option, unless you are using race to qualify for something. And who cares if it's a man or woman feeding the chickens?

Meg

You know, if they had just started out with an explanation of what the survey was for, and not just simply a threat , I would be much more inclined to cooperate.
I've had some bosses before with this autocratic attitude.