U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Freedom of Information Act Annual Report FY 2021 

I. Basic Information Regarding Report 

For questions concerning this report please contact Alexis R. Graves, Director, Office of Information Affairs, 1400 Independence Avenue, South 

Building, Room 4035, Washington DC 20250-0706, telephone number (202) 690-3318, email USDAFOIA@usda.gov. This report is available at 

https://www.usda.gov/ogc/office-information-affairs/foia-division. 

II. Making a FOIA Request 

Before submitting FOIA requests, we encourage you to review USDA’s website. USDA routinely posts information so you may find what you are 

looking for is already posted. You should also keep in mind that because we have a decentralized FOIA program, each FOIA agency or staff office 

is independently handling and processing its requests. Therefore, before emailing or mailing your request, you should try to determine whether it is 

likely that the agency or staff office will have the records you are seeking. The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all FOIA agencies or 

staff offices that receive FOIA requests are available at: https://www.usda.gov/ogc/office-information-affairs/foia-division. If you are unsure about 

which FOIA agency or staff office will have responsive records, submit your request to the Office of Information Affairs using the above 

information. Requesters will be notified when their requests are routed. This notification will include the FOIA agency or staff office likely to have 

responsive records in addition to the point(s) of contact. A FOIA request can be made for any agency record. This does not mean however, that the 

USDA will disclose every record sought. There are statutory exemptions that authorize the withholding of agency records in part or full. For 

additional information regarding USDA’s FOIA processing procedures and regulations, please visit: https://www.usda.gov/ogc/office-informationaffairs/foia-division. 

1 
III. Agency Component Abbreviations 

Component Abbreviation Component Name 

AMS Agricultural Marketing Service 

APHIS Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

DA Departmental Administration 

FAS Foreign Agricultural Service 

FNS Food and Nutrition Service 

FS Forest Service 

FSA Farm Service Agency 

FSIS Food Safety and Inspection Service 

NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service 

OASCR Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 

OBPA Office of Budget & Program Analysis 

OCFO Office of the Chief Financial Officer 

OGC Office of the General Counsel 

OHA Office of Hearings and Appeals 

OIG Office of the Inspector General 

OSEC Office of the Secretary 

RD Rural Development 

REE Research, Education, and Economics 

RMA Risk Management Agency 

2 
IV. Exemption 3 Statutes 

Statute Type of Information

Withheld Case Citation Agency /Component 

Number of 

Times 

Relied 

upon

by Agency /

Component 

Total 

Number 

of 

Times 

Relied 

upon

by

Agency 

Overall 

16 U.S.C. § Information pertaining Hornbostel v. FS 

470hh to the nature and U.S. Dep’t of 

location of certain the Interior, 

archaeological resources 305 F. Supp. 

2d 21, 30 

(D.D.C. 2003), 

summary 

affirmance 

granted, No. 

03-5257, 2004 

WL 1900562 29 29 

(D.C. Cir. 

Aug. 25, 

2004); Starkey 

v. U.S. Dep’t 

of the Interior, 

238 F. Supp. 

2d 1188, 1193-

94 (S.D. Cal. 

2002). 

41 U.S.C. § 

4702 

(formerly at 

Contractor proposals

that are in the 

possession or control of

an executive agency and

that have not been set 

Sinkerfield v. 

HUD, No. 10-

885, 2012 U.S. 

Dist. Lexis 

35233, at *13-

FS 1 

FSIS 1 16

OSEC 1 

3 
41 U.S.C. § 

253b(m)(1)) 

forth or incorporated by 

reference into contracts. 

15 (S.D. Ohio 

Mar. 15, 

2012); 

Margolin v. 

NASA, No. 

09-CV-00421, 

2011 WL 

1303221, at *6 

(D. Nev. Mar. 

31, 2011);

Hornbostel V. 

U.S. Dep’t of

the Interior, 

305 F. Supp. 

2d 21, 30 

(D.D.C. 2003), 

summary 

affirmance 

granted, No. 

03-5257, 2004 

WL 1900562 

(D.C. Cir. 

Aug. 25, 

2004). 

RD 1 

AMS 

12 

7 U.S.C. § 

1502(c)(1) 

Certain information 

furnished by a producer

under the Federal Crop 

Insurance Act. 

Bush v. U.S. 

Dep’t of

Agric., No. 16-

4128, 2017 

WL 3568672, 

at *7 (N.D. 

Iowa Aug. 17, 

2017). 

RMA 

4 4 

7 U.S.C. § 

8791(b)(2) 

“[I]nformation provided 

by an agricultural

producer or owner of

agricultural land 

concerning the 

Cent. Platte 

Nat. Res. Dist. 

V. U.S. Dep’t

of Agric., 643 

F.3d 1142, 

APHIS 30 

FSA 211 296

NRCS 55 

4 
agricultural operation, 1147

-48 (8th 

farming or conservation Circ. 2011); 

practices, or the land Ctr. for 

itself, in order to Biological 

participate in programs Diversity v. 

of the Department” or USDA, 626 

“geospatial F.3d 1113, 

information...maintained 1118 (9th Cir. 

by the Secretary about 2010); Zanoni 

agricultural land or v. USDA, 605 

operations.” F. Supp. 2d 

230, 237-38 

(D.D.C. 2009). 

5 U.S.C. § 

574(j) 

Dispute resolution 

communications. 

N/A AMS 2 2 

7 U.S.C. § Information obtained Argus Leader FNS 

2018(c) pursuant to Chapter 51 Media v. 

of Title 7 of the United USDA, 740 

States Code, which F.3d 1172, 

concerns the handling of 1175-76 (8th 5 5 

information submitted Cir. 2014). 

by applicants to the

Supplemental Nutrition 

Assistance Program. 

7 U.S.C. § 

2276(a)(2) 

“[I]nformation furnished 

under a provision of law

referred to in subsection 

(d) of this

section...unless such 

information has been 

transformed into a 

statistical or aggregate 

form that does not allow 

the identification of the 

Strunk v. U.S. 

Dept. of

Interior, 752 F. 

Supp. 2d 39,

44-45 (D.D.C. 

2010). 

AMS 1 

9 

REE 

8 

5 
person who supplied the

particular information.” 

15 U.S.C. § 

638(k)(4) 

Information contained 

within a Small Business 

Innovative Research 

(SBIR) and Small

Business Technology 

Transfer (STTR)

program evaluation 

databases. 

N/A REE 

3 3 

19 U.S.C. 

§2155(g) 

Certain information in 

connection with trade 

negotiations that is

“submitted in 

confidence” 

Intell. Prop. 

Watch v. U.S. 

Trade 

Representative,

205 F. Supp. 

3d 334, 345-46 

(S.D.N.Y. 

2016). 

FAS 

5 5 

6 
V.A. FOIA REQUESTS -- RECEIVED, PROCESSED AND PENDING FOIA REQUESTS 

Agency / Component 

Number of 

Requests

Pending as of

Start 

of Fiscal Year 

Number of 

Requests 

Received 

in Fiscal Year 

Number of 

Requests 

Processed 

in Fiscal Year 

Number of 

Requests

Pending as of

End 

of Fiscal Year 

AMS 68 259 279 48 

APHIS 616 825 1014 427 

DA 165 156 249 72 

FAS 34 35 39 30 

FNS 649 276 428 497 

FS 788 1849 1817 820 

FSA 3864 15848 16147 3565 

FSIS 291 466 501 256 

NRCS 23 219 228 14 

OASCR 16 50 49 17 

OBPA 2 10 11 1 

OCFO 1 53 48 6 

OGC 23 37 33 27 

OHA 0 59 58 1 

OIG 77 136 155 58 

OSEC 99 126 181 44 

RD 99 377 384 92 

7 
REE 41 127 151 17 

RMA 1 48 43 6 

AGENCY OVERALL 6857 20956 21815 5998 

After reviewing its database, USDA updated the number of requests pending at the start of the

Fiscal Year for the following components: FNS, FSA, and REE. 

8 
V.B.(1). DISPOSITION OF FOIA REQUESTS -- ALL PROCESSED REQUESTS 

Agency /

Component 

Number 

of Full 

Grants 

Number 

of 

Partial 

Grants / 

Partial 

Denials 

Number of 

Full 

Denials 

Based on 

Exemptions 

Number of Full Denials Based on Reasons Other than Exemptions 

No 

Records 

All 

Records 

Referred to 

Another 

Component 

or Agency 

Request

Withdrawn 

FeeRelated 

Reason 

Records 

not 

Reasonably

Described 

Improper

FOIA 

Request

for Other 

Reason 

Not 

Agency

Record 

Duplicate 

Request 

Other 

*Explain 

in Chart 

Below 

TOTAL 

AMS 72 125 5 38 1 25 0 3 1 7 0 2 279 

APHIS 197 480 14 189 27 53 0 6 4 26 10 8 1014 

DA 21 84 6 32 0 89 1 2 3 0 8 3 249 

FAS 3 12 1 5 1 7 0 2 6 0 2 0 39 

FNS 45 149 7 34 2 172 0 6 0 0 6 7 428 

FS 603 608 65 226 62 157 0 2 6 7 62 19 1817 

FSA 15523 251 92 65 25 90 28 11 30 9 19 4 16147 

FSIS 113 260 2 80 1 40 2 0 0 0 2 1 501 

NRCS 57 100 7 22 2 21 0 0 4 4 7 4 228 

OASCR 7 17 5 2 0 6 0 2 3 0 6 1 49 

OBPA 0 1 0 1 1 2 0 2 3 0 1 0 11 

OCFO 8 4 3 17 1 3 1 4 6 0 1 0 48 

OGC 2 9 0 5 1 7 0 2 4 0 3 0 33 

OHA 11 33 0 3 0 3 0 2 3 0 2 1 58 

OIG 4 28 16 70 7 19 6 0 3 1 1 0 155 

9 
OSEC 9 92 5 39 1 21 0 2 3 1 6 2 181 

RD 117 133 2 50 5 42 1 0 17 4 9 4 384 

REE 22 42 15 20 1 27 0 2 2 0 7 13 151 

RMA 15 5 4 8 1 4 0 0 2 1 0 3 43 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 16829 2433 249 906 139 788 39 48 100 60 152 72 21815 

10 
V.B.(2). DISPOSITION OF FOIA REQUESTS – “OTHER” REASONS FOR “FULL DENIALS BASED ON REASONS OTHER THAN 

EXEMPTIONS” 

Agency /

Component 

Description of “Other” Reasons for Denials 

from Chart B(1) 

Number 

of Times 

“Other” 

Reason 

Was 

Relied 

Upon 

TOTAL 

AMS Directed Requester to Publicly Available

Information 2 2 

APHIS Directed Requester to Publicly Available

Information 8 8 

DA Directed Requester to Publicly Available

Information 3 3 

FAS N/A 0 0 

FNS Directed Requester to Publicly Available

Information 7 7 

FS Directed Requester to Publicly Available

Information 19 19 

FSA Directed Requester to Publicly Available

Information 4 4 

FSIS Directed Requester to Publicly Available

Information 1 1 

NRCS Directed Requester to Publicly Available

Information 4 4 

11 
OASCR Directed Requester to Publicly Available 

Information 1 1 

OBPA N/A 0 0 

OCFO N/A 0 0 

OGC N/A 0 0 

OHA Directed Requester to Publicly Available

Information 1 1 

OIG N/A 0 0 

OSEC Directed Requester to Publicly Available

Information 2 2 

RD Directed Requester to Publicly Available 

Information 4 4 

REE Directed Requester to Publicly Available

Information 13 13 

RMA Directed Requester to Publicly Available

Information 3 3 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 72 

12 
V.B.(3). DISPOSITION OF FOIA REQUESTS -- NUMBER OF TIMES EXEMPTIONS APPLIED 

Agency /

Component 

Ex. 

1 

Ex. 

2 

Ex. 

3 

Ex. 

4 

Ex. 

5 

Ex. 

6 

Ex. 

7(A) 

Ex. 

7(B) 

Ex. 

7(C) 

Ex. 

7(D) 

Ex. 

7(E) 

Ex. 

7(F) 

Ex. 

8 

Ex. 

9 

AMS 0 0 15 76 38 108 6 0 18 3 1 0 0 0 

APHIS 0 7 30 77 104 461 29 0 310 114 12 37 0 0 

DA 0 0 0 18 41 70 0 0 8 0 1 0 0 0 

FAS 1 0 5 2 8 12 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 

FNS 2 1 5 8 104 153 0 3 134 2 98 0 0 0 

FS 0 1 30 134 205 500 42 4 112 1 23 44 0 3 

FSA 0 8 211 62 37 182 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 

FSIS 1 0 1 145 41 242 4 0 7 0 1 0 0 1 

NRCS 0 3 55 37 24 60 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 

OASCR 0 0 0 1 12 19 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 

OBPA 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OCFO 0 0 0 1 0 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OGC 0 0 0 0 6 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OHA 0 0 0 1 1 33 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 

OIG 0 0 0 0 10 28 14 0 21 0 1 1 0 0 

OSEC 0 0 1 10 57 88 3 0 5 0 0 1 0 0 

RD 0 0 1 97 19 123 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 

13 
REE 0 0 11 9 14 41 1 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 

RMA 0 0 4 2 1 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 4 20 369 680 723 2139 103 7 644 121 137 83 0 5 

14 
VI.A. ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS OF INITIAL DETERMINATIONS OF FOIA REQUESTS -- RECEIVED, PROCESSED, AND 

PENDING ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS 

Agency /

Component 

Number of 

Appeals

Pending as of

Start 

of Fiscal Year 

Number of 

Appeals 

Received 

in Fiscal Year 

Number of 

Appeals 

Processed 

in Fiscal Year 

Number of 

Appeals

Pending as of

End 

of Fiscal Year 

AMS 3 3 2 4 

APHIS 20 15 31 4 

DA 10 10 7 13 

FAS 1 1 1 1 

FNS 667 4 669 2 

FS 75 46 24 97 

FSA 28 22 34 16 

FSIS 7 9 8 8 

NRCS 0 0 0 0 

OASCR 5 1 3 3 

OBPA 0 0 0 0 

OCFO 1 11 2 10 

OGC 3 3 3 3 

OHA 0 0 0 0 

OIG 0 5 5 0 

15 
OSEC 0 5 0 5 

RD 4 9 1 12 

REE 4 9 5 8 

RMA 2 0 2 0 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 830 153 797 186 

After reviewing its database, USDA updated the number of appeals pending at the start of the

Fiscal Year for the following components: FNS and OCFO. 

16 
VI.B. DISPOSITION OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS -- ALL PROCESSED APPEALS 

Agency /

Component 

Number 

Affirmed on 

Appeal 

Number Partially 

Affirmed & 

Partially

Reversed/Remanded

on Appeal 

Number Completely 

Reversed/Remanded

on Appeal 

Number of 

Appeals 

Closed for 

Other 

Reasons 

TOTAL 

AMS 1 0 0 1 2 

APHIS 5 13 4 9 31 

DA 1 2 1 3 7 

FAS 0 1 0 0 1 

FNS 469 189 1 10 669 

FS 1 5 5 13 24 

FSA 13 9 3 9 34 

FSIS 3 3 1 1 8 

NRCS 0 0 0 0 0 

OASCR 0 2 0 1 3 

OBPA 0 0 0 0 0 

OCFO 0 0 0 2 2 

OGC 0 0 1 2 3 

OHA 0 0 0 0 0 

OIG 3 1 1 0 5 

OSEC 0 0 0 0 0 

17 
RD 1 0 0 0 1 

REE 2 1 0 2 5 

RMA 1 0 0 1 2 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 500 226 17 54 797 

18 
VI.C.(1). REASONS FOR DENIAL ON APPEAL -- NUMBER OF TIMES EXEMPTIONS APPLIED 

Agency /

Component 

Ex. 

1 

Ex. 

2 

Ex. 

3 

Ex. 

4 

Ex. 

5 

Ex. 

6 

Ex. 

7(A) 

Ex. 

7(B) 

Ex. 

7(C) 

Ex. 

7(D) 

Ex. 

7(E) 

Ex. 

7(F) 

Ex. 

8 

Ex. 

9 

AMS 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

APHIS 0 0 3 3 3 12 0 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 

DA 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FAS 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FNS 0 3 6 3 569 649 9 8 643 69 570 4 0 0 

FS 0 0 0 0 1 6 0 0 3 0 2 1 0 0 

FSA 0 1 18 2 2 13 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 

FSIS 0 0 0 6 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

NRCS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OASCR 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 

OBPA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OCFO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OGC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OHA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OIG 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 

OSEC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

RD 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

19 
REE 0 0 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

RMA 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 0 4 28 17 582 691 11 8 653 70 574 5 0 0 

20 
VI.C.(2). REASONS FOR DENIAL ON APPEAL -- REASONS OTHER THAN EXEMPTIONS 

Agency /

Component 

No 

Records 

Records 

Referred 

at Initial 

Request

Level 

Request

Withdrawn 

FeeRelated 

Reason 

Records 

not 

Reasonably

Described 

Improper

Request

for Other 

Reasons 

Not 

Agency

Record 

Duplicate

Request 

or 

Appeal 

Request

in 

Litigation 

Appeal

Based 

Solely on 

Denial of 

Request

for 

Expedited 

Processing 

Other 

*Explain

in chart 

below 

AMS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 

APHIS 0 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 

DA 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 

FAS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FNS 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 

FS 0 0 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 

FSA 2 0 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 

FSIS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

NRCS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OASCR 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OBPA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OCFO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 

OGC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 

OHA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

21 
OIG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OSEC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

RD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

REE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 

RMA 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 3 1 23 1 0 0 2 2 3 0 19 

22 
VI.C.(3). REASONS FOR DENIAL ON APPEAL – “OTHER” REASONS 

Agency /

Component 

Description of “Other” Reasons for Denial on 

Appeal from Chart C(2) 

Number of 

Times 

“Other” 

Reason 

Was 

Relied 

Upon 

TOTAL 

AMS Unable to Locate or Contact the Requester 1 1 

APHIS N/A 0 0 

DA Moot 1 1 

FAS N/A 0 0 

FNS Unable to Locate or Contact the Requester 2 

5 

No Component Response to Adjudicate 3 

FS Unable to Locate or Contact the Requester 6 

7 

Moot 1 

FSA Unable to Locate or Contact the Requester 1 1 

FSIS N/A 0 0 

NRCS N/A 0 0 

OASCR N/A 0 0 

OBPA N/A 0 0 

OCFO Moot 1 1 

OGC Unable to Locate or Contact the Requester 1 1 

23 
OHA N/A 0 0 

OIG N/A 0 0 

OSEC N/A 0 0 

RD N/A 0 0 

REE No Component Response to Adjudicate 2 2 

RMA N/A 0 0 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 19 

24 
VI.C.(4). RESPONSE TIME FOR ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS 

Agency /

Component 

Median Number 

of Days 

Average 

Number of Days 

Lowest Number 

of Days 

Highest Number

of Days 

AMS 511.5 511.5 219 804 

APHIS 121 242.71 2 1558 

DA 276 234.86 14 444 

FAS 96 96 96 96 

FNS 415 424.55 25 696 

FS 226 387.83 6 1787 

FSA 351 324.91 3 1035 

FSIS 106 164.38 40 540 

NRCS N/A N/A N/A N/A 

OASCR 162 136 69 177 

OBPA N/A N/A N/A N/A 

OCFO 36 36 10 60 

OGC 1 86.67 <1 259 

OHA N/A N/A N/A N/A 

OIG 18 18.2 17 19 

OSEC N/A N/A N/A N/A 

RD 150 150 150 150 

25 
REE 151 206 40 582 

RMA 1615.5 1615.5 1452 1779 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 393 403.04 <1 1787 

26 
VI.C.(5). TEN OLDEST PENDING ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS 

Agency /

Component 

10th 

Oldest 

Appeal 

9th 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd Oldest 

Appeal 

AMS 

Date of 

Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

2021-

07-29 

2021-

04-05 

2020-

07-28 

2019-

08-07 

Number 

of Days

Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 45 125 296 540 

APHIS 

Date of 

Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

2021-

07-29 

2021-

06-29 

2021-

06-29 

2021-

05-25 

Number 

of Days

Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 45 66 66 89 

DA 

Date of 

Appeal 

2021-

06-04 

2021-

05-18 

2021-

04-22 

2021-

02-22 

2021-

01-08 

2020-

05-07 

2020-

04-01 

2019-

11-15 

2018-

12-21 

2018-

01-29 

Number 

of Days

Pending 82 94 112 155 184 352 378 471 697 924 

FAS 

Date of 

Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

2021-

09-08 

Number 

of Days

Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 

FNS 

Date of 

Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

2021-

09-28 

2021-

09-23 

27 
Number 

of Days

Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 6 

FS 

Date of 

Appeal 

2018-

11-29 

2018-

11-02 

2018-

10-02 

2018-

01-30 

2018-

01-30 

2017-

10-26 

2017-

08-30 

2017-

08-14 

2017-

07-19 

2017-

07-10 

Number 

of Days

Pending 713 730 752 923 923 986 1025 1037 1055 1062 

FSA 

Date of 

Appeal 

2021-

07-27 

2021-

07-12 

2021-

06-25 

2021-

06-24 

2021-

05-12 

2021-

05-10 

2020-

12-31 

2020-

11-16 

2020-

10-26 

2017-

06-23 

Number 

of Days

Pending 47 58 68 69 98 100 189 220 234 1072 

FSIS 

Date of 

Appeal N/A N/A 

2021-

09-07 

2021-

07-20 

2021-

07-09 

2021-

04-06 

2021-

03-25 

2020-

10-30 

2020-

05-11 

2019-

08-20 

Number 

of Days

Pending 0 0 18 52 59 124 132 230 350 531 

NRCS 

Date of 

Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Number 

of Days

Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OASCR 

Date of 

Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

2021-

07-29 

2018-

01-23 

2017-

12-19 

Number 

of Days

Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 45 928 950 

28 
OBPA 

Date of 

Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Number 

of Days

Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OCFO 

Date of 

Appeal 

2021-

06-09 

2021-

02-22 

2021-

02-08 

2020-

12-29 

2020-

12-08 

2020-

11-25 

2020-

11-19 

2020-

11-02 

2020-

11-02 

2020-

07-01 

Number 

of Days

Pending 79 155 164 191 205 213 217 229 229 314 

OGC 

Date of 

Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

2021-

05-06 

2020-

09-25 

2020-

08-20 

Number 

of Days

Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 102 254 279 

OHA 

Date of 

Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Number 

of Days

Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OIG 

Date of 

Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Number 

of Days

Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OSEC 

Date of 

Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

2021-

07-09 

2021-

07-09 

2021-

01-27 

2021-

01-26 

2020-

10-14 

29 
Number 

of Days

Pending 0 0 0 0 0 59 59 172 173 242 

RD 

Date of 

Appeal 

2021-

05-11 

2021-

05-04 

2021-

04-06 

2021-

04-05 

2020-

12-21 

2020-

12-07 

2020-

10-06 

2020-

10-06 

2020-

01-17 

2019-

06-19 

Number 

of Days 

Pending 99 104 124 125 196 206 247 247 429 574 

REE 

Date of 

Appeal N/A N/A 

2021-

05-14 

2021-

05-04 

2021-

02-12 

2021-

01-08 

2020-

11-05 

2020-

10-29 

2019-

04-15 

2018-

10-19 

Number 

of Days

Pending 0 0 96 104 160 184 226 231 620 740 

RMA 

Date of 

Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Number 

of Days

Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 

Date of 

Appeal 

2018-

01-30 

2018-

01-29 

2018-

01-23 

2017-

12-19 

2017-

10-26 

2017-

08-30 

2017-

08-14 

2017-

07-19 

2017-

07-10 

2017-

06-23 

Number 

of Days

Pending 923 924 928 950 986 1025 1037 1055 1062 1072 

30 
VII.A. FOIA REQUESTS -- RESPONSE TIME FOR ALL PROCESSED PERFECTED REQUESTS 

Agency /

Component 

SIMPLE COMPLEX EXPEDITED PROCESSING 

Median 

Number 

of Days 

Average 

Number 

of Days 

Lowest 

Number 

of Days 

Highest

Number 

of Days 

Median 

Number 

of Days 

Average 

Number 

of Days 

Lowest 

Number 

of Days 

Highest

Number 

of Days 

Median 

Number 

of Days 

Average 

Number 

of Days 

Lowest 

Number 

of Days 

Highest

Number 

of Days 

AMS 16 25.87 <1 332 81 157.35 <1 1106 N/A N/A N/A N/A 

APHIS 35 121.6 <1 1551 249 408.39 1 1684 482 482 482 482 

DA 27 172.59 <1 944 612 607.85 <1 1086 N/A N/A N/A N/A 

FAS 5 26.69 <1 210 269 352.24 18 949 895 895 895 895 

FNS 234 220.90 <1 615 280 279.67 259 300 N/A N/A N/A N/A 

FS 17 57.68 <1 823 31 128.85 <1 1420 26.5 26.5 21 32 

FSA <1 3.55 <1 767 <1 23.67 <1 841 <1 0.43 <1 7 

FSIS 17 48.02 <1 498 227 256.23 2 711 87 136.17 10 321 

NRCS 12.5 29.31 <1 432 18 34.89 <1 129 52.5 52.5 37 68 

OASCR 28 67.95 <1 375 238 259.17 66 626 N/A N/A N/A N/A 

OBPA 6.5 104.17 <1 592 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

OCFO 16 27.51 <1 175 50 50 50 50 N/A N/A N/A N/A 

OGC 17 72.56 <1 254 388 478 7 1459 N/A N/A N/A N/A 

OHA 3 5.15 <1 28 21 20.33 <1 42 N/A N/A N/A N/A 

31 
OIG 18 18.35 1 57 194 395.63 8 2114 N/A N/A N/A N/A 

OSEC 34 107.89 <1 992 278.5 337.67 <1 1027 285 279.8 230 326 

RD 7 43.07 <1 318 27 50.07 <1 373 11 14 <1 34 

REE 11 41.12 <1 600 364 379.77 21 829 N/A N/A N/A N/A 

RMA 8 9.37 <1 23 9 40.5 <1 213 2 1.67 <1 3 

AGENCY 

OVERALL <1 20.47 <1 1551 54 183.1 <1 2114 2 81.32 <1 895 

32 
VII.B. PROCESSED REQUESTS -- RESPONSE TIME FOR PERFECTED REQUESTS IN WHICH INFORMATION WAS GRANTED 

Agency /

Component 

SIMPLE COMPLEX EXPEDITED PROCESSING 

Median 

Number 

of Days 

Average 

Number 

of Days 

Lowest 

Number 

of Days 

Highest

Number 

of Days 

Median 

Number 

of Days 

Average 

Number 

of Days 

Lowest 

Number 

of Days 

Highest

Number 

of Days 

Median 

Number 

of Days 

Average 

Number 

of Days 

Lowest 

Number 

of Days 

Highest

Number 

of Days 

AMS 18 28.67 <1 332 80 169.49 19 1106 N/A N/A N/A N/A 

APHIS 64.5 157.57 2 1551 248.5 402.98 4 1684 482 482 482 482 

DA 39 121.36 2 777 550 522.67 45 1086 N/A N/A N/A N/A 

FAS 9 49.6 2 210 251 227 64 405 895 895 895 895 

FNS 343 257.9 <1 606 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

FS 19 59.8 <1 812 33 129.06 <1 1420 26.5 26.5 21 32 

FSA <1 3.42 <1 767 <1 20.31 <1 284 <1 0.43 <1 7 

FSIS 21.5 53.46 1 466 221 254.01 2 711 161.5 163.5 10 321 

NRCS 14 29.48 <1 392 21.5 43.57 5 129 52.5 52.5 37 68 

OASCR 58 86.11 5 375 220 254.4 66 626 N/A N/A N/A N/A 

OBPA 592 592 592 592 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

OCFO 27 42.82 4 175 50 50 50 50 N/A N/A N/A N/A 

OGC 75.5 85.25 6 224 548 555.67 319 800 N/A N/A N/A N/A 

OHA 3 5.26 <1 28 21 24.4 12 42 N/A N/A N/A N/A 

33 
OIG 24 28.4 9 54 332 506.74 20 2114 N/A N/A N/A N/A 

OSEC 103.5 135.43 <1 992 259 242.9 53 618 294 286 230 326 

RD 38 36.1 10 79 30 56.64 1 339 22.5 22.5 11 34 

REE 48.5 79.06 2 600 198.5 241.56 21 607 N/A N/A N/A N/A 

RMA 16 15.36 <1 23 24.5 25.25 5 47 2.5 2.5 2 3 

AGENCY 

OVERALL <1 15.74 <1 1551 58.5 167 <1 2114 <1 82.76 <1 895 

34 
VII.C. PROCESSED SIMPLE REQUESTS -- RESPONSE TIME IN DAY INCREMENTS 

Agency /

Component 

<1-20 

Days 

21-

40 

Days 

41-

60 

Days 

61-

80 

Days 

81-

100 

Days 

101-

120 

Days 

121-

140 

Days 

141-

160 

Days 

161-

180 

Days 

181-

200 

Days 

201-

300 

Days 

301-

400 

Days 

401+ 

Days TOTAL 

AMS 132 44 8 13 5 1 2 0 2 1 0 1 0 209 

APHIS 312 123 52 38 20 25 37 27 14 11 74 32 55 820 

DA 71 23 14 3 3 2 2 4 0 1 1 4 36 164 

FAS 9 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 13 

FNS 86 16 7 5 15 6 4 15 12 7 78 135 32 418 

FS 758 217 74 27 19 15 6 15 7 4 40 29 48 1259 

FSA 15401 97 63 50 33 19 60 20 13 26 33 8 15 15838 

FSIS 180 46 21 12 9 11 11 6 8 4 5 1 5 319 

NRCS 146 26 12 8 2 1 2 0 1 0 1 4 1 204 

OASCR 18 4 4 3 1 2 0 1 1 0 1 3 0 38 

OBPA 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 

OCFO 24 5 5 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 37 

OGC 10 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 1 0 2 0 0 18 

OHA 45 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 47 

OIG 46 28 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 77 

35 
OSEC 60 13 9 8 3 2 7 2 4 6 12 6 9 141 

RD 19 1 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 28 

REE 77 11 9 9 3 3 1 2 0 1 2 2 1 121 

RMA 25 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 17424 663 287 178 113 88 134 94 65 61 250 227 203 19787 

36 
VII.C. PROCESSED COMPLEX REQUESTS -- RESPONSE TIME IN DAY INCREMENTS 

Agency /

Component 

<1-

20 

Days 

21-

40 

Days 

41-

60 

Days 

61-

80 

Days 

81-

100 

Days 

101-

120 

Days 

121-

140 

Days 

141-

160 

Days 

161-

180 

Days 

181-

200 

Days 

201-

300 

Days 

301-

400 

Days 

401+ 

Days TOTAL 

AMS 4 6 10 13 5 2 2 5 1 4 6 4 4 66 

APHIS 14 10 6 7 4 8 10 10 4 6 25 16 63 183 

DA 3 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 68 80 

FAS 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 3 2 6 17 

FNS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 3 

FS 181 130 36 13 16 18 11 10 5 4 22 38 64 548 

FSA 183 27 12 6 1 3 3 3 1 1 4 0 1 245 

FSIS 13 4 5 2 11 11 11 1 7 5 39 21 45 175 

NRCS 10 4 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 

OASCR 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 6 

OBPA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OCFO 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 

OGC 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 4 9 

OHA 2 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 

37 
OIG 6 14 4 4 2 2 1 2 2 3 4 5 26 75 

OSEC 2 0 1 3 2 1 1 0 0 1 7 4 8 30 

RD 132 83 28 31 14 14 8 5 4 5 8 3 0 335 

REE 0 3 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 2 4 0 13 26 

RMA 5 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 557 285 108 83 59 61 52 39 24 34 129 96 303 1830 

38 
VII.C. PROCESSED REQUESTS GRANTED EXPEDITED PROCESSING -- RESPONSE TIME IN DAY INCREMENTS 

Agency /

Component 

<1-

20 

Days 

21-

40 

Days 

41-

60 

Days 

61-

80 

Days 

81-

100 

Days 

101-

120 

Days 

121-

140 

Days 

141-

160 

Days 

161-

180 

Days 

181-

200 

Days 

201-

300 

Days 

301-

400 

Days 

401+ 

Days TOTAL 

AMS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

APHIS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 

DA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FAS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 

FNS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FS 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 

FSA 23 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 

FSIS 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 6 

NRCS 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 

OASCR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OBPA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OCFO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OGC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OHA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

39 
OIG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OSEC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 5 

RD 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 

REE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

RMA 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 31 5 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 3 2 47 

40 
VII.D. PENDING REQUESTS -- ALL PENDING PERFECTED REQUESTS 

Agency /

Component 

SIMPLE COMPLEX EXPEDITED PROCESSING 

Number 

Pending 

Median 

Number 

of Days 

Average 

Number 

of Days 

Number 

Pending 

Median 

Number 

of Days 

Average 

Number 

of Days 

Number 

Pending 

Median 

Number 

of Days 

Average 

Number 

of Days 

AMS 32 83.5 189.97 15 237 215.20 0 N/A N/A 

APHIS 365 163 283.97 60 331.5 405.83 0 N/A N/A 

DA 67 490 402.99 4 307.5 348.25 0 N/A N/A 

FAS 16 139 221.31 12 333 341.17 1 1170 1170 

FNS 493 300 287.54 0 N/A N/A 0 N/A N/A 

FS 399 125 211.29 343 300 305.83 1 497 497 

FSA 35 27 45.29 26 16 29.81 0 N/A N/A 

FSIS 138 86.5 105.49 100 366 366.22 12 309.5 271.33 

NRCS 11 34 72.27 1 41 41 0 N/A N/A 

OASCR 17 178 159.65 0 N/A N/A 0 N/A N/A 

OBPA 1 72 72 0 N/A N/A 0 N/A N/A 

OCFO 4 12.5 13.25 0 N/A N/A 0 N/A N/A 

41 
OGC 21 213 291.19 3 45 103.67 0 N/A N/A 

OHA 0 N/A N/A 0 N/A N/A 0 N/A N/A 

OIG 6 12.5 11.33 52 457.5 555.12 0 N/A N/A 

OSEC 38 174 225.11 4 221.5 246.25 2 332.5 332.5 

RD 1 39 39 81 72 173.3 1 76 76 

REE 11 54 143.45 4 817.5 653.25 0 N/A N/A 

RMA 3 41 69.67 2 45.5 45.5 0 N/A N/A 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 1658 217.5 242.86 707 290 314.44 17 311 333.18 

42 
VII.E. PENDING REQUESTS -- TEN OLDEST PENDING PERFECTED REQUESTS 

Agency /

Component 

10th 

Oldest 

Request 

9th 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd Oldest 

Request 

AMS 

Date of 

Receipt 

2020-

06-24 

2020-

06-03 

2020-

06-01 

2020-

02-27 

2020-

01-28 

2020-

01-22 

2018-

08-22 

2018-

07-11 

2018-

05-04 

2018-

01-23 

Number 

of Days

Pending 319 334 336 402 423 427 780 810 856 928 

APHIS 

Date of 

Receipt 

2017-

05-18 

2017-

05-02 

2017-

05-01 

2017-

02-21 

2017-

02-13 

2017-

02-07 

2017-

01-12 

2016-

08-25 

2016-

08-16 

2016-

06-13 

Number 

of Days

Pending 1097 1109 1110 1159 1164 1168 1185 1279 1286 1331 

DA 

Date of 

Receipt 

2018-

09-26 

2018-

09-21 

2018-

09-12 

2018-

08-30 

2018-

05-03 

2018-

04-12 

2018-

03-09 

2018-

03-08 

2018-

02-22 

2017-

07-06 

Number 

of Days

Pending 756 759 766 774 857 872 896 897 907 1064 

FAS 

Date of 

Receipt 

2020-

06-04 

2020-

04-22 

2020-

04-17 

2020-

03-03 

2019-

10-18 

2019-

10-18 

2019-

08-21 

2018-

12-12 

2018-

10-26 

2017-

02-03 

43 
Number 

of Days 

Pending 333 363 366 399 490 490 530 704 735 1170 

FNS 

Date of 

Receipt 

2019-

09-06 

2019-

09-05 

2019-

07-17 

2019-

06-28 

2019-

03-04 

2018-

12-17 

2018-

10-25 

2018-

10-25 

2018-

10-15 

2018-

05-07 

Number 

of Days

Pending 519 520 555 573 650 701 736 736 744 855 

FS 

Date of 

Receipt 

2018-

02-07 

2018-

01-29 

2018-

01-16 

2018-

01-04 

2017-

12-13 

2017-

12-05 

2017-

05-17 

2017-

04-12 

2017-

03-31 

2016-

08-03 

Number 

of Days

Pending 917 924 933 940 954 960 1098 1123 1131 1295 

FSA 

Date of 

Receipt 

2021-

07-14 

2021-

07-12 

2021-

06-25 

2021-

06-21 

2021-

06-21 

2021-

06-17 

2021-

06-03 

2020-

08-13 

2020-

06-09 

2020-

02-19 

Number 

of Days

Pending 56 58 68 72 72 73 83 284 330 408 

FSIS 

Date of 

Receipt 

2019-

06-26 

2019-

06-21 

2019-

06-18 

2019-

06-11 

2019-

05-16 

2019-

04-18 

2019-

04-09 

2019-

03-22 

2019-

02-26 

2019-

02-26 

Number 

of Days

Pending 569 572 575 580 597 617 624 636 654 654 

NRCS 

Date of 

Receipt 

2021-

08-25 

2021-

08-18 

2021-

08-18 

2021-

08-13 

2021-

08-04 

2021-

08-02 

2021-

06-25 

2021-

05-10 

2020-

12-09 

2020-

10-20 

Number 

of Days

Pending 26 31 31 34 41 43 68 100 204 238 

44 
OASCR 

Date of 

Receipt 

2021-

03-03 

2021-

01-19 

2021-

01-11 

2021-

01-04 

2020-

12-07 

2020-

10-26 

2020-

09-15 

2020-

09-09 

2020-

04-23 

2020-

04-13 

Number 

of Days

Pending 148 178 183 188 206 234 262 266 362 370 

OBPA 

Date of 

Receipt N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

2021-

06-21 

Number 

of Days

Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 72 

OCFO 

Date of 

Receipt N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

2021-

09-16 

2021-

09-15 

2021-

09-14 

2021-

09-08 

Number 

of Days

Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 12 13 17 

OGC 

Date of 

Receipt 

2020-

10-19 

2020-

09-25 

2020-

06-29 

2020-

06-29 

2020-

04-13 

2019-

12-09 

2019-

08-01 

2018-

05-07 

2017-

12-22 

2017-

03-15 

Number 

of Days

Pending 239 254 316 316 370 456 544 855 947 1143 

OHA 

Date of 

Receipt N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Number 

of Days

Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OIG 

Date of 

Receipt 

2017-

03-29 

2017-

02-27 

2017-

02-03 

2017-

01-30 

2017-

01-04 

2016-

12-29 

2016-

03-17 

2016-

03-11 

2015-

07-02 

2015-

04-06 

45 
Number 

of Days

Pending 1133 1155 1170 1174 1191 1194 1392 1396 1568 1630 

OSEC 

Date of 

Receipt 

2020-

03-27 

2020-

03-02 

2020-

02-25 

2020-

01-29 

2019-

12-12 

2019-

10-21 

2019-

10-02 

2019-

09-04 

2019-

08-22 

2019-

07-17 

Number 

of Days

Pending 381 400 404 422 453 489 501 521 529 555 

RD 

Date of 

Receipt 

2019-

08-08 

2019-

08-07 

2019-

08-01 

2019-

07-16 

2019-

05-10 

2019-

04-08 

2019-

04-04 

2018-

12-19 

2018-

12-14 

2017-

11-30 

Number 

of Days

Pending 539 540 544 556 601 625 627 699 702 963 

REE 

Date of 

Receipt 

2021-

08-06 

2021-

07-16 

2021-

06-29 

2021-

04-29 

2021-

02-05 

2020-

06-18 

2018-

10-19 

2018-

10-05 

2018-

03-23 

2017-

12-15 

Number 

of Days

Pending 39 54 66 107 165 323 740 749 886 952 

RMA 

Date of 

Receipt N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

2021-

09-29 

2021-

09-08 

2021-

08-04 

2021-

06-16 

2021-

02-04 

Number 

of Days

Pending 0 0 0 0 0 2 17 41 74 166 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 

Date of 

Receipt 

2017-

01-04 

2016-

12-29 

2016-

08-25 

2016-

08-16 

2016-

08-03 

2016-

06-13 

2016-

03-17 

2016-

03-11 

2015-

07-02 

2015-

04-06 

Number 

of Days

Pending 1191 1194 1279 1286 1295 1331 1392 1396 1568 1630 

46 
VIII.A. REQUESTS FOR EXPEDITED PROCESSING 

Agency /

Component 

Number 

Granted 

Number 

Denied 

Median 

Number of 

Days to 

Adjudicate 

Average 

Number of 

Days to 

Adjudicate 

Number 

Adjudicated 

Within Ten 

Calendar 

Days 

AMS 0 9 <1 31.22 8 

APHIS 2 31 6 20.76 23 

DA 0 7 1 89 5 

FAS 0 1 <1 <1 1 

FNS 0 4 <1 <1 4 

FS 1 29 13 16.93 14 

FSA 4 9 3 4.85 12 

FSIS 3 6 1 9 6 

NRCS 3 0 25 29 1 

OASCR 0 0 N/A N/A 0 

47 
OBPA 0 0 N/A N/A 0 

OCFO 0 0 N/A N/A 0 

OGC 0 0 N/A N/A 0 

OHA 0 0 N/A N/A 0 

OIG 0 0 N/A N/A 0 

OSEC 2 12 7 79.5 8 

RD 4 4 29 45.38 3 

REE 0 5 1 0.6 5 

RMA 4 1 4 6.8 4 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 23 118 4 27.24 94 

48 
VIII.B. Requests for Fee Waiver 

Agency /

Component 

Number 

Granted 

Number 

Denied 

Median 

Number of 

Days to 

Adjudicate 

Average 

Number of 

Days to 

Adjudicate 

AMS 40 8 0.5 21.15 

APHIS 39 0 2 58.64 

DA 9 3 265.5 317.08 

FAS 3 0 153 384 

FNS 0 0 N/A N/A 

FS 235 19 9 29.28 

FSA 337 43 <1 1.28 

FSIS 190 3 <1 12.66 

NRCS 7 0 19 57.29 

OASCR 0 0 N/A N/A 

OBPA 0 0 N/A N/A 

49 
OCFO 0 0 N/A N/A 

OGC 0 0 N/A N/A 

OHA 0 0 N/A N/A 

OIG 0 0 N/A N/A 

OSEC 4 1 4 55.4 

RD 14 0 25 56.07 

REE 0 0 N/A N/A 

RMA 2 0 8.5 8.5 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 880 77 <1 21.01 

50 
IX. FOIA Personnel and Costs 

Agency /

Component 

PERSONNEL COSTS 

Number of 

“Full-Time 

FOIA 

Employees” 

Number of 

“Equivalent

Full-Time 

FOIA 

Employees” 

Total 

Number 

of “FullTime 

FOIA 

Staff” 

Processing 

Costs 

LitigationRelated 

Costs 

Total Costs 

AMS 5 2.00 7.00 946435.00 17312.00 963747.00 

APHIS 29 8.50 37.50 4225546.86 615908.00 4841454.86 

DA 5 0.00 5.00 1008947.29 3500.00 1012447.29 

FAS 1 0.00 1.00 149904.50 0.00 149904.50 

FNS 3 0.00 3.00 1214423.06 0.00 1214423.06 

FS 20 22.85 42.85 4880147.00 115419.00 4995566.00 

FSA 10 50.90 60.90 2691891.71 16804.19 2708695.90 

FSIS 11 1.50 12.50 1504348.00 88062.00 1592410.00 

51 
NRCS 0 44.00 44.00 986570.01 8441.02 995011.03 

OASCR 0 0.10 0.10 11568.77 0.00 11568.77 

OBPA 0 0.20 0.20 59000.00 0.00 59000.00 

OCFO 0 0.10 0.10 12840.49 0.00 12840.49 

OGC 2 0.00 2.00 445712.28 740000.00 1185712.28 

OHA 0 0.10 0.10 10855.94 0.00 10855.94 

OIG 3 1.50 4.50 598143.08 378.70 598521.78 

OSEC 2 0.00 2.00 446540.36 42500.00 489040.36 

RD 10 0.00 10.00 859162.00 0.00 859162.00 

REE 1 0.00 1.00 182352.00 0.00 182352.00 

RMA 0 0.10 0.10 1382.39 0.00 1382.39 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 102 131.85 233.85 20235770.74 1648324.91 21884095.65 

52 
X. Fees Collected for Processing Requests 

Agency /

Component 

Total Amount 

of Fees 

Collected 

Percentage of

Total Costs 

AMS 0.00 0.0000 

APHIS 0.00 0.0000 

DA 0.00 0.0000 

FAS 0.00 0.0000 

FNS 0.00 0.0000 

FS 437.42 0.0100 

FSA 12013.23 0.4500 

FSIS 300.00 0.0200 

NRCS 221.94 0.0200 

OASCR 0.00 0.0000 

OBPA 0.00 0.0000 

53 
OCFO 0.00 0.0000 

OGC 0.00 0.0000 

OHA 0.00 0.0000 

OIG 0.00 0.0000 

OSEC 0.00 0.0000 

RD 1410.22 0.1600 

REE 0.00 0.0000 

RMA 0.00 0.0000 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 14382.81 0.0700 

54 
XI.A. Number of Times Subsection (C) Used 

Agency / Component Number of Times Subsection 

Used 

AMS 0 

APHIS 0 

DA 0 

FAS 0 

FNS 0 

FS 0 

FSA 0 

FSIS 0 

NRCS 0 

OASCR 0 

OBPA 0 

55 
OCFO 0 

OGC 0 

OHA 0 

OIG 0 

OSEC 0 

RD 0 

REE 0 

RMA 0 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 0 

56 
XI.B. Number of Subsection (A)(2) Postings 

Agency /

Component 

Number of 

Records 

Posted by the

FOIA Office 

Number of 

Records 

Posted by 

Program

Offices 

AMS 0 2951 

APHIS 7 510 

DA 6 302 

FAS 0 192 

FNS 4 5078 

FS 7 11717 

FSA 80 1740 

FSIS 44 416 

57 
NRCS 0 0 

OASCR 0 5 

OBPA 0 4 

OCFO 0 3 

OGC 13 0 

OHA 0 79 

OIG 0 55 

OSEC 5 3 

RD 3 1466 

REE 0 2053 

RMA 0 0 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 169 26574 

58 
XII.A. Backlogs of FOIA Requests and Administrative Appeals 

Agency /

Component 

Number of 

Backlogged 

Requests as of

End of Fiscal 

Year 

Number of 

Backlogged 

Appeals as of

End of Fiscal 

Year 

AMS 42 4 

APHIS 360 4 

DA 62 13 

FAS 26 0 

FNS 487 0 

FS 649 90 

FSA 18 13 

59 
FSIS 215 7 

NRCS 9 0 

OASCR 17 3 

OBPA 1 0 

OCFO 0 10 

OGC 21 3 

OHA 0 0 

OIG 52 0 

OSEC 38 5 

RD 67 10 

REE 14 8 

RMA 3 0 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 2081 170 

60 
XII.B. CONSULTATIONS ON FOIA REQUESTS -- RECEIVED, PROCESSED, AND PENDING CONSULTATIONS 

Agency /

Component 

Number of 

Consultations 

Received from 

Other Agencies 

that were 

Pending at the 

Agency as of

Start 

of the Fiscal 

Year 

Number of 

Consultations 

Received from 

Other Agencies 

During the

Fiscal Year 

Number of 

Consultations 

Received from 

Other Agencies 

that were 

Processed by the

Agency During 

the Fiscal Year 

Number of 

Consultations 

Received from 

Other Agencies 

that were 

Pending at the 

Agency as of

End 

of the Fiscal 

Year 

AMS 0 13 13 0 

APHIS 7 25 29 3 

DA 1 5 4 2 

FAS 0 5 5 0 

FNS 0 0 0 0 

61 
FS 8 36 30 14 

FSA 0 13 13 0 

FSIS 0 13 13 0 

NRCS 0 0 0 0 

OASCR 0 1 1 0 

OBPA 0 3 3 0 

OCFO 0 0 0 0 

OGC 5 40 32 13 

OHA 0 2 2 0 

OIG 2 16 12 6 

OSEC 1 28 24 5 

RD 1 2 2 1 

REE 0 9 9 0 

RMA 0 0 0 0 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 25 211 192 44 

After reviewing its database, USDA adjusted the number of consults pending as of the

start of the Fiscal Year for the following components: FSA. 

62 
XII.C. CONSULTATIONS ON FOIA REQUESTS -- TEN OLDEST CONSULTATIONS RECEIVED FROM OTHER AGENCIES AND 

PENDING AT THE AGENCY 

Agency /

Component 

10th Oldest 

Consultation 9th 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd Oldest Consultation 

AMS 

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Number 

of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

APHIS 

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

2021-

09-28 

2021-

09-07 2021-07-28 

Number 

of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 18 46 

DA 

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

2021-

08-04 2021-07-19 

Number 

of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 41 53 

FAS Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

63 
Number 

of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FNS 

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Number 

of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FS 

Date 2021-06-16 

2021-

05-13 

2021-

05-10 

2021-

05-05 

2021-

04-15 

2021-

03-18 

2021-

02-24 

2020-

12-18 

2020-

09-04 2020-05-06 

Number 

of Days 74 97 100 103 117 137 153 197 268 353 

FSA 

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Number 

of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FSIS 

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Number 

of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

NRCS 

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Number 

of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OASCR 

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Number 

of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OBPA 

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Number 

of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OCFO Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

64 
Number 

of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OGC 

Date 2021-05-20 

2021-

05-19 

2021-

05-12 

2021-

04-27 

2021-

04-14 

2021-

04-13 

2021-

03-22 

2020-

11-05 

2020-

01-16 2020-01-16 

Number 

of Days 92 93 98 109 118 119 135 226 430 430 

OHA 

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Number 

of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OIG 

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A 

2021-

07-13 

2021-

07-12 

2021-

07-12 

2021-

06-10 

2021-

05-19 2021-04-19 

Number 

of Days 0 0 0 0 57 58 58 78 93 115 

OSEC 

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

2021-

09-22 

2021-

08-26 

2021-

07-07 

2021-

05-30 2021-04-26 

Number 

of Days 0 0 0 0 0 7 25 61 105 110 

RD 

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2021-05-05 

Number 

of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 103 

REE 

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Number 

of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

RMA 

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Number 

of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

65 
AGENCY 

OVERALL 

Date 2021-04-13 

2021-

03-22 

2020-

03-18 

2021-

02-24 

2020-

12-18 

2020-

11-05 

2020-

09-04 

2020-

05-06 

2020-

01-16 2020-01-16 

Number 

of Days 119 135 137 153 197 226 268 353 430 430 

XII.D.(1). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF REQUESTS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL REPORT -- REQUESTS 

RECEIVED AND PROCESSED 

Agency /

Component 

NUMBER OF REQUESTS 

RECEIVED 

NUMBER OF REQUESTS 

PROCESSED 

Number 

Received 

During Fiscal

Year from Last 

Year’s Annual 

Report 

Number 

Received 

During Fiscal

Year from 

Current Annual 

Report 

Number 

Processed 

During Fiscal

Year from Last 

Year’s Annual 

Report 

Number 

Processed 

During Fiscal

Year from 

Current Annual 

Report 

AMS 299 259 290 279 

APHIS 1193 825 1810 1014 

DA 133 156 194 249 

FAS 52 35 59 39 

FNS 821 276 342 428 

FS 1763 1849 1613 1817 

66 
FSA 16827 15848 17043 16147 

FSIS 585 466 577 501 

NRCS 154 219 163 228 

OASCR 38 50 39 49 

OBPA 10 10 19 11 

OCFO 38 53 50 48 

OGC 37 37 36 33 

OHA 58 59 64 58 

OIG 87 136 112 155 

OSEC 179 126 128 181 

RD 405 377 403 384 

REE 108 127 126 151 

RMA 23 48 35 43 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 22810 20956 23103 21815 

67 
XII.D.(2). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF REQUESTS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL REPORT -- BACKLOGGED 

REQUESTS 

Agency /

Component 

Number of 

Backlogged 

Requests as of

End of the Fiscal 

Year from 

Previous Annual 

Report 

Number of 

Backlogged 

Requests as of

End of the Fiscal 

Year from 

Current Annual 

Report 

AMS 47 42 

APHIS 559 360 

DA 156 62 

FAS 33 26 

FNS 551 487 

FS 621 649 

FSA 39 18 

FSIS 253 215 

NRCS 8 9 

68 
OASCR 12 17 

OBPA 1 1 

OCFO 1 0 

OGC 18 21 

OHA 0 0 

OIG 74 52 

OSEC 78 38 

RD 59 67 

REE 36 14 

RMA 0 3 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 2546 2081 

69 
XII.E.(1). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL REPORT 

-- APPEALS RECEIVED AND PROCESSED 

Agency /

Component 

NUMBER OF APPEALS 

RECEIVED 

NUMBER OF APPEALS 

PROCESSED 

Number 

Received 

During Fiscal

Year from Last 

Year's Annual 

Report 

Number 

Received 

During Fiscal

Year from 

Current Annual 

Report 

Number 

Processed 

During Fiscal

Year from Last 

Year's Annual 

Report 

Number 

Processed 

During Fiscal

Year from 

Current Annual 

Report 

AMS 4 3 11 2 

APHIS 27 15 44 31 

DA 8 10 6 7 

FAS 1 1 0 1 

FNS 220 4 465 669 

FS 39 46 5 24 

FSA 25 22 19 34 

FSIS 18 9 18 8 

NRCS 0 0 0 0 

70 
OASCR 3 1 1 3 

OBPA 0 0 1 0 

OCFO 0 11 1 2 

OGC 5 3 2 3 

OHA 0 0 0 0 

OIG 6 5 6 5 

OSEC 0 5 2 0 

RD 5 9 3 1 

REE 1 9 1 5 

RMA 0 0 7 2 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 362 153 592 797 

71 
XII.E.(2). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL REPORT 

-- BACKLOGGED APPEALS 

Agency /

Component 

Number of 

Backlogged 

Appeals as of

End of the Fiscal 

Year from 

Previous Annual 

Report 

Number of 

Backlogged 

Appeals as of

End of the Fiscal 

Year from 

Current Annual 

Report 

AMS 3 4 

OBPA 0 0 

REE 4 8 

RD 1 10 

OSEC 0 5 

OIG 0 0 

OHA 0 0 

OGC 3 3 

OCFO 0 10 

OASCR 5 3 

72 
APHIS 20 4 

NRCS 0 0 

FSIS 7 7 

FSA 25 13 

FS 71 90 

FNS 664 0 

FAS 1 0 

DA 9 13 

RMA 2 0 

AGENCY 

OVERALL 815 170 

73