As reported in Ag Professional and forwarded along by one of our astute customers, the US Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency has put out a public call for comments on how data is collected for requests for Aerial Photography through the NAIP program, which is a great source of raster data for software such as Cartographica.

The call for information is specifically expected to help the agency:

1. Determine whether the continued collection of information is still necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the FSA, including whether the information will have practical utility;
2. Assess the accuracy of the FSA’s estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
3. Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected;
4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Feedback is being accepted until August 17, 2012 and can be submitted via email, postal mail, or through the Federal eRulemaking Portal by accessing FSA-2012-0009.

We encourage people to submit their comments on this process, and in particular encourage alternate access methods that do not require the re-entry of order data or the capture of individual telephone numbers as part of this process.