USDA seeks feedback from Delaware farmers on crop production and supply
The Delaware Department of Agriculture is urging farmers to participate in the two major mid-year surveys, the June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey, conducted by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The service will survey nearly 400 farmers across Delaware to determine crop production and supply levels in 2017.
"As an $8 billion industry, agriculture plays a major role in Delaware's economy," said Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse. "The information that our farmers provide is critical to helping everyone - from fellow farmers to lawmakers to extension professionals - make decisions that will impact our industry. It is critical that NASS has the most accurate data, so I urge Delaware farmers to participate in the June surveys."
NASS gathers data for the June Agricultural Survey online, and by mail, phone and in-person interview. For the June Area Survey, agency representatives will visit randomly selected tracts of land and interview the operators of any farm or ranch on that land. Growers provide information on crop acreage - including biotech crops – as well as grain stocks, livestock inventory, cash rents, land values and value of sales.
"Due to the widespread and significant impact of its results, the June Agricultural Survey, also known as the Crops/Stocks Survey, and the June Area Survey are two of the most important and well-known surveys NASS conducts," said Dale P. Hawks, state statistician of the NASS Delaware Office. "When growers respond to these surveys, they provide essential information that helps us determine the prospective production and supply of major commodities in the United States for the 2017 crop year. NASS safeguards the privacy of all responses and publishes only state- and national-level data, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified."
The service will compile and analyze the survey information and publish the results in a series of USDA reports, including the annual Acreage report and quarterly Grain Stocks report, both to be released Friday, June 30. Survey data contribute to NASS's monthly and annual Crop Production reports, as well as the annual Small Grains Summary and USDA's monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
To view the reports, go to http://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications. For more information, call 800-282-8685.
