Last year the USDA mailed surveys to landowners all over the US. The survey for landowners who farm their own land was 24 pages long. The answered forms were used to generate data on the economic health of the farm sector. But now Republicans in the House of Representatives are calling the surveys invasive and irrelevant,reports The Rural Blog.Many GOP lawmakers took issue with questions on the survey about charitable giving and entertainment expenditures.
Rep. Ted Yoho of Florida called the survey questions “offensive.” House biotechnology, horticulture and research subcommittee Chairman Rodney Davis said questions about charitable donations were inappropriate for a mandatory agricultural survey. Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington expressed concern that the survey’s length would cause some farmers to refuse to answer.