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BISMARCK — U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) announcing an annual survey today for farmers, ranchers, and private forestland owners to offer feedback about USDA’s agencies:
“Secretary Sonny Perdue wants the Department of Agriculture to be a responsive, attentive part of the federal government. This is an excellent opportunity for North Dakota’s producers and land owners to express their concerns and let these federal agencies know how they can better help the people they serve. I hope this effort leads to necessary changes throughout the department. ”
According to USDA, the survey will help the department understand what it is doing well and where improvements are needed, specifically at the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Risk Management Agency (RMA). USDA’s Under Secretary for FPAC announced the creation of the survey today.
“We want to hear from our customers so we can learn what we’re doing right and where we’re missing the mark,” said Under Secretary Northey. “Good data is critical to good decision-making. The more responses we receive, the better we can understand what we need to do to improve our services to America’s farmers, ranchers and private forestland owners.”
Senator Cramer has been working with the Trump Administration to address regulatory concerns expressed by farmers in North Dakota about bureaucrats within USDA ignoring planting violation regulations. Senator Cramer plans to speak with the NRCS Chief next week. Learn more here.
The survey consists of 20 questions and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Responses are confidential, and individual responses will be aggregated. The survey will be open for at least six weeks and will be closed once USDA receives a 30 percent response rate.
Learn more and take the survey at www.farmers.gov/survey.