In compliance with the requirement of the USDA Information Quality Guidelines , this page provides information pertaining to requests for correction of information disseminated by FSA.

The USDA Information Quality Guidelines correction mechanisms are not intended to imply any rights of individuals to request amendment of their own records beyond those permitted by the Privacy Act of 1974 or other organization specific laws.

All requests for correction of FSA information must be submitted by letter, fax, or email to:

Quality of Information Officer

USDA/FSA, Room 3086-South

1400 Independence Ave., S.W.

Washington, DC 20250

E-MAIL: askfsa@custhelp.com

FAX: (202) 720-8254

Peer Review Officer

Ed Rall, Acting Director

Economic and Policy Staff

Based on the review it has conducted, at this time FSA has no agenda of forthcoming highly influential scientific assessments to post on its website in accordance with OMB's Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review.

This guidance for the content of requests for correction of information is not intended to constitute a set of legally binding requirements. However, FSA may be unable to process, in a timely fashion or at all, requests that omit one or more of the requested elements. Requestors bear the "burden of proof" with respect to the necessity for correction as well as with respect to the type of correction they seek. FSA will base its decision on the merits of the information provided by the requestor.

Statement that the Request for Correction of Information is Submitted Under USDA's Information Quality Guidelines

The name, mailing address, telephone number, fax number (if any), email address (if any), and organizational affiliation (if any) of the person requesting the correction.

The name of the FSA publication, report, or data product; the date of issuance or other identifying information such as the URL of the web page; and a detailed description that clearly identifies the specific information contained in that publication, report, or data product for which a correction is being sought.

An explanation that describes how the information fails to meet either the OMB or USDA Information Quality Guidelines.

An explanation that describes the requestor's use of the information in question and how the requestor is affected by the alleged error.

The requestor should state specifically how the information should be corrected and explain why the corrections should be made. A request for correction that is specific and provides evidence to support the need for correction is likely to be more persuasive than a request that is general, unfocused, or that simply indicates disagreement with the information in question.

Requestors seeking a correction should follow the procedure described at: http://www.ocio.usda.gov/qi_guide/index.html

USDA is authorized to obtain certain information under Section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Public Law No. 106-554, codified at 44 U.S.C. 3516, note). Information is needed by USDA to process the request for correction and allow USDA to reply accordingly. This information is needed by USDA to respond to the requestor and initiate follow-up contact with the requestor if required. Requestors should not send USDA their Social Security Number. Requestors are advised that they do not have to furnish the information but failure to do so may prevent their request from being processed. The information requestors furnish is almost never used for any purpose other than to process and respond to their request. However, USDA may disclose information to a congressional office in response to an inquiry made on behalf of the requestor, to the Department of Justice, a court, other tribunal when the information is relevant and necessary to litigation, or to a contractor or another Federal agency to help accomplish a function related to this process.