Pennsylvania Ag Connection - USDA to Collect County Level Data for Small Grains

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USDA to Collect County Level Data for Small Grains
Pennsylvania Ag Connection - 07/19/2018

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will survey producers in 32 states, including Maryland, Maine, New York and Pennsylvania, for its County Agricultural Production Survey (CAPS).

The survey will collect information on total acres planted and harvested, and total yield and production of small grains down to the county level. CAPS will provide the data needed to estimate acreage and production of selected crops in the United States.

"The data provided by producers will help federal and state programs support the farmer," said King Whetstone, director of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Northeastern Regional Field Office. "I hope every single producer understands the importance of these data and will take the time torespond if they receive this survey. Producers lose out when there is no data to determine accurate rates for loans, disaster payments, crop insurance price elections and more. When enough producers do not respond to surveys, NASS is not able to publish data. Without data, agencies such as USDA's Risk Management Agency or Farm Service Agency do not have information on which to base the programs that serve those same producers".

Within the next few weeks NASS representatives will contact selected Maryland, Maine, New York and Pennsylvania growers to arrange interviews for conducting the survey. To safeguard all individual responses, NASS will publish only aggregate data, ensuring the confidentiality of all individual respondents.

Survey results will be published on the NASS website. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Northeastern Field Office at (800) 498-1518.

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