LUBBOCK, TX – New technology is changing how USDA collects and distributes agricultural statistics, but farmers and ranchers remain essential to the process. National Agricultural Statistics Service Administrator Joe Parsons says producer participation is still a key ingredient in maintaining reliable agricultural data.)
NASS increasingly uses administrative records, sensors and other information sources to supplement its surveys. Parsons says those tools can provide valuable data, but they do not eliminate the need for information supplied directly by producers.
The agency uses producer responses across hundreds of reports covering crop production, livestock inventories, grain stocks, farm finances, conservation practices and farm-gate prices. Those statistics are used by farmers, agribusinesses and policymakers when making decisions.
Parsons says official USDA statistics require careful handling because some reports can move agricultural markets. NASS continues modernizing its collection and delivery systems while maintaining its focus on accuracy and reliability.
He also thanked farmers and ranchers who continue responding to NASS requests. Parsons says producer participation helps USDA produce the information American agriculture depends on for planning, marketing and policy decisions.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Producer participation remains critical to USDA agricultural statistics even as NASS expands its use of technology and administrative data.