Department Urges Farmers to Participate in USDA Year-end Crop Production Survey

photo credit: Edwin Remsberg

ANNAPOLIS, MD – As the 2018 growing season officially comes to an end, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will contact producers nationwide to gather final year-end crop production numbers and the amount of grain and oilseeds they store on their farms. At the same time, NASS will survey grain facility operators to determine year-end grain and oilseed stocks.

“NASS surveys produce the most credible agricultural data available,” said Maryland Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder. “The information obtained by this current survey helps to inform everyone from farmers to lawmakers and will surely have an impact on the agriculture industry. I urge all Maryland farmers to participate in the survey so we can ensure everyone is working with the most accurate data possible.”

“These surveys are the largest and most important year-end surveys conducted by NASS,” explained NASS Maryland State Statistician Dale P. Hawks. “They are the basis for the official USDA estimates of production and harvested acres of all major agricultural commodities in the United States and year-end grain and oilseed supplies. Data from the survey will benefit farmers and processors by providing timely and accurate information to help them make critical year-end business decisions and begin planning for the next growing and marketing season.”

NASS will analyze the survey information and publish the results in a series of USDA reports, including the Crop Production Annual Summary and quarterly Grain Stocks reports, both to be released Friday, Jan. 11, 2019.

“Responses to the producer survey will also be included in the County Agricultural Production Survey and used in calculating county yields,” Hawks said. “USDA uses county yield information from the survey to evaluate and administer vital farm disaster and insurance programs. Farmers who receive this survey are not included in the County Agricultural Production Survey; therefore this is their only opportunity to be included in the calculation of Maryland county yields.”

As with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential, as required by federal law. NASS safeguards the privacy of all responses and publishes only aggregate data, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified. All NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/. For more information call the NASS Maryland Field Office at (800) 675-0295.

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