The Mailed Inquiry and Methods of Increasing Returns

Abstract

HE mailed inquiry has provided the major source of information on the nation's crops and livestock since Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of Agriculture first sent out inquiries during the Civil War days of 1863. Significantly, it was learned at that time that the country's food supply would be adequate to meet war needs. This method of obtaining up-to-date information regarding agricultural production, combined with inquisitive and observing field travel and contacts with individual farmers for certain types of information, has been the backbone of the country's crop and livestock forecasting and estimating program for more than three-fourths of a century. With this long record of achievement, it would seem that much can be said in its favor and little need be said in its defense. More recently through a succession of years in World War II and down to the present, as late as August 10, 1949, use of the mailed inquiry has proved its worth as a reliable source of information regarding production of the country's crops and livestock. The crop and livestock reports compiled from this type of information during World War II formed the basis for establishing a reliable food production and distribution program. As in 1863, but this time through six war years and subsequently, large crops were revealed by this source of information. Plans for effective use of our food supplies were and are predicated upon the reliability of data thus obtained. It seems now quite clear that when we were exporting large quantities of food to all parts of the world during these war years we could easily have exported ourselves into a condition of serious food shortage or even semi-starvation had these reports not been reliable. Much is taken for granted when we use the mailed inquiry as a source of information. In the first place, the mailed inquiry makes use of the facilities of the Post Office Department, a far-flung and wholly reliable government agency, in lieu of setting up an expensive field organization for making the necessary contacts. It assumes a high degree of intelligence, education, and ability on the part of recipients. It is one of the best illustrations of the operation of our democratic process wherein producers of crops and livestock