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USDA to survey farmers' planting intentions for 2009Colorado How will the uncertain economy affect U.S. farmer's planting intentions in 2009? Will the increasing demand for biofuels continue to impact crop acreage? What is the outlook for Colorado winter and spring wheat, barley, oats, corn, sorghum, dry edible beans, sunflowers, hay and other crops? These are just a few of the questions that will be answered by the March Agricultural Survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service. "The March Agricultural Survey is one of NASS's most important annual surveys," explained William Meyer, director of the NASS Colorado Field Office. "This survey will provide the first official estimates of U.S. farmers' planting intentions for 2009, providing a glimpse at the upcoming growing season. "Data from the March Agricultural Survey benefit farmers and ranchers by providing timely and accurate information to help them make critical decisions for their operation. When producers finalize their cropping and marketing plans, this survey will be one of the most important sources of information for them," added Meyer. Beginning the end of February, NASS will contact selected producers by mail or telephone and ask them to provide information about the types and acres of crops they intend to plant for the 2009 crop year. NASS will also collect data on quantities of grains and oilseeds stored on-farm. The information will be compiled and analyzed then published in a series of USDA reports, including the annual Prospective Plantings report and quarterly Grain Stocks report, both to be released on March 31. As with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential by law. "NASS safeguards the privacy of all responses and publishes only state- and national-level data, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified," stated Meyer. All reports are available on the NASS website: www.nass.usda.gov. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Colorado Field Office at 800-392-3202.
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