The Area Screening Questionnaire

GREAT LAKES REGION

MID-YEAR TRAINING

MAY 1, 2017

Purpose and Importance

Farm Definition –◦ “Any establishment from which $1,000 or more of

agricultural products were sold or would normally be sold during the year.”

◦ Includes◦ Payments received from Government Ag Programs

◦ Institutional, experimental, and research farms

◦ Indian reservations

◦ Entire operation CRP/WRP

◦ A horse owner

Purpose and Importance

An Agricultural Tract is any operating arrangement with land in the segment boundary that has the potential to qualify as a farm.

Non-Agricultural Tracts include Areas of land with no agricultural activity. All questions are marked “no” on the screening form. Non-Ag Tracts total about 50% nationwide.

Segment - Land areas with identifiable boundaries. They are assigned a six-digit permanent number and outlined in REDon aerial photos.

Definitions

Tract - an area of land inside a segment under one type of operating arrangement. It may be ag or non-ag, such as woods, commercial or residential. Tracts are outlined in BLUE and given a blue tract letter.

A

BC

D

EF

GField - a continuous area of land devoted to ONE crop or field use. Fields are outlined in RED and given a red field number.

1

2

3

45

6 78

9

678

119

10

1

2 1 2

34

5

12

13H

I

1

2

34

5

6

J

K

7

1

1

Purpose and Importance

Ensures that all farms are screened properly and have a completed tract questionnaire if applicable.◦ Often obvious when a tract questionnaire is necessary

based on visible agriculture (row crops, dairies, poultry operations).

◦ Sometimes not so obvious.◦ CRP

◦ Nursery

◦ Just a few head of livestock

◦ Fields not at farmstead

General InformationNeed to account for every square foot of land inside the segment (ag AND non-ag)

At least one area screening form must be completed for each segment.

Think of it as a “tract directory” for the segment◦ Determines if operator qualifies for a tract questionnaire

◦ Name and address of all tract operators (ag AND non-ag)

◦ For non-ag tracts complete column 18, 20, and 20a to further classify the tract

The Half Acre RuleParcels Over ½ acre:◦ If over ½ acre, but no ag activity present, interview operator to

determine if they operate a farm.

◦ If over ½ acre and ag activity present, assign a tract letter and complete tract questionnaire.

Residential parcels of ½ acre or less:◦ If ½ acre or less with ag activity or equine, assign tract letter and

complete tract questionnaire.

◦ If ½ acre or less and no ag activity or equine present, you can assume non-ag tract.

The Half Acre RuleVisible Ag Activity No Visible Ag Activity

Under ½ Acre • Assign tract letter• Complete tract questionnaire

• Assume non-ag tract

Over ½ Acre • Assign tract letter• Complete tract questionnaire

• Interview operator to determine if they operate a farm

*Residential areas with lot sizes less than ½ acre with no visible ag activity can be drawn off as one tract.

The Half Acre RuleExample: group of 20 houses, all non-ag & under ½ acre ◦ This could be consolidated into a single tract.

BUT you will need one contact name and address associated with every Non-Ag Tract (owner of house at end of the street)

Cannot have more than 99 tracts in a segment

Screening Segments

Residences with obvious agricultural potential should be assigned a separate tract letter, regardless of size.

If visible signs of ag activity are present or if you are unsure about anything, screening should occur no matter the size of the plot of land.

WHEN IN DOUBT, FILL IT OUT…and leave notes!

The Screening Questionnaire

Info should be preprinted on the questionnaire.

1 8 1 2 0 7 1 4 0 1 4 2

1 2

DECATUR031

The Screening Questionnaire

The Screening QuestionnaireOn the first ‘Yes’ or ‘DK’, fill out a tract questionnaire. If you get a ‘No’, keep going.

A

B

Column 18: Record the acres in the non-ag tract.

Column 20: Potential for ag before next year?

Column 20a: Code that corresponds to type of non-agricultural land in segment.

25.2

School

3 8

A

B

Existing TractsCheck the accuracy of existing ag and non ag tracts:◦ Are they the same as last year?

◦ Was it recorded properly in the past?

◦ Verify with tract operators

◦ Name and Address accuracy!

◦ Ask for other names that might be associated with the tract (partners, spouses, operation names)

Review Inserted Comment Sheets.

Ask yourself: Does this really have ag potential?

The Screening QuestionnaireAfter all segments have been screened and enumeration is complete, you will complete the last page of the screener◦ 1 & 2: Account for all tract letters in column 5 and all tract letters on

photo◦ These two numbers should be equal

◦ 3 & 4: Report the number of Area questionnaires and the number of tracts with acreage in column 18.

◦ These numbers should add up to equal both 1 & 2

Reported Acres is the sum of acres in each ag tract (page 6, cell 840) and the non-ag tracts (Column 18).

RA/DA must be greater than .90 and less than 1.10

The Screening Questionnaire

2

2

1

1

2

625.2 640 .977

The Screening Questionnaire

A – 600 ac B – 25.2 ac

Extra work space on back page of screener

20

• For new area segments, assign letters A,B,C etc., as you screen them.

• For segments enumerated last year, use the same tract letter if the operator did not change.

A

John Jones

B

Bill Riggs

C

Henry Adams

D

Susan Hull

2016 2017

A

John Jones

B

Bill Riggs

C

Henry Adams

D

Susan Hull

Assigning Tract Letters

If a different person is now operating a TRACT enumerated last year, CROSS OUT the old name and TRACT LETTER in the screening questionnaire.

If the new operator is new to the segment this year, enter his or her name and address on a NEW LINE in the screening form and assign the next UNUSED tract letter to the new operator. Also update the photo with the new tract letter.

21

A

John Jones

B

Bill Riggs

C

Henry Adams

D

Susan Hull

2016 2017

Assigning Tract Letters

A

John Jones

E

Bob White

C

Henry Adams

D

Susan Hull

A

John Jones

22

B

Bill Riggs

C

Henry AdamsD

Susan Hull

• If a tract enumerated previously has been divided, keep the old letter for the portion of the old tract still operated by the original operator. Assign the NEXT UNUSED letter to the new tract, if the operator is new to the segment.

A

John Jones

B

Bill Riggs

C Henry Adams

E Don Smith

D

Susan Hull

2016 2017

Assigning Tract Letters

Tract letters that may be confused for others, suchas "N" for "Z" or "M" for "W" or "I" for H, should be underlined N Z M W I H .

As a Reminder:

23

Use a single line and tract letter to record groups of houses or apartments in strictly residential areas with lots of ½ acre or less. (Refer to Interviewer’s Manual for more info).

Non-Agricultural tracts without occupied dwellings can be grouped together and given one tract letter if there is no potential for agriculture and the code in Column 20a is consistent (parks, highways, churches, etc)

Assigning Tract Letters

The Screening Questionnaire•Please add comments if you encounter something noteworthy such as problems with enumeration.

•If a new segment is difficult to enumerate for some reason (a river divides it), a recommendation can be made to change the segment. The area should be kept close to the original and reasoning for such a change is mandatory.

•Write the number of hours required to complete enumeration on problem segments as well.

Conclusion

•State and National estimates for Number of Farms and Land in Farms are based on this survey

•Remember the HALF ACRE RULE

•The screener is a tract directory

•Leave good comments and make sure things balance

•Get complete names and addresses of tract operators

Questions?