Wisconsin Ag Connection - USDA Surveys to Provide Insight on Wisconsin Agriculture

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USDA Surveys to Provide Insight on Wisconsin Agriculture
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 05/22/2018

A sample of about 4,000 Wisconsin farm operators will have an opportunity to provide information during the June Agricultural Survey period. These questionnaires are among the largest and most important data finding efforts conducted by the National Ag Statistics Service's Great Lakes Regional Field Office and serve as a primary source of agricultural information.

The agency will conduct two major mid-year surveys, the June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey. NASS gathers the data online, by mail and/or by phone. USDA representatives will also visit randomly selected tracts of land and interview local operators.

State Ag Statistician Greg Bussler says the surveys will provide accurate and reliable data about 2018 planted acreages of major crops, as well as grain stocks, livestock inventory, cash rents, land values and value of sales.

"When growers respond to these surveys, they provide essential information that helps determine the expected acreage and supply of major commodities in the United States for the 2018 crop year," Bussler said. "Results of this survey are used by farmers and ranchers, USDA, businesses, exporters, researchers, economists, policymakers, and others who use the survey information in making a wide range of decisions that benefit you as a producer."

Producers rely on the survey results to make valid production, marketing and investment decisions. Congress uses the information to design better regulations and farm programs. And industry analysts, extension agents, farm organizations, and agricultural lenders use the data in a variety of ways to directly benefit the grower.

All survey responses are protected by law and remain strictly confidential. Information from individual operations will not be disclosed but will be combined with others to make reliable state, regional and national estimates.

Results will be released soon after the survey is complete.

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