I just got a visit from the USDA (please read)

Fudpucker · Mar 1, 2009

Yesterday I got home from my daughters basketball game and my wife told me that a lady from the USDA had been by the house. While there she had asked if I was still farming and produced a form entitled Cost and Returns Report OMB #0535-0218. She aksed several times if I was there and my wife kept telling her no. She said she was going to sit down and fill the form out with me. My wife finally told het it would be awhile and it would probably be best if she jsut left the form, which she did. Have any of you guys got a visit like that? I usually get stuff like that in the mail, fill it out and send it back. I have never seen this form before, but I am only a small time farmer. I am just curious as to what the uregency was to fill this form out. Alot of it looks similar to the Ag Census Report that I get every year. I guess I just irritated with the rude behavior of someone who is making a living off of our tax dollars. Sorry for the rant. Have a good Sunday.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 1, 2009

I haven't sent in a census in yet, they know all of that info anyway from tax returns, crop ins.,fsa, grain markets, satelites, private industry ect.

Doug in IL · Mar 1, 2009

They sometimes pay a visit if you don't fill out the Ag census form. They have been here twice, as I quit filling the forms out some years ago. I just send them on their way. To fill the Census out accurately, would require hours and hours of data gathering time. If I estimate to provide the answers, then the data is no good anyway. I'd basically be filing a false report by guessing. So, I just quit doing them.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 1, 2009

First off ask if it is mandatory--most reports are not.

I'm not a farmer, but you guys are shooting yourself in the foot often so wall street can make a few more educated guesses.

Ever wonder how they know you have underground fuel storage years ago? Perhaps the form you filled out years ago had the question on it.

It was on TV a few years ago in respect to how many government forms are indeed mandatory by law. It was very few.

larry cook · Mar 1, 2009

a few years back when i had some pigs a usda guy would come around and see what i was feedin them. got rid of the pigs but this guy keeps showing up anyway. told him aint got no pigs and the fella ask what is it that i feed them. told him again, there are the old pens aint got none no more. next question was, if you had some what would you feed them. told him dont figure the question mattered since i aint got none. finally left. came back again bout 6 months later and we did the same old song and dance. smart fella this government employee was.
larry cook

Steve A W · Mar 1, 2009

Maybe She was one of Plow Hand's ladies?

Bill(Wis) · Mar 1, 2009

I got a visit from the census bureau a few years ago to do a very detailed census. The lady showed her ID, was very polite, I decided to comply. It was about 20 degrees F out that day. I said: "Here, we can use my desk" at which point I lowered the tailgate on my truck and we both stood up, outside, while she made computer entries while I answered questions. Most of the questions pertained to health care. That seemed to be a big political subject at the time. The questions were composed in such a way that there was no doubt in my mind that the general assumption was that anyone my age should be experiencing health problems and in need of more medical coverage. I was not and am not experiencing health problems and have plenty of medical coverage. Sooooo, you probably don't have to answer their questions but if it turns out that it is mandatory, you don't have to invite them into your nice warm house and offer them a desk. I suggest you do it my way. Just be sure to wear gloves. They can't type with gloves, heh, heh, heh.

Brian Jasper co. Ia · Mar 1, 2009

The last time the government did the census, they wanted to know if anyone was disabled, on public assistance, etc. I cut them off after about 30 seconds and said there are 2 people living here. Thats all you need to know.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 1, 2009

every year to fill out. I got tired of it and wrote a short note with one telling them not to send anymore. I got a call from some smarta$$ telling me it was the law that I fill the form out and sent it back and he sent me another form.
I wrote another note and put it with the blank form and sent it back, I got another call and this time it was a lady. She ask me did I not understand that it was the law that I fill out the farm and send it in? I told her I remember the smart--- telling me that but I ask her just what they would do if I didn't send it in? she said probably fine me. I said and if I didn't pay it? She said she wasn't sure in a case like that. I said that wasn't really a very good answer coming from a government employee, and I wasn't going to send anymore of the forms in until I got a real answer or they hauled me away. That was several years ago and I haven't got another form in the mail since.

rrlund · Mar 1, 2009

You aren't in Kent County Michigan are you? I hear there's a woman over there who won't do this stuff in the mail or over the phone. Wants to sit down with you. Must not have a whole lot else going on in her life.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 1, 2009

I got their little nosey sensless form last year. I got one every year for three years before that, even though they said it was only every 5 years. Never have filled it out. Some "lady" from USDA called and harrassed me. I told her I wasn't gonna fill it out. Haven't heard from them since...

kyhayman · Mar 1, 2009

I always try to fill them out. To me, I figure its no use in getting on somebody's radar as a 'non complier'. When they do come around, usually the state here checking restricted pesticide use, unless I personally know them I ask to see their ID, who their supervisor is, and how I go about calling to verify who they are and setting up an appointment. I figure if they want to see me, they need to call first and make an appointment. Plus I want to call their off (and I check it against the phone book) to make sure its not some kind of identity theft scam. They are usually taken aback a bit by it, but seem to appreciate the professionalism.

JOCCO · Mar 1, 2009

Here is a tip: an old friend did when he got junk in the mail. (including jury duty) He Stamped it deceaced and return to sender never did hear back from much of it!!!

plow hand · Mar 1, 2009

If she looked tired or satisfied it may have been one of mine.

Rusty wheel · Mar 1, 2009

Reminds me of Raif Hollister on the Andy Griffith show. He wouldn't take his shot when the Gov't nurse came around. rw

ChrisinMO · Mar 1, 2009

Last year we got a form in the mail for the ag census. I opened it up and skimmed through it. Returning the form is mandatory, they said. I put it on the dashboard of the truck and forgot about it. Several weeks later, another notice came. It took the place of the first form.....and so on for six or seven months. Finally they quit coming. Believe it or not, the last one is still on my dashboard. I still haven't been carted off and locked up along with those who haven't paid their library fines. So I guess the "required by law" is mostly for intimidation.

Christopher

tlak · Mar 1, 2009

They put that required by law to get you to send them in, but it's probably just required by law for them to send it out. Never sent my in either.

Gun guru · Mar 1, 2009

My dad got a notice from the most hated of all government agencies----the IRS. The IRS sent my dad 2 letters saying---YOU MUST PAY TAXES QUARTERLY----Blah, blah, blah.

My dad ignored the letters and paid his taxes just before april 15th. Nothing else happened. So dont worry about it unless lawyers from that agency pound your door down.

Old Roy · Mar 1, 2009

Yes this happened to me,
I have 1 acre of ground, live in a small farming community.

It was a census that came around and said "required by law" I ignored the first 2 notices because I don't farm and the neighbors were more knowledgeable to fill these papers out.

They said it was a random survey and since it came to my address I was responsible to fill it out.

Again I ignored it , one day I received a phone call and someone was going to be here on a certain day and fill it out with my help.

I tried to put them off but they insisted I make an appointment, or legal action would pursue.

I made an appointment and about an hour of discussion the form was filled out by them on their portable laptop.

Fudpucker · Mar 1, 2009

Thanks for the replies. I always send my Ag Census Form in, but I have never had anyone come to my house like that and I was just wondering. I am in KY by the way.

Will- Tx.-Mn. · Mar 1, 2009

Hello everyone,

Maybe this photo will help,(that is if I can post it correctly) I seen this @ a persons' driveway near Purdy,Washington state. so I took a picture of it..

The sign is about 4'X8'

~Will

Will- Tx.-Mn. · Mar 1, 2009

I tried ,but obviously it didn't work
http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss1]Untitled URL Link

WantACaseLASomeday · Mar 1, 2009

USDA says it is the "organic soybean production paractices and costs survey" It is voluntary according to the verbiage on the form:

"We are collecting information on practices and costs to produce certified organic soybeans and need your help to make the information
as accurate as possible. Authority for collection of information on the Certified Organic Soybean Production Practices and Costs Report is
Title 7, Section 2204 of the U.S. Code. This information will be used for economic analysis and to compile and publish estimates for your
region and the United States. Response to this survey is confidential and voluntary."

Anonymous-0 · Mar 1, 2009

i also was away saturday and got a visit from a lady from there also.i am in southeastern ohio.but i got the letter in the mail and never got around to filling it out.i am also a small time farmer more like a hobby farmer. RICK

railhead · Mar 1, 2009

was she hot?

Fudpucker · Mar 2, 2009

I don't know if she was hot or not. I didn't think to ask, but I will. If she is I will send her your way. I just read the whole form this morning and it wants to know if I put office chairs on depreciation, my off farm wages, how much is my privaate pension income, how much is in my 401K (not much now), the quality of my internet connection, how much time my wife spent at an off farm job and how long it took her to get there. This is ridiculous. Sounds like my tax return and Ag Census rolled into one. I wonder how much they are paying this lady to go house to house and do this redundant, invasive crap. You gotta love the government.

Aaron Ford · Mar 2, 2009

I had a job in college keypunching in all the data from a mailed survey.

The farmers involved were well compensated for their trouble via research, feed formulations, access to college vet staff, free labor (15 research assistants), free herd innoculations, compensation for any loss (whether it was our fault or not). Free fencing, too...

The funny thing was that all these farmers showed a loss in their operations. Not a little one either. A major loss. Year after year. Zero profits, hideous depreciations, huge overhead, etc. I actually had been to one of the farms and the fella looked to be doing quite well. I mean, he looked alot more like Thurston J. Howell, III than Jed Clampett.

When asked, my professor commented that "You don't expect them to answer a gov'ment survey honestly, do ya? They don't trust big government!"

I wouldn't and don't either...

Economics aside we completed much nutritional and reproductive research that is considered common knowledge today. Met lots of good people and learned alot about reality in that job. Those fellas had more than a little part in that.

No need in being pushy claiming lawbreaking. You get more flys with honey than vinegar.

Aaron

railhead · Mar 2, 2009

If she is hot send her on but thinking more about it I bet she looks more like Janet Reno than Janet Jones.

Chester5731 · Mar 2, 2009

My Dad was telling me years ago one of them survey takers stoped and asked my
Grandfather how many steers he kept for breeding purposes.

I just got a visit from the USDA (please read)

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