USDA to collect 2023 small grain production data

USDA news release

BOISE – This September, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will collect data from small grain growers in Idaho.

The survey will get a comprehensive look into the 2023 production and supply of small grains crops, including wheat, barley, and oats. This survey will also provide the data needed to estimate the acreage and production of these crops at the county level.

“The data provided will help federal and state programs support the farmer,” said Ben Johnson, Idaho state statistician for NASS. “Farmers who receive this survey should use this opportunity to assure their county is accurately represented in the calculation of Idaho county yields. Producers can lose out when there are no data to determine accurate rates for loans, disaster payments, crop insurance price elections, and more. Without data, agencies such as USDA’s Risk Management Agency and Farm Service Agency do not have information on which to base the programs that serve those same producers.”

Farmers are encouraged to respond online at agcounts.usda.gov, by mail or fax.

Idaho producers who do not respond in the next couple of weeks may be emailed a reminder or contacted for an interview to complete the survey.

NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents and publishes only aggregate data, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified, as required by federal law.

Survey results will be published in the annual Small Grains Summary and the quarterly Grain Stocks report, both to be released on Sept. 29.

County level data will be published in NASS’s Quick Stats database (quickstats.nass.usda.gov) on Dec. 15.

For more information on NASS surveys and reports, visit nass.usda.gov or call the NASS Northwest region office at 800-435-5883.