USDA-NASS - About NASS - Agricultural Statistics: A Historical Timeline - Era of Computerization & Research 1941-1980

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United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service

About NASS

Agricultural Statistics: A Historical Timeline

A poorly estimated cotton forecast creates opportunities for research into better data collection methodologies. Computers, satellites and networks revolutionize how agricultural data are collected and analyzed. The Statistical Reporting Service becomes a stand-alone agency and celebrates 100 years of service to U.S. Agriculture.

Division of Agricultural Statistics, Agricultural Marketing Service 1939–1942

William F. Callander
CRB Chairperson
1937–1942

Joseph A. Becker
CRB Chairperson
1942–1944

1941 - The Chicago Dairy Office is established within the USDA Division of Agricultural Statistics for weekly reports on butter, cheese and other dairy reports. 1943 - The Chicago Dairy Office becomes the coordination center for all war time reports on the dairy industry.

U.S. Population 1940 - 132,164,569 | Number of Farms 1940 - 6,102,417

Division of Agricultural Statistics Bureau of Agricultural Economics 1942–1953

Joseph A. Becker
CRB Chairperson
1942–1944

Paul L. Koenig
CRB Chairperson
1944–1946

1943 - Iowa State College develops the first area sampling frame for agriculture through a cooperative agreement among Iowa State College, the Department of Agriculture and the Census Bureau. The Census Bureau utilizes a sample from the area frame to collect supplementary information in conjunction with the 1945 Census of Agriculture.

U.S. Population 1940 - 132,164,569 | Number of Farms 1940 - 6,102,417

Division of Agricultural Statistics Bureau of Agricultural Economics 1942–1953

William F. Callander
CRB Chairperson
1946–1949

1947 - Cooperative projects authorized by the Research and Marketing Act of 1946 begin in a number of states to provide special statistical information covering local needs for county and local market areas. County production estimates, pig crop reports, cattle-on-feed reports, local area truck crop reports, and many other reports are added.

U.S. Population 1940 - 132,164,569 | Number of Farms 1945 - 5,859,169

Division of Agricultural Statistics Bureau of Agricultural Economics 1942–1953

William F. Callander
CRB Chairperson
1946–1949

1949 - A group of agency employees undertake the first documented resident assignment to Puerto Rico.

U.S. Population 1940 - 132,164,569 | Number of Farms 1945 - 5,859,169

Division of Agricultural Statistics Bureau of Agricultural Economics 1942–1953

William F. Callander
CRB Chairperson
1946–1949

1948 - Weekly publishing of the Broiler report begins as the broiler industry moves quickly to adopt vertical integration.

U.S. Population 1940 - 132,164,569 | Number of Farms 1945 - 5,859,169

Division of Agricultural Statistics Bureau of Agricultural Economics 1942–1953

Sterling R. Newell
CRB Chairperson
1950–1962

1952 - After a poorly estimated cotton forecast results in a congressional investigation, a House Agriculture subcommittee recommends strengthening the reporting service and improving statistical techniques. The Appropriation Act of 1952 provides $250,000 for methodological research.

U.S. Population 1950 - 151,325,798 | Number of Farms 1950 - 5,388,437

Agricultural Economics Division, Agricultural Marketing Service 1953–1961

Sterling R. Newell
CRB Chairperson
1950–1962

1954 - The June Enumerative Survey begins on a pilot basis in 10 states. This survey is a mid-year area frame survey of planted acres and livestock inventory that involves outlining fields and other land uses on a large aerial photograph. The fields are measured to determine the amount of acreage.

U.S. Population 1950 - 151,325,798 | Number of Farms 1954 - 4,782,416

Agricultural Economics Division, Agricultural Marketing Service 1953–1961

Sterling R. Newell
CRB Chairperson
1950–1962

1955 - Reader’s Digest introduces subscribers to the workings of the Crop Reporting Board in an August article, “Drama Behind the Crop Forecasts.”

U.S. Population 1950 - 151,325,798 | Number of Farms 1954 - 4,782,416

Agricultural Economics Division, Agricultural Marketing Service 1953–1961

Sterling R. Newell
CRB Chairperson
1950–1962

1956 - Early in 1956, Sterling Newell, Chairman of the Crop Reporting Board, appoints a 10-person working group to study the agency's research and development problems. In July, Jamie L. Whitten, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Agricultural Appropriations, asks Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson for a specific plan to improve the U.S. agricultural statistics program.

U.S. Population 1950 - 151,325,798 | Number of Farms 1954 - 4,782,416

Agricultural Economics Division, Agricultural Marketing Service 1953–1961

Sterling R. Newell
CRB Chairperson
1950–1962

1957 - Sterling Newell presents a 15-page long-range plan to Congress. The report leads to significant changes in methodology and technological advances in computer automation.

U.S. Population 1950 - 151,325,798 | Number of Farms 1954 - 4,782,416

Agricultural Economics Division, Agricultural Marketing Service 1953–1961

Sterling R. Newell
CRB Chairperson
1950–1962

1958 - NASS takes a step toward automated data processing by installing an IBM 650 mid-sized computer, which requires a full room of air conditioning equipment, and creating the Data Processing Branch, which eventually becomes one of three USDA computer centers. In 1966, it is named the Washington Data Processing Center.

U.S. Population 1950 - 151,325,798 | Number of Farms 1954 - 4,782,416

Agricultural Economics Division, Agricultural Marketing Service 1953–1961

Sterling R. Newell
CRB Chairperson
1950–1962

1958 - The monthly Cold Storage Survey is among the first reports to be converted from a punched card system to the new IBM 650 computer. Not long after, the monthly Livestock Slaughter Survey is programmed.

U.S. Population 1950 - 151,325,798 | Number of Farms 1954 - 4,782,416

Agricultural Economics Division, Agricultural Marketing Service 1953–1961

Sterling R. Newell
CRB Chairperson
1950–1962

Henry C. Trelogan
Administrator
1961–1975

1961 - On April 3, USDA announces a department-wide reorganization. The preparation of agricultural statistics becomes the function of a new and separate agency – the Statistical Reporting Service (SRS). Harry C. Trelogan is appointed Administrator.

U.S. Population 1960 - 179,323,175 | Number of Farms 1959 - 3,710,503

Agricultural Economics Division, Agricultural Marketing Service 1953–1961

Sterling R. Newell
CRB Chairperson
1950–1962

Henry C. Trelogan
Administrator
1961–1975

1961 - The National Conference of Agricultural Statisticians is held in Biloxi, Mississippi. Twenty-six state statisticians report having access to computing facilities. Congress increases funding by $750,000 to bring computers to 15 additional states.

U.S. Population 1960 - 179,323,175 | Number of Farms 1959 - 3,710,503

Statistical Reporting Service 1961–1977

Sterling R. Newell
CRB Chairperson
1950–1962

Henry C. Trelogan
Administrator
1961–1975

1962 - In a speech titled, “Agricultural Statisticians in a Changing World,” Harry Trelogan declares that the agency needs mathematical statisticians, computer programmers and system analysts in addition to agricultural statisticians to successfully adapt to advancements in research and computer technology.

U.S. Population 1960 - 179,323,175 | Number of Farms 1959 - 3,710,503

Statistical Reporting Service 1961–1977

Henry C. Trelogan
Administrator
1961–1975

1965 - The June and December Enumerative Surveys are operational in 48 states. These surveys account for the first probability-based estimates of national crop acreages. Processing the June Enumerative Survey requires 360 hours of running time on the IBM 7074 computer. Headquarters staff are assigned shifts in order to devote 24 hours a day to the effort.

U.S. Population 1960 - 179,323,175 | Number of Farms 1964 - 3,157,857

Statistical Reporting Service 1961–1977

Henry C. Trelogan
Administrator
1961–1975

1966 - The agency celebrates 100 years of continuous crop and livestock reporting. Glenn D. Simpson, Chairman of the Crop Reporting Board, and former chairmen William F. Callander, Paul L. Koenig, Joseph A. Becker and Sterling R. Newell celebrate the occasion.

U.S. Population 1960 - 179,323,175 | Number of Farms 1964 - 3,157,857

Statistical Reporting Service 1961–1977

Henry C. Trelogan
Administrator
1961–1975

1967 - The first IBM 360 computer is installed in Illinois, followed by additional machines in other field offices. While the decision is made to equip all offices with machines compatible with the IBM 360, budget restrictions slow and later stop this plan. Offices continue to have different equipment and automated data processing capabilities for decades.

U.S. Population 1960 - 179,323,175 | Number of Farms 1964 - 3,157,857

Statistical Reporting Service 1961–1977

Henry C. Trelogan
Administrator
1961–1975

1968 - The Remote Sensing Branch is formed to research the use of satellite information. Supporters of satellites designed for measuring crop-related phenomena predict major changes will impact how acreage estimates are determined.

U.S. Population 1960 - 179,323,175 | Number of Farms 1964 - 3,157,857

Statistical Reporting Service 1961–1977

Henry C. Trelogan
Administrator
1961–1975

1969 - In cooperation with the Florida Department of Citrus, SRS converts the Florida orange estimates completely to objective yield measurements.

U.S. Population 1960 - 179,323,175 | Number of Farms 1969 - 2,730,250

Statistical Reporting Service 1961–1977

Henry C. Trelogan
Administrator
1961–1975

1971 - When the Research and Development Division introduces Statistical Analysis Software (SAS), it spreads quickly throughout the agency. In the decades to follow, SAS serves as the primary survey processing system to sample, edit, analyze and summarize survey and census data.

U.S. Population 1970 - 203,302,031 | Number of Farms 1969 - 2,730,250

Statistical Reporting Service 1961–1977

Henry C. Trelogan
Administrator
1961–1975

1972 - The generalized edit (GE) system tested on the 1971 Farm Production Expenditure Survey is used operationally on the December Enumerative Survey. The GE system is a collection of modules that performs several standard mathematical calculations to estimate survey data. This system is used by headquarters and field office staff through the early 1990s.

U.S. Population 1970 - 203,302,031 | Number of Farms 1969 - 2,730,250

Statistical Reporting Service 1961–1977

Henry C. Trelogan
Administrator
1961–1975

1972 - Landsat 1, the first satellite designed to estimate crop acreage and land use from space, is launched July 23.

U.S. Population 1970 - 203,302,031 | Number of Farms 1969 - 2,730,250

Statistical Reporting Service 1961–1977

Henry C. Trelogan
Administrator
1961–1975

1973 - The World Agricultural Outlook Board is created and the first Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report is issued on September 17.

U.S. Population 1970 - 203,302,031 | Number of Farms 1969 - 2,730,250

Statistical Reporting Service 1961–1977

Henry C. Trelogan
Administrator
1961–1975

William E. Kibler
Administrator
1975–1987

1975 - The plot of The Money Harvest, a new book by Ross Thomas, is loosely based on the Crop Reporting Board’s Lockup procedures.

U.S. Population 1970 - 203,302,031 | Number of Farms 1974 - 2,314,013

Statistical Reporting Service 1961–1977

Henry C. Trelogan
Administrator
1961–1975

William E. Kibler
Administrator
1975–1987

1975 - The SRS National Conference focuses on “Statistics with Integrity” and examines using a List Sampling Frame (LSF) approach to creating an unduplicated list of farm operators. South Carolina becomes the LSF testbed.

U.S. Population 1970 - 203,302,031 | Number of Farms 1974 - 2,314,013

Statistical Reporting Service 1961–1977

William E. Kibler
Administrator
1975–1987

1977 - Two researchers from the Research and Development Division, George Hanushak and Katheleen Morrissey, demonstrate the feasibility of using Landsat satellite imagery for area frame stratification by land use. The Landsat Program is jointly managed by the National Aeornautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Geological Survey and uses satellites to collect information about Earth from space.

U.S. Population 1970 - 203,302,031 | Number of Farms 1974 - 2,314,013

Economics, Statistics and Cooperatives Service 1977–1980

William E. Kibler
Administrator
1975–1987

1978 - The AgRISTARS Program, a joint agriculture-related remote sensing research effort involving USDA, NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. Department of the Interior, begins. The program identifies seven areas of USDA interest for which aerospace remote sensing may be applicable: early warning of changes affecting production and quality of commodities, commodity production forecasts, land use classification, renewable resources inventories, land productivity estimates, conservation practices assessments, and pollution detection and evaluation.

U.S. Population 1970 - 203,302,031 | Number of Farms 1978 - 2,257,775

Economics, Statistics and Cooperatives Service 1977–1980

William E. Kibler
Administrator
1975–1987

1979 - The Wisconsin field office acquires a Radio Shack desktop computer, a first for the agency.

U.S. Population 1970 - 203,302,031 | Number of Farms 1978 - 2,257,775

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United States Department of Agriculture • National Agricultural Statistics Service • 1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250 • Voice: (800) 727-9540 • Email: nass@nass.usda.gov • Web: http://www.nass.usda.gov

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