SEPTEMBER AGRICULTURAL SURVEY AND COUNTY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION SURVEY
The September Agricultural Survey and County Agricultural Production Survey (CAPS) conducted by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) are designed to obtain crucial information that is important for producers, suppliers, bankers, and grain elevator operators.
These surveys ask producers to provide information on their planted acres, harvested acres, yields, total levels of production for specific commodities, and the quantities of grains and oilseeds stored on-farm. The results of these surveys will give detailed county level data on small grain production in the Pacific Northwest and the United States for 2013.
CAN WE GET THE DATA FROM FSA?
The only way to obtain the data is by asking the producer directly. Many producers have asked NASS to use the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) data. However, FSA simply does not have the data needed for NASS estimates. NASS asks for yields which FSA will not have until much later. Also, producers often have crops that are not reported to FSA, but still need to be accounted for in the Northwest’s estimates. Another complication is the various ways operations are summarized by FSA. This makes it difficult to determine who operates the land versus who is an owner that just receives a payment. By asking farm operators directly, NASS can receive accurate and timely information that FSA does not have available.
HOW CAN A PRODUCER RESPOND TO THESE SURVEYS?
In early September, NASS will sample small grain producers to collect data from all states except Hawaii. A producer may respond in either of the following ways:
· Online – Secure, online reporting is the most timely, cost-effective option. The cover letter includes instructions for this easy option. It saves the federal government return postage costs and fax paper.
· By mail or fax – Producers fill out the survey questionnaire and return it in the envelope provided or via fax.
A NASS representative will contact producers who do not respond the option of a telephone or personal interview.
WHO USES THE INFORMATION?
Producers benefit from completing this survey. They will have access to the same data as grain elevator operators, suppliers, bankers, and all others with whom you do business. This levels the playing field as each group makes crucial year-end business decisions.
The data obtained by the September Agricultural Survey is used by the USDA for important reasons. The data allows NASS to see if there are any significant differences with the number of acres planted compared with the number of acres abandoned. USDA agencies evaluate and administer vital farm commodity, credit, conservation, disaster, insurance and loan programs based on this information.
· USDA’s Farm Service Agency uses the estimates to administer disaster assistance programs.
· USDA’s Risk Management Agency uses the data to administer the Federal Crop Insurance Program.
NASS understands producers are busy this time of year, but have been tasked to collect the data from a sample of small grain producers. Please respond to make sure this important data is as accurate as possible.
For additional information please contact NASS Northwest Regional Director Chris Mertz at (800) 435-5883.