June Area Survey - Backgrounder

	June Area Survey
United States Department of Agriculture		National Agricultural Statistics Service
		May 2013

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts the June Area Survey each year to develop comprehensive estimates of land uses and agricultural activities across the United States. In June, the survey will sample nearly 65,000 producers on approximately 10,000 selected segments of land.

HOW DOES NASS COLLECT THE DATA?

Using aerial photographs to identify the land segments, NASS representatives will visit and personally interview all producers operating within the boundaries of each selected land segment. Most segments cover approximately one square mile; some segments in western states may be larger.

Data gathered during the June Area Survey include:

• Crop acreage, including biotech crops

• Land Use

• Grain stocks

• Livestock inventory

• Farm numbers

• Cash rents

• Land values

• Value of sales

WHO USES THE INFORMATION?

The data collected in this survey provide the most timely, accurate, and useful information on the current state of U.S. agriculture. The June Area Survey provides direct data, and is a critical component of data collection and estimation, for numerous NASS reports, including:

• Acreage (published in June)

• Land Values and Cash Rents (published in August)

• Small Grains (published in September)

• Sheep and Goats (published in January)

• Prospective Plantings (published in March)

• Cattle (published in January and July)

• Hogs and Pigs (published in March, June, September and December)

• Crop Production (published monthly, with an annual summary in January)

The information provided by survey respondents is confidential by law. NASS safeguards the privacy of all responses and publishes data only in aggregate form, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified.

All reports are available through the NASS website: www.nass.usda.gov. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540.