The largest U.S. farm organization announced an online survey open to all farmers and ranchers to rate their experiences with 10 USDA programs on soil and water conservation, rural energy, farmers markets, and farm operating and land ownership loans. The American Farm Bureau Federation said it would use the answers “to develop recommendations on how USDA can enhance its programs and make them more useful to farmers and ranchers.” An AFBF spokesman was not immediately available to explain the impetus for the survey, which will be open until March 15. A USDA spokeswoman said AFBF was conducting the survey independently.