Two Important Surveys Coming from USDA in June; Maryland Agriculture Secretary Urges Farmers to Participate

ANNAPOLIS, MD  – Two important surveys will be conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) soon, and Maryland Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance urges farmers to complete them as accurately as possible.

“The NASS surveys are an objective and credible source of information that is critically important to those who both administer agricultural programs, as well as anyone who makes decisions affecting agricultural practices, whether it’s a farmer, an agri-business or a lawmaker,” said Secretary Hance. “These two surveys give us the clearest picture possible of the current state of agriculture in Maryland and the nation. I know it’s a busy time of year, but I strongly urge all producers to complete these surveys and return them on time.”

The June Agricultural Survey (also known as the Crops/Stocks Survey) – which 70,000 farmers nationally will begin receiving in May – will provide detailed estimates on the number of acres producers planted of particular commodities and the amount of grain and oilseed they have stored on the farm. The survey results provide the first estimates of the potential production and supply of major commodities in the United States for the 2014 crop year. NASS will publish the results on June 30, 2014 in the annual Acreage Report and the quarterly Grain Stocks report. All previous reports are available on the NASS websit.

The June Area Survey develops comprehensive estimates of land uses and agricultural activities across the United States. The data collected in this survey provide the most timely, accurate, and useful information on the current state of U.S. agriculture. The June Area Survey will sample nearly 65,000 producers on 11,000 selected segments of land. USDA will use aerial photographs to identify the land segments to be surveyed, and NASS representatives will visit and personally interview all producers operating within the boundaries of each selected land segment. Most segments cover about one square mile. Data gathered during the June Area Survey include: crop acreage, including biotech crops; land use, grain stocks, livestock inventory, farm numbers, cash rents, land values and value of sales. Results of this survey will contribute to numerous crop reports NASS will publish throughout the year.

 Maryland State Statistician Dale Hawks of NASS says farmers need to be aware that NASS personnel may be on or near their farms with maps and survey equipment and urges them to complete the survey. He also reminds producers that information being collected is confidential, as required by federal law, and results are released only in aggregate to ensure no individual operation or producer can be identified.

Those who receive any NASS survey may respond online, by mail or by fax. A NASS representative will contact anyone who does not respond to offer the option of a telephone or personal interview.

In addition to these two annual surveys, NASS distributes monthly Agricultural Yield Surveys that measure crop production throughout the growing season. The information is important because it captures changes in yield that occur due to weather, pests, disease and other factors. NASS publishes the findings each month, May through November, in the monthly Crop Production Report, and publishes final yield and production data the following January in the Annual Crop Production report. All reports are available online at: www.nass.usda.gov

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