I've lived in France for several years. Earlier this year, I had to make a brief emergency trip to the U.S. and, while flying, had spent some time thinking about the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture question regarding whether I had visited a farm while out of the U.S.
I understand why the question is asked: to find out who may be carrying seeds, spores, pollen, or microorganisms on their person that could cause problems for U.S agriculture.
The problem is that that question really presumes it is being asked of tourists rather than residents of a foreign country. Implicit in the question is that one would be bringing back the same shoes and clothing one was wearing while visiting a farm. It's less likely that would be the case for residents overseas than for tourists. And, given the search and time investment likely accompanying a "yes" answer to such a question -- even if one has bathed several times and none of the items (clothing and otherwise) one is bringing to the U.S. has spent time on a farm -- I would think it's easy to understand why an expat from the U.S. might be reluctant to answer "yes" to such a question.
But I was surprised to find, when I entered the U.S. earlier this year via Chicago's O'Hare airport, that the farm question was not asked. In fact, I never was handed a form to fill out by a flight attendant as had happened on so many previous trips from Europe to the U.S.
So, as a I contemplate another visit to the U.S. to be with family and friends later this year, I wonder if that question and that questionnaire will again return or if it has been dropped altogether.
I would be curious to learn of the experiences of other recent returnees to the U.S. from Europe.