PeteMN

My suggestion has always been the same. If you feel it's your American civic duty to answer all the questions with 100% accuracy (again, they specify a heftier fine for falsifying info than for not responding), then that's what one should do, and not be criticized for it.

If it rubs anyone wrong, they should & do have the right to not respond, and not be criticized for it by those that do.

Other than the stuff you read in real estate markets, I'm not sure why the IL Dept of Ag should have access to rents. I've never heard of a landlord locally quoting the State Dept of Ag. Might be different in MN, but IL cash rent landlords seem to use other sources for rent bases.

However, I'll admit, we should all sleep well because I know it says right on the form that all information will be held in strictest confidentiality. Well, or at least they'll try to keep it confidential.....unless someone steals a laptop belonging to a USDA "higher up" with your data on it. Not sure what would happen then...probably nothing, but you just as well go ahead & post it on the web & have it over with. Would you worry about it then?