diff --git a/report.Rmd b/report.Rmd
index 3d790e2..0dc33e6 100644
--- a/report.Rmd
+++ b/report.Rmd
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ participant_organizations <- read_csv(participants_path)
 species_planted <- read_csv(species_path)
 vendors <- read_csv(vendors_path)
 
-# Convert character dates to POSIXct
+# Convert relevant date columns to datetime format and recode planting agency responses to standardized labels
 survey_data <- survey_data %>%
   mutate(CreationDate = mdy_hms(CreationDate)) %>%
   mutate(`Start Date of Planting (Required)` = mdy_hms(`Start Date of Planting (Required)`)) %>%
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ survey_data <- survey_data %>%
     "municipality" = "Municipal Government",
     "professional" = "Paid Professional"))
 
+# Derive and apply submission date from 'Survey ID' to replace 'CreationDate' when available
 survey_data <- survey_data %>%
   mutate(
     Submitted_Date_Str = str_extract(`Survey ID`, "Submitted: \\d{2}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}") %>%
@@ -98,14 +99,14 @@ survey_data <- survey_data %>%
   ) %>%
   select(-Submitted_Date_Str, -Submitted_Date)
 
-# Count and filter records based on exclusion flag
+# Count and exclude flagged records, then summarize total and used counts, and determine submission date range
+excluded_count <- survey_data %>% filter(`Exclude Result` == 1) %>% nrow()
 survey_data <- survey_data %>%
   filter(`Exclude Result` == 0)
-start_date_submission <- format(min(survey_data$CreationDate, na.rm = TRUE), "%B %d, %Y")
-end_date_submission <- format(max(survey_data$CreationDate, na.rm = TRUE), "%B %d, %Y")
-excluded_count <- survey_data %>% filter(`Exclude Result` == 1) %>% nrow()
 used_count <- survey_data %>% filter(`Exclude Result` == 0) %>% nrow()
 total_records <- excluded_count + used_count
+start_date_submission <- format(min(survey_data$CreationDate, na.rm = TRUE), "%B %d, %Y")
+end_date_submission <- format(max(survey_data$CreationDate, na.rm = TRUE), "%B %d, %Y")
 ```
 
 ---