Posted on 01/06/2012 8:50:18 AM PST by matt1234
Are you ready for the vegetable census? Yesterday I received the “2012 National Agricultural Classification Survey” from the US Dept. of Agriculture. It was accompanied by a cover letter stating (in large, bold font) that my response is required by law; and, if I do not reply, I “may be personally visited.” I am not and have never been a farmer or rancher. My land has never been farmed or ranched. I do, however, have a vegetable garden that I built in 2009. This garden is private and noncommercial. There is no illegal activity whatsoever on my property.
The survey is 4 pages consisting of dozens of questions. Among the pressing concerns of the USDA are the gender and ethnic origin of my “operators.” (I have none.)
I have no idea how I appeared on the USDA’s radar. Possibilities are aerial surveillance or monitoring of seed purchases.
In full disclosure, the survey states that a recipient can opt out of the main portion of the survey if he answers “No” to the first four questions. However, the way they are written, it seems impossible for a landowner or renter to answer “No.” For example, one of these questions is “Do you own, rent, or operate cropland, pastureland, or land with the potential for agricultural production?” Ponder that. Doesn’t all “land” have “the potential for agricultural production”? If so, a landowner or renter cannot answer “No” and thereby opt out. (Even a lot covered completely by a building has “the potential for agricultural production” because you can grow food on the roof or windowsills, or you can tear down the building.) So, the way I read this, if you own or rent land, you cannot opt out. Moreover, according to another of the first four questions, if you own one or more livestock animals, even a chicken or a horse, you cannot opt out.
This survey is patently absurd, in my case as a simple gardener, and in EVERY case, as evidenced by the survey’s language described in the preceding paragraph.
Questions to fellow FReepers:
1. Does anyone have experience with this survey?
2. Any suggestions about my course of action?
3. What would John Galt do?
>>2. If they show up, tell them to go away.
>Does the Ag Dept have a SWAT team yet?
Does it matter?
“Mail? What mail?”
Say you are raising space-carrots and jackalopes.
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ROFL. You just made my day, Freedumb.
Tell ‘em you were raising pigs but the man shut you down and then demand your $50,000.
I certainly cannot nor would not tell you what to do.
I will say, if I received this or anything similar that did not reference the actual law, it would reach the trash can in 1.2 seconds.
FYI.
The KGB always liked to intimidate the population. Sounds very familiar.
"Title 7 of the U.S. Code and CIPSEA (Public Law 107-347)" are mentioned with regard to confidentiality. I do not see a mention of the specific law that requires my response.
I think most departments do. Even NOAA has one!
Agreed. Feel free.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) was established by Secretary's Memorandum No. 1446, Supplement 1, of April 3, 1961, under Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1953 and other authorities. The mission of the agency is to provide timely, accurate, and useful statistics in service to U.S. agriculture.
The statistical data provided by NASS are essential to the public and private sectors for making effective policy, production, and marketing decisions on a wide range of agricultural commodities. Every 5 years the Census of Agriculture provides comprehensive national, State, and county data as well as selected data for Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S., Virgin Islands, and Northern Mariana Islands. The USDA published its first crop report in 1863. NASS’ responsibilities are authorized under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) and the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997, Public Law 105-113 (7 U.S.C. 2204g).
• Agricultural Estimates Program – NASS field offices regularly survey thousands of operators of farms, ranches, and agribusinesses who provide information on a confidential basis. These scientifically-designed surveys provide the basis for developing estimates of production, supply, price, and other aspects of the agricultural economy. Official USDA national, State, and county estimates and reports are issued relating to the number of farms and land in farms; acreage, types, and production of farm crops; number of livestock on farms and of livestock products; stocks of agricultural commodities; value and utilization of farm products; farm labor; prices received and paid by farmers; agricultural chemical use; and on other subjects as needed. The field offices forward the estimates to NASS headquarters where they are combined and released at scheduled times to the press and public through the Agricultural Statistics Board. Annually, NASS publishes approximately 500 national reports and thousands of additional state reports, covering more than 120 crops and 45 livestock items. These basic and unbiased data are necessary to maintain an orderly association between the consumption, supply, marketing, and input sectors of agriculture.
• Census of Agriculture – The Census of Agriculture is taken every 5 years and provides comprehensive data on the agricultural economy, including data on the number of farms, land use, production expenses, value of land and buildings, farm size and characteristics of farm operators, market value of agricultural production sold, acreage of major crops, inventory of livestock and poultry, and farm irrigation practices. Final preparations are underway for the 2012 Census of Agriculture, scheduled to be mailed to the Nation’s farmers and ranchers in December 2013.
Call your congress critter with a WTF tone of voice...
Gardening ping, please. Thanks.
You left out one very important detail, and I cannot advise you how to deal with that survey until you answer it:
How absorbent is the paper it’s printed on?
We have people claiming land surrounded by subdivisions is farm land, because the weed chicory is growing on it. They save big bucks in taxes by doing this.
I have a back yard garden, but I would not consider my property farmland, and have no hesitations is checking no.
I got the same thing from the energy department a coupla years ago, and threw it away... a few months later they started to call me to set up a face to face interview... I scheduled it, and frankly, had a ball with it...
question, how much energy do you use?
My answer, Exactly as much as I pay for..
question, what is your race
My answer, American
Now to be fair, the lady was very polite and never used or insinuated threats... we actually had a nice discussion about my race being american. After we were done with our discussion, she put American in the race spot!!!!
They will tell you what kind of questions they are going to ask you...... just prepare some nicely worded conservative type answers, and have a ball!!! How often do you get to give input directly to fedzilla?
Throw the survey in the trash. If they call, write or visit you, tell them you never received it and to mail another one. Don’t answer anything in person because you need to consult your lawyer IF you receive PRINTED documentation addressed specifically to you. If it doesn’t come registered, signed receipt etc. the next time, throw it away again. If they visit you again, ask for proof they delivered it to you. Again, you cannot answer ANYTHING verbally and need written questions....You can’t sign for anything because of carpal tunnel syndrome, you can’t speak unless your lawyer is present, etc.....have fun with it.
Sorry, I don't have a .pdf. Perhaps you can google it? I provided the survey title in the original post. The survey is form NACS-01 (10-20-11) .
Wickard v. Filburn raising its ugly head?
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