Calling All Farmers: NASS Surveys Need Your Input

 
Dec 01, 2016
L.G. Raun and USA Rice's Ben Mosely
inspect the crop
NASS-Surveys-Need-Input,-LG-Raun-& Mosely
WASHINGTON, DC -- USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) recently distributed two surveys to the majority of rice producers that have a big impact on farm safety net assistance levels.

The County Agricultural Production Survey (CAPS) was sent out to nearly every farm through their respective states and asks for planted acres, area harvested for grain, and quantity harvested.  This survey is used across the Risk Management Agency, Farm Service Agency, and university research to determine production and economic values on a per county basis.  The CAPS is open through early January and will be published on March 9, 2017.

L.G. Raun, a Texas rice farmer and member of the USA Rice World Market Price Subcommittee, said, “The County Ag Production Survey is particularly important for us to complete as rice farmers since the data is used to determine formulas for posted county prices, disaster assistance programs, county loan rates, and our vital farm safety net programs like ARC and PLC.  I really encourage growers to complete all surveys sent out by NASS because without enough accurate responses we’re at the mercy of the limited surveys actually submitted.  Surveys that incorporate planting estimates, price reporting, and yields all play a role in the direction of the futures markets, food prices, farm policy, and more.”

Another survey, the Agricultural Survey for December, was sent to a smaller sample of growers but requires responses by December 13.  This survey gathers data on acres planted, acres harvested, yield per acre, and quantity stored.  Conducted quarterly in all states, this survey is used by commodity markets, university researchers, and farm operators for market assessment, planning, and decision making.

USA Rice encourages farmers receiving NASS surveys to complete and return them within the deadline to ensure accurate data is used across USDA’s various agencies and to reduce variations and discrepancies among counties and state data.  If you do not receive NASS surveys and would like to be counted in the future, visit the NASS farm survey enrollment page.


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