NASS Survey, Again

[WCMO]

Just got a phone call from NASS survey guy wanting to come out to do another survey.  Told him I just received a survey last week, looked up answers to the questions, filled it out online and sent it same day, May 27, I think.  Survey guy said this was a different survey, mostly the same, a few different questions, would take about 20 minutes.  First, I don't understand the multiple survey need.  If it's "mostly the same with a few different questions", seems like all could have been handled together, instead of 2 surveys within a week.  Second, like they did on the first survey, why couldn't they just have sent the survey for me to answer at night and send online.  Finally, I asked the survey guy if it was voluntary, he said it was, so I told him I was not interested in responding to this survey, and reminded him that the public road ends where my driveway begins.  I hate being this way, yet my tolerance level for their activities keeps getting lower.  These surveys are sampled from the farmer population, so why does it seem like I get all of them.

[farm160]

You are not the only one.  We get multiples.  If it says the word "voluntary" it gets tossed. 

As much information as we provide at the FSA office and elsewhere, it seems redundant or repetitive to do the surveys.

Plus, it's time consuming to dig out the information and get it in the form they prefer.

[sw363535]

160 ,

That is at the heart of my poor attitude as well.....

I sat on a local fsa board for years ------- We gathered so much good information and crop history.........coupled with crop insurance data.... a masive data base including who we are and how many acres... yada yada yada....

Usda is quick to give almost anything for a political hack job, but is too lazy to check their own records ???? 

I am sure it is not that way,, but sure looks that way........  I miss smokeyjay, he would correct me or settle me back to reality on this issue.........or at least give us some insight....

Maybe a reason to be enthused..........  I just miss him on the site....

Looks like "we asked too many questions last time so, lets try 6 questions on 4 different surveys this time"

[Kay/NC]

I used to do my best to copmply, honestly I did.  Then, there was one year where I had not yet received the USDA 1099s, and they wanted all my production info, income, etc., for a survey.  It seemed like an imposition at that point. 

There was also one lady who simply wore us out, because we did try to help her, she made it a too-frequent thing. 

I have just finally taken the voluntary means I do not have to do it position, too. 

[sw363535]

Kay I cannot imagine that the number of good responses to the surveys sent out these days is enough to make the data statistically representative...........  

[farm160]

I'd imagine accurate data is an issue.  We were visiting a guy one evening when his phone rang for a survey.

He proceeded to give them totally random answers that we knew couldn't possibly be true.  

I don't remember if it was a paid survey or a NASS type survey.

But there are probably some folks who provide random answers to get the survey out of the way or the phone calls to stop.