Farms and Land in Farms Quality Measures

Farms and Land in Farms Methodology
and Quality Measures
ISSN: 2167-132X

Released February 20, 2020, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA).

Survey Methodology for Farms and Land in Farms
Scope and Purpose: Farms and land in farms are estimated annually in February. Estimates made for this program
include the number of farms, land in farms, and average farm size. Estimates are published for the United States and by
state and economic sales class.
The data are collected as part of the June Area Survey, a multipurpose survey used to estimate crop acreages and measure
incompleteness of the NASS list frame for numerous other surveys. The June Area Survey is conducted every year in all
states except Alaska and Hawaii.
Survey Timeline: Some pre-survey screening is done in May to identify farm operators to be interviewed. Data collection
is conducted by personal interview from the end of May through mid-June. The reference date for the June Area Survey is
June 1. Regional Field Offices (RFOs) conduct the first round of editing and analysis over a three-week period, ending in
late June. An additional two weeks of editing and analysis occur in July. Once editing is complete, the data are
summarized. Following summarization, RFOs review the survey results and submit state-level recommendations to NASS
headquarters. A national review is completed and national estimates are established. The farms and land in farms
estimates are published annually in mid-February.
Sampling: The target population for the farms and land in farms estimates is all farms and ranches with $1,000 or more in
agricultural sales (or potential sales). The June Area Survey utilizes an area sampling frame. The area frame consists of all
land in all states, except Alaska, and thus represents all farms and ranches. Although Hawaii has an area frame, NASS
does not conduct the June Area Survey in Hawaii. The frame in each state is divided into segments of land. For more
intense agricultural regions, segments are about one square mile in size. An optimal sample is selected in each state with a
national sample size of about 9,000. The cost of building the frame and preparing materials for enumeration is significant,
so sampled segments are in the survey for five consecutive years. About 20 percent of the segments are rotated out and
replaced with new ones each year.
Through personal interviews, field enumerators divide the segments into tracts, each tract representing a unique operating
arrangement. Some of the tracts do not qualify under the farm definition and screen out; the remaining agricultural tracts
become the sample for farm numbers.
Data Collection: Each enumerator is responsible for several segments of land. Enumerators must account for all
operations and land contained in their assigned segments. All respondents are contacted in person by an enumerator, and a
personal interview is conducted. Survey questionnaires are returned to the RFOs where they are visually reviewed and key
entered.
Questionnaire content and format are evaluated annually through a specifications process where requests for changes are
evaluated and approved or disapproved. Input may vary from question wording or formatting to a program change
involving the deletion or modification of current questions or addition of new ones. If there are significant changes to
either the content or format proposed, a NASS survey methodologist will pre-test the changes for usability.
All federal data collections require approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). NASS must document the
public need for the data, show that the design applies sound statistical practice, and ensure that the data do not already
exist elsewhere and that the public is not excessively burdened. The June Area questionnaire must display an active OMB

number that gives NASS the authority to conduct the survey, a statement of the purpose of the survey and the use of the
data being collected, a response burden statement that gives an estimate of the time required to complete the form, a
confidentiality statement that the respondent’s information will only be used for statistical purposes in combination with
other producers, and a statement saying that response to the survey is voluntary and not required by law.
Survey Edit: As survey data are collected and captured, data are edited for consistency and reasonableness using
automated systems. Reported data are edited as a batch of data when first captured. The edit logic ensures the coding of
administrative data follows the methodological rules associated with the survey design. Relationships between data items
(i.e. responses to individual questions) on the current survey are verified. Some data items in the current survey are
compared to data items from earlier surveys to ensure certain relationships are logical. The edit will determine the status
of each record to be either “dirty” or “clean” (i.e. failing or passing the edit requirements for consistency and
reasonableness). Records that fail edit requirements must be updated or must be certified by an analyst to be exempt from
the failed edit requirement. Only records that pass edit requirements are eligible for final summary.
Analysis Tools: Edited June Area data are processed through an interactive analysis tool which displays data for all
reports by item. The tool provides scatter plots, tables, charts, and special tabulations that allow the analyst to compare an
individual record to similar records. Atypical responses and unusual data relationships become evident and Regional Field
Office staff review them to determine if they are correct. The tool allows comparison to an agricultural operation’s
previously reported data to detect large changes in the operation. Data found to be in error are corrected, while accepted
data are retained.
Non-sampling Errors: Non-sampling errors are present in any survey process. These errors include reporting, recording,
and editing errors. Steps are taken to minimize these errors, such as comprehensive interviewer training, validation, and
verification of processing systems, application of detailed computer edits, and evaluation of the data via the analysis tools.
Non-response Adjustment: Response to the June Area Survey is voluntary. Some producers refuse to participate in the
survey, others cannot be located during the data collection period, and some submit incomplete reports. These
non-respondents must be accounted for if accurate estimates of farm numbers are to be made. The non-response data
items and sampling units are manually imputed by Regional Field Office statisticians, largely by observation. The weights
for data items from reporting farms and ranches are not adjusted.
Estimators: The primary estimators used to set farms and land in farms estimates are the area frame direct expansion and
ratio estimators. The direct expansion generates a total for the current year. It is calculated by summing the June Area
Survey data multiplied by the proportion of the farm residing inside the segment and weighted by the original segment
sampling weight. The ratio estimator measures the change from year to year and is the ratio of the current year’s and
previous year’s direct expansions for comparable segments. The sampling weights are adjusted to account for those
segments that are not comparable.
A multiple frame direct expansion is also generated for farms and land in farms. It is the sum of direct expansion from the
June Agricultural Survey data, a NASS list only survey, and the non-overlap (NOL) portion of the direct expansion from
the June Area Survey data. The NOL portion of the June Area Survey refers to those operations identified on the area
frame that are not matched to an operation eligible for sampling for the June Agricultural Survey.
Estimation: The number of farms and land in farms data are summarized from the June Area dataset. Since all RFOs
conduct identical surveys, the state data can be summarized and national survey point estimates, or indications, computed.
RFOs are responsible for performing a detailed review of the survey data. Any irregularities revealed by the analysis must
be investigated and, if necessary, resolved. The summary results provide multiple direct and ratio indications for each data
series being estimated. It also provides information used to assess the performance of the current survey and evaluate the
quality of the survey indications. RFOs interpret the survey indications and submit state recommendations to NASS
headquarters, providing justification in cases where recommendations deviate from survey results.
For the national estimates, NASS assembles a panel of statisticians to serve as the Agricultural Statistics Board which
reviews the national results and establishes the national estimates. Since larger sample sizes yield more precise results,
NASS employs the “top-down” approach by determining the national estimates first and reconciling the state
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Farms and Land in Farms Methodology and Quality Measures (February 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

recommendations to the national number for total number of farms and land in farms, as well as each of the economic
sales classes. The Board also enjoys an advantage in being able to examine results across states, and compare the state
recommendations. The same estimators used in the state summaries are produced by the national summary. The Board
follows the same approach the states do in determining the national estimate. The historical relationship of the survey
estimates to the official estimate is evaluated to determine accuracy and bias using tables and graphs. Each Board member
completes an independent interpretation of the survey results which is shared with the other members and a consensus is
reached. Often the state recommendations do not sum to the national estimate. Board members must reexamine the state
results and revise some states to make the sum of the state estimates agree with the national estimate.

Farms and Land in Farms Methodology and Quality Measures (February 2020)
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3

Quality Metrics for Farms and Land in Farms
Purpose and Definitions: Under the guidance of the Statistical Policy Office of the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB), the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) provides data users
with quality metrics for its published data series. The metrics tables in this document describe the performance data for the
survey contributing to the publication. The accuracy of data products may be evaluated through sampling and non-sampling
error. The measurement of error due to sampling in the current period is evaluated by the coefficient of variation for each
estimated item. Non-sampling error is evaluated by response rates.
Farm Tract is a portion of a sampled segment that represents a unique operating arrangement that meets the
definition of a farm.
Sample Size is the total number of farm tracts found in the sample segments in the June Area Survey.
Response rates measure the proportion of total farm tracts responding to the June Area Survey.
Coefficient of Variation provides a measure of the size of the standard error relative to the point estimate and is
used to measure the precision of the results of a survey estimator.
June Area Survey Farms and Land in Farms Sample Size and Response Rates: To assist in evaluating the
performance of the estimates in the Farms and Land in Farms report, the sample size and response rates are displayed.
The sample size changes from year to year as the number of farm tracts identified within the sampled segments varies.

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Farms and Land in Farms Methodology and Quality Measures (February 2020)
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Farms and Land in Farms Sample Size and Response Rate – States and United States: 2018-2019
State

Sample size
2018

Response rate
2019

(number)

2018

(number)

2019

(percent)

(percent)

Alabama ...............................................
Alaska ..................................................
Arizona .................................................
Arkansas ..............................................
California ..............................................
Colorado ...............................................
Connecticut ..........................................
Delaware ..............................................
Florida ..................................................
Georgia ................................................

495
(NA)
232
677
540
539
23
51
202
463

418
(NA)
184
796
633
637
25
56
202
493

83.4
(NA)
80.2
85.5
73.3
62.3
69.6
60.8
67.8
62.6

83.3
(NA)
83.7
78.1
73.0
49.0
52.0
51.8
66.8
56.8

Hawaii ..................................................
Idaho ....................................................
Illinois ...................................................
Indiana .................................................
Iowa ......................................................
Kansas .................................................
Kentucky ...............................................
Louisiana ..............................................
Maine ...................................................
Maryland ...............................................

(NA)
431
1,356
815
1,520
1,257
541
481
70
154

(NA)
453
1,549
965
1,547
1,517
671
319
42
148

(NA)
70.3
70.8
68.7
77.6
50.0
69.5
86.3
68.6
75.3

(NA)
60.3
67.4
67.7
66.8
41.8
64.1
81.5
69.0
56.1

Massachusetts ......................................
Michigan ...............................................
Minnesota .............................................
Mississippi ............................................
Missouri ................................................
Montana ...............................................
Nebraska ..............................................
Nevada .................................................
New Hampshire ....................................
New Jersey ...........................................

51
587
1,340
543
1,352
742
1,166
19
27
130

27
632
1,502
611
1,640
699
1,229
20
20
76

62.7
72.1
78.7
87.5
57.6
78.7
63.6
89.5
66.7
68.5

74.1
72.3
75.3
84.3
61.5
80.3
63.4
70.0
50.0
75.0

New Mexico ..........................................
New York ..............................................
North Carolina ......................................
North Dakota ........................................
Ohio ......................................................
Oklahoma .............................................
Oregon .................................................
Pennsylvania ........................................
Rhode Island ........................................
South Carolina ......................................

254
270
668
1,238
810
888
391
437
25
224

312
236
611
1,298
954
1,043
402
354
17
197

55.1
69.3
73.4
67.6
86.4
59.2
72.4
76.2
44.0
73.2

78.2
72.5
69.9
63.4
85.0
53.9
71.1
72.0
41.2
48.2

South Dakota ........................................
Tennessee ............................................
Texas ...................................................
Utah ......................................................
Vermont ................................................
Virginia .................................................
Washington ..........................................
West Virginia ........................................
Wisconsin .............................................
Wyoming ..............................................

871
872
2,970
269
100
355
449
184
794
160

1,048
919
3,069
261
66
348
462
169
653
166

60.0
81.1
78.7
82.9
80.0
72.1
65.0
94.6
78.2
61.3

62.9
75.5
73.3
79.3
84.8
72.1
53.9
95.9
67.7
50.6

United States ........................................

28,033

29,696

71.9

67.6

(NA) Not available.

Farms and Land in Farms Methodology and Quality Measures (February 2020)
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5

Quality Metrics for Farms and Land in Farms – States and United States: 2018-2019
Coefficient of variation
State

Number of farms

Land in farms

2018

2019

2018

2019

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alabama ...............................................
Alaska ...................................................
Arizona .................................................
Arkansas ...............................................
California ..............................................
Colorado ...............................................
Connecticut ...........................................
Delaware ..............................................
Florida ...................................................
Georgia .................................................

9.9
(NA)
18.4
12.0
22.0
19.1
43.2
17.7
18.2
15.0

10.6
(NA)
21.0
10.5
20.4
17.6
28.3
21.6
16.2
27.6

8.7
(NA)
10.0
5.9
11.1
6.0
41.6
13.9
20.7
8.2

9.4
(NA)
10.8
5.6
11.0
5.2
63.5
9.2
17.0
9.7

Hawaii ...................................................
Idaho .....................................................
Illinois ....................................................
Indiana ..................................................
Iowa ......................................................
Kansas ..................................................
Kentucky ...............................................
Louisiana ..............................................
Maine ....................................................
Maryland ...............................................

(NA)
12.3
4.9
8.4
3.7
5.9
9.7
15.8
37.5
13.5

(NA)
13.0
5.1
8.2
3.8
5.5
8.9
20.4
28.5
15.7

(NA)
11.5
1.3
1.9
0.9
1.5
5.5
8.6
25.6
7.5

(NA)
13.9
1.3
2.0
0.9
1.2
5.6
5.5
30.6
10.4

Massachusetts ......................................
Michigan ...............................................
Minnesota .............................................
Mississippi ............................................
Missouri ................................................
Montana ................................................
Nebraska ..............................................
Nevada .................................................
New Hampshire ....................................
New Jersey ...........................................

27.0
7.6
5.7
10.2
8.0
9.5
4.6
50.5
37.0
20.3

33.5
7.6
4.9
11.8
7.5
12.7
4.9
42.0
49.6
31.5

30.0
4.7
2.0
4.8
3.9
5.1
1.6
61.8
39.8
11.1

44.0
4.1
2.2
5.6
3.7
5.6
3.6
57.9
51.1
19.5

New Mexico ..........................................
New York ..............................................
North Carolina .......................................
North Dakota .........................................
Ohio ......................................................
Oklahoma .............................................
Oregon ..................................................
Pennsylvania ........................................
Rhode Island .........................................
South Carolina ......................................

13.1
9.7
22.2
5.6
7.7
9.4
21.9
7.8
28.5
20.0

20.4
11.3
17.4
4.9
8.7
9.1
19.5
10.7
5.1
42.5

5.5
7.6
10.3
3.1
3.1
2.8
12.0
5.9
28.4
10.2

5.7
8.9
8.5
2.5
4.2
2.8
13.5
7.0
12.2
14.0

South Dakota ........................................
Tennessee ............................................
Texas ....................................................
Utah ......................................................
Vermont ................................................
Virginia ..................................................
Washington ...........................................
West Virginia .........................................
Wisconsin .............................................
Wyoming ...............................................

6.0
6.2
4.7
17.0
14.1
11.2
19.0
17.3
7.1
22.4

6.2
7.0
7.4
15.1
31.9
10.7
13.4
19.7
7.2
21.6

2.3
4.0
13.0
35.2
19.1
9.9
10.0
18.5
5.0
29.9

2.7
3.9
5.3
35.3
19.3
10.1
13.3
19.5
5.2
25.7

United States ........................................

1.9

2.0

2.2

1.6

(NA) Not available.

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Farms and Land in Farms Methodology and Quality Measures (February 2020)
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Quality Metrics for Farms and Land in Farms by Economics Sales Class – United States: 2018-2019
Coefficient of variation
Economic sales class

Number of farms

Land in farms

2018

2019

2018

2019

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

$1,000 - $9,999 ....................................
$10,000 - $99,999 ................................
$100,000 - $249,999 .............................
$250,000 - $499,999 .............................
$500,000 - $999,999 .............................
$1,000,000 or more ..............................

3.3
2.5
3.8
3.1
4.2
6.4

3.4
2.7
3.6
3.1
3.1
5.1

4.2
3.2
11.5
4.8
8.4
3.2

4.7
4.4
5.9
5.8
7.6
3.1

Total .....................................................

1.9

2.0

2.2

1.6

Farms and Land in Farms Methodology and Quality Measures (February 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

7

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