Trending
HARRISBURG -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will survey producers in 32 states, including Maine, Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania, for its 2023 County Agricultural Production Survey (CAPS) for small grains. The survey will collect information on total acres planted and harvested as well as yield and production of small grains crops down to the county level. CAPS will provide the data needed to estimate acreage and production of selected crops such as barley, oats, and wheat in the United States.
"The data provided will help federal and state programs support the farmer," King Whetstone, director of the NASS Northeastern Regional Field Office, said. "I hope every producer understands the importance of this data and will take the time to respond if they receive this survey. Producers can lose out when there is no data to determine accurate rates for loans, disaster payments, crop insurance price elections, and more. Without data, agencies such as USDA's Risk Management Agency and Farm Service Agency do not have information on which to base the programs that serve those same producers."
Farmers are encouraged to respond online at agcounts.usda.gov, by mail, or fax. Producers who do not respond in the next few weeks may be emailed a reminder or contacted for an interview to complete the survey.
NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents and publishes only aggregate data, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified, as required by federal law.
The CAPS data will be published in NASS's Quick Stats database (quickstats.nass.usda.gov) at 3 p.m. EST on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, visit nass.usda.gov or call the NASS Northeastern Regional Field Office at (800) 498-1518.
USDA to forecast fruit production
HARRISBURG -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct a forecast survey for 2023 Fruit Production Inquiry (apples and peaches) during August 2023. The survey will collect information about acreage and projected production from more than 350 growers in the Northeastern Region of the United States.
"The information from these surveys directly impacts our regions' fruit growers by providing a forecast of fruit production in the Northeast," King Whetstone, director of the NASS Northeastern Regional Field Office, said. "Growers can use the survey results when making business plans and marketing decisions. USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) relies on the average yields to administer farm programs. Cooperative Extension uses the data to provide needed outreach and education, and state departments and agencies of agriculture use the information to aid growers."
In the surveys, NASS asks participants to answer a variety of questions about apples and peaches, depending on state and version of the questionnaire. For their convenience, survey participants have the option to respond online. As with all NASS surveys, all information from respondents is kept confidential as required by federal law. NASS safeguards the confidentiality of all responses and publishes only state and national level data, ensuring that no individual producer or operation can be identified.
NASS will compile, analyze, and publish survey results in the August 11, 2023 Crop Production report. All previous publications are available online at nass.usda.gov/Publications. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Northeastern Regional Field Office at (800) 498-1518.
USDA to measure northeastern milk production
HARRISBURG -- Thousands of milk producers across the country will receive surveys from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) as the agency collects information for the 2023 Milk Production reports.
"The dairy industry is an important component of the Northeast's agriculture, and it is crucial for us to have accurate data about this key sector," King Whetstone, director of the NASS Northeastern Regional Field Office, said.
NASS conducts the Milk Production survey in the region every January, April, July, and October.