USDA to visit ag operations across state

Iowa

During the upcoming June Area Survey, the Iowa Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service will be out and about accounting for approximately 450 square miles of land throughout the state. As part of the nationwide survey, NASS representatives will be knocking on the doors of producers on selected tracts of land to collect information about their land uses and agricultural activities.

"The June Area Survey is one of the largest and most comprehensive surveys conducted each year by NASS," explained Brad Parks, deputy director of the NASS Iowa Field Office. "By providing an in-depth look at land uses and agricultural activities, the survey provides the most timely, accurate and useful information on the current condition of U.S. agriculture.

"Understanding that the information we gather is only as good as the source it comes from, we are counting on the most reliable, frontline source of information for this survey--the producers themselves," added Parks.

During the first two weeks of June, NASS representatives will visit selected areas of land in Iowa and conduct personal interviews with the owners and operators of any farm or ranch on that land. NASS will collect information on crop acreage, biotech crop acreage, grain stocks, livestock inventory, cash rents, land values, and value of sales.

The information from the June Area Survey will be used extensively by NASS in its ongoing survey and estimation programs. The survey provides direct data, or is a critical component, for a host of NASS reports, including: the monthly Crop Production report, annual Acreage report and inventory reports for cattle, hogs and pigs, and sheep and goats. As with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential by law.

"NASS safeguards the confidentiality of all responses and publishes only state- and national level data, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified," stated Parks. All reports are available on the NASS website: www.nass.usda.gov. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Iowa Field Office at 800-772-0825.

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Date: 6/5/08

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