Data and Statistics
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Special Tabulations
Published Data Resources
Requests for Special Tabulations are considered when the requested data are not published elsewhere. The Quick Stats agricultural data base should be investigated before requesting a special tabulation. The reports, related to these resources can be accessed from the Census of Agriculture and Publications pages.
Special Tabulations
Special tabulations are publishable, resummarized data tables from the Census of Agriculture or NASS surveys. The special tabulations differ from NASS published reports in the following ways:
- Output is limited to a specific analytic purpose.
- Output is created based on requested criteria.
- Many Special Tabulations are based on census or survey data that use a specified set of assumptions. Tables using these assumptions are derived from the Census of Agriculture or NASS surveys and, when published, carry the appropriate disclaimers.
- Questionnaires, methodologies, and technology have changed over time. This means that there are limitations for longitudinal requests.
Timing and Cost
All requests must be scheduled so that they do not interfere with the requirements of NASS operational work. Most special tabulations are expected to take from weeks to several months to complete depending on workloads and complexity.
Fees are calculated based on the resources required to complete the tabulation and disclosure review. More complex requests will consume more resources and have higher cost estimates. The minimum cost for a special tabulation is $1,500. NASS cannot begin programming new special tabulations until the request has been approved by the Data Access and Disclosure Review Board, a Statement of Work is signed, and payment is received. For non-federal clients, NASS accepts payment by check, ACH, or Fedwire. Payment instructions will be sent with the invoice. Any fees to send an ACH or Fedwire are the responsibility of the client. Federal clients must pay for special tabulations through an Interagency Agreement.
Recent Special Tabulations
It is important to note that all completed special tabulations are published to the special tabulations page of the NASS website and include the requester’s organization and a description of the tabulation. Once produced, copies of completed special tabulations are available to the public upon request by SM.NASS.Data.Lab@usda.gov and providing the special tabulation ID.
Request a Special Tabulation
To request a special tabulation, the client must provide a preliminary specification of the data needed by completing the request form below and submitting the signed form to the NASS Data Lab and Data Access Group at SM.NASS.Data.Lab@usda.gov. NASS will then follow up and work with the client to develop a final, detailed specification. This specification is sent to the Data Access and Disclosure Review Board for consideration. Special tabulation requests are reviewed on an individual basis to determine what expertise, resources, and technology are needed to complete each tabulation. All special tabulation requests will be reviewed for disclosure limitations and fitness-for-use and are subject to approval by the Data Access and Disclosure Review Board. A statement of work and cost estimate will be delivered to the client after the specification is approved.
For general questions about special tabulations, contact the NASS Data Lab and Data Access Group at SM.NASS.Data.Lab@usda.gov.
Request Access to Restricted Microdata
Restricted Microdata Access
NASS allows eligible researchers the opportunity to gain access to restricted microdata files for select statistical research projects. NASS is responsible for protecting the confidentiality of its survey respondents. For this reason, prospective researchers commit to exclusively statistical uses of the data and data confidentiality must be considered before they are permitted access to NASS restricted data. Potential candidates must submit a research application. After receiving the application, NASS’s Data Access and Disclosure Review Board (DADRB) will assess the proposal for feasibility based on several factors including fitness for use and potential disclosure risk. The Data Lab Handbook contains policies and regulations that all researchers are required to follow.
Applying for Restricted Microdata Access
The application process for requesting access to NASS data is evolving. The Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 calls for the Federal government to establish a standard application process (SAP) through which agencies, the Congressional Budget Office, State, local, and Tribal governments, researchers, and other individuals, as appropriate, may apply for access to confidential microdata. In response, the federal statistical system is developing the SAP Portal at www.ResearchDataGov.org. The SAP Portal is a web-based data catalog and common application that will serve as a “front door” to apply for confidential data from any of the 16 principal federal statistical agencies and units for evidence building purposes.
To learn more about the SAP, please visit the Standard Application Process Overview webpage. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the SAP catalog and NASS website to learn about available datasets. NASS Data Lab and Data Access Group staff are available to answer questions before submitting an application.
For general questions about access to restricted microdata, contact the NASS Data Lab and Data Access Group at SM.NASS.Data.Lab@usda.gov.
Applications requesting Census of Agriculture data for years 2007 or newer are required to provide a variable list. The list can be downloaded from this website and completed lists can be emailed to SM.NASS.Data.Lab@usda.gov with your SAP application number.
Eligibility and Access Modes
NASS will only consider applications from qualified researchers who are conducting academic research and affiliated with accredited colleges and universities in the United States, other non-profit U.S. organizations that conduct research, or research groups in U.S. Government organizations for purposes that serve the general public and contribute significantly to understanding the agricultural sector or the statistical procedures used by NASS to collect and summarize data. These data are not to be used for regulatory, enforcement, or investigative purposes. Requests by academic institutions must be made by a professor/advisor project lead; students are not permitted to be project leads. Non-citizens can apply for access to the data given they are affiliated with a US-based entity and that they pass a background check from the Department of Homeland Security.
Data access is accomplished through a data enclave. This is a secure cloud-based computing platform designed to promote collaboration, facilitate documentation, and provide information about data use to the agencies that own the data. The data enclave provides a secure environment for researchers to access data while administering confidentiality protections NASS is duty-bound to uphold. The access point for the enclave must be from the professional offices of the institution – university, state department, etc. – or a home-based office. The approved location is not mobile and will require a site inspection approved by the NASS Security Officer.
Fees and Invoicing
NASS does not charge researchers for use of our data. We do use the services of a data enclave provider, which provides a secure environment to researchers to access data while administering confidentiality protections. When your project is approved for access to NASS restricted microdata using a data enclave, you will be required to pay initial user setup and annual user fees to the data enclave provider for data enclave access. Invoicing is handled by the data enclave provider. Each data enclave account is non-transferrable and cannot be shared. Accounts within the data enclave are created for individual researchers. Projects can have more than one researcher. Each researcher will have a dedicated project space and access to a joint project space within the data enclave.
Data enclave fees depend on workspace performance configuration options and number of researchers. Effective August 2023, the fees for the data enclave are approximately $600 per user setup plus $2,000 - $2,300 annually per user. Researcher requests for services above the base workspace may incur additional fees. All fees are subject to change.
Confidentiality and Disclosure
When collecting data, NASS makes a pledge of confidentiality to its respondents. This pledge promises that data collected are used for statistical purposes only. As a NASS sworn agent authorized to access and handle restricted NASS data, you are required to maintain the confidentiality of NASS data in accordance with the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (CIPSEA) of 2018, Title III of Pub. L. No. 115-435, codified in 44 U.S.C. Ch. 35. Penalties for a violation of CIPSEA procedures can result in a fine of up to $250,000 and/or five years in prison. Confidentiality training, confidentiality forms, and the Data Lab Handbook outline the policies and procedures that are required of you and your team to protect the data and prevent disclosure of confidential information. More information concerning confidentiality of NASS data collected for statistical purposes can be found here: Confidentiality Pledge.
When the researcher has completed work, NASS will conduct a disclosure review of all project outputs to ensure that data confidentiality is protected. The data enclave provider will facilitate your output clearance through NASS. Once cleared, the NASS Data Lab and Data Access Group will email you the outputs. Please contact the NASS Data Lab and Data Access Group at SM.NASS.Data.Lab@usda.gov if you have questions or concerns regarding the disclosure requirements for the data you are seeking.
Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts
CIPSEA protected data is not subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. If you are interested in obtaining documents maintained by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), you will find information on accessing both FOIA and non-FOIA records on the REE Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act Guide website.
