Why Corn and Grain Producers Should Respond

Why Corn and Grain Producers Should Respond to
National Agricultural Statistics Service Surveys
As a statistical agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts
hundreds of surveys each year. These questionnaires ask
farmers, ranchers and others in the agricultural industry
for a variety of data. Every five years, NASS also conducts
the Census of Agriculture, a complete accounting of farms,
ranches, and agricultural production in the country. The
results of these surveys provide many benefits to farmers and
ranchers. Some of the data are Principal Federal Economic
indicators.
• Farmers, ranchers, policymakers, community planners,
agribusinesses, researchers, USDA, and other federal
and state government agencies use aggregated NASS
data from farmers and ranchers for planning, market
assessment, decision making, research, and many other
purposes.
• High-quality statistical information is essential for
the smooth operation of federal farm programs, as
well as for planning and administering federal and
state programs in areas such as consumer protection,
conservation and environmental quality, trade,
education, and recreation.
• NASS information contributes to a stable economic
climate and reduces the uncertainties and risks in
producing, marketing, and distributing commodities.
Objective, timely, and equally available to all users,
NASS data help level the playing field.

Here are just a few of the ways
USDA uses NASS data to serve
farmers and ranchers directly.
NASS provides the Farm Service Agency and the Risk
Management Agency with important statistics that they
then use to serve farmers and ranchers. As always, individual
responses to NASS surveys are kept confidential. Data are
provided in aggregate form so that no individual operation or
operator can be identified.

Farm Programs Depend on
Farmer-Reported NASS State
and County Data
• County Loan Rates for Wheat, Feed Grains and
Oilseeds
• Regional Loan Rates for Pulses
• Loan Repayment Rates
• Program Parameters for ACRE and CCP (2008 Farm Bill
programs) and ARC and PLC (2014 programs)
• Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)
• Livestock Disaster Assistance Programs
• Dairy Programs
• Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
• County Committee Elections
• Beginning Farmer Ownership Loan Eligibility
• Guaranteed Loan Limit Adjustments
• Production Loss Calculations
• Funding Targets and Allocations
• Farm Business Planning
• Farm Appraisals

Risk Management Programs
Depend on Farmer-Reported
NASS Data
The Risk Management Agency uses NASS data to provide
federal crop insurance to America’s farmers and ranchers.
These data are used to establish yields and to aid in the
establishment of price elections for various crops.
Statisticians, working with researchers, develop the scientific
and economic models and data needed to determine
control strategies and interventions to prevent foodborne
contamination from pathogens, toxins, and chemicals.
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•
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Area Risk Protection Insurance Plan
Actual Revenue History (ARH) Pilot Program
Establishment of Transitional Yields
Establishment of Price Elections on Non-Program
Crops

United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service
www.nass.usda.gov

Why Corn and Grain Producers Should Respond to
National Agricultural Statistics Service Surveys
Soybeans 2013

Winter Wheat 2013

Counties with Published Yield per Harvested Acre

Counties with Published Yield per Harvested Acre

U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Corn for Grain 2013
Counties with Published Yield per Harvested Acre

Green—The green color in these maps shows counties with
USDA NASS-published yield-per-harvested-acre data.
White—The white color shows counties with no published
yield-per-harvested-acre data.
There are three primary reasons for a lack of published
data: areas not included in the NASS county estimating
program for a particular state; no production; or exclusion
to maintain confidentiality/nondisclosure of individual
identifying information.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service

When enough producers do not respond to surveys, NASS
is not able to publish data. Without data, agencies such as
USDA’s Risk Management Agency or Farm Service Agency
do not have information on which to base the programs
that serve those same producers. Producers lose out when
there is no data to determine accurate rates for loans,
disaster payments, crop insurance price elections and more.

Confidentiality
NASS is required by law (Title 7, U.S. Code, and CIPSEA, Public Law 107-347) to keep every survey respondent’s information confidential. This includes
names, addresses, personal identifiers, and reported data. Only authorized persons working for or on behalf of NASS can access individual data records
and only for approved official purposes. Anyone who discloses the information is subject to a fine, a jail term, or both. In addition, data is published in
aggregate form only and individual information is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

www.nass.usda.gov