PA Farm News
May 12, 2008
USDA To Survey Farmers’ Planted Crop Acreage
HARRISBURG -- How many acres of corn did farmers plant this growing season? Which percentage of those acres was planted to biotech varieties? Will actual planted acreage be above or below farmers’ reported planting intentions? These are just a couple of the critical questions the Pennsylvania Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be asking more than 2300 producers statewide as part of the June Agricultural Survey.
“The June Agricultural Survey is one of the most important, comprehensive surveys conducted each year by NASS,” explained Marc Tosiano, director of the NASS Pennsylvania Field Office. “This survey will provide the first clear indication of the potential production and supply of major commodities in the United States for the 2008 crop year, as well as providing an in-depth look at land uses and agricultural activities.
“Data from the June Agricultural Survey benefit farmers by providing timely and accurate information to help them make critical business decisions. When evaluating selling and storage options, this survey will be an important source of information for producers,” added Tosiano.
Beginning the end of May, NASS will contact selected Pennsylvania producers by mail, telephone or personnel interview and ask them to provide information on the total number of acres planted and acres planted to specific commodities, including soybeans, corn, tobacco, wheat, barley, oats, rye, sorghum, potatoes, and hay. NASS will also collect data on quantities of grains and oilseeds stored on-farm, as well as livestock inventory, cash rents and value of sales. Some producers will be asked to outline tract and field boundaries from an aerial photo of a selected land segment that may include part or all of their farming operation. The survey is designed to account for every acre of land and all agricultural activities and land uses within that area. The information will be compiled and analyzed and then published in a series of USDA reports, including the annual Acreage report and quarterly Grain Stocks report, both to be released on June 30.
As with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential by law. “NASS safeguards the confidentiality of all responses and publishes only state- and national-level data, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified,” stated Tosiano. All reports are available on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Pennsylvania Field Office at 1-800-498-1518.
HARRISBURG -- How many acres of corn did farmers plant this growing season? Which percentage of those acres was planted to biotech varieties? Will actual planted acreage be above or below farmers’ reported planting intentions? These are just a couple of the critical questions the Pennsylvania Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be asking more than 2300 producers statewide as part of the June Agricultural Survey.
“The June Agricultural Survey is one of the most important, comprehensive surveys conducted each year by NASS,” explained Marc Tosiano, director of the NASS Pennsylvania Field Office. “This survey will provide the first clear indication of the potential production and supply of major commodities in the United States for the 2008 crop year, as well as providing an in-depth look at land uses and agricultural activities.
“Data from the June Agricultural Survey benefit farmers by providing timely and accurate information to help them make critical business decisions. When evaluating selling and storage options, this survey will be an important source of information for producers,” added Tosiano.
Beginning the end of May, NASS will contact selected Pennsylvania producers by mail, telephone or personnel interview and ask them to provide information on the total number of acres planted and acres planted to specific commodities, including soybeans, corn, tobacco, wheat, barley, oats, rye, sorghum, potatoes, and hay. NASS will also collect data on quantities of grains and oilseeds stored on-farm, as well as livestock inventory, cash rents and value of sales. Some producers will be asked to outline tract and field boundaries from an aerial photo of a selected land segment that may include part or all of their farming operation. The survey is designed to account for every acre of land and all agricultural activities and land uses within that area. The information will be compiled and analyzed and then published in a series of USDA reports, including the annual Acreage report and quarterly Grain Stocks report, both to be released on June 30.
As with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential by law. “NASS safeguards the confidentiality of all responses and publishes only state- and national-level data, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified,” stated Tosiano. All reports are available on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Pennsylvania Field Office at 1-800-498-1518.
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