USDA NASS Georgia Field Office
February - April 2012 Data Collection Activities:

Crop Progress:  The Crop Progress report is published weekly during the growing season based on information provided by Georgia’s County Extension Agents. The report lists plantings, selected development stages for peanuts and cotton, harvest progress, and overall condition of major crops in Georgia. Data are published at the State and national level from April through November.  The first 2012 release date will be March 19.

ARMS III:  The annual Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) Phase III will be conducted in Georgia and across the Nation beginning late December until mid-April.  A portion of the producers selected for the survey will receive a questionnaire in the mail in the late December to early January timeframe.  The remaining producers selected for the survey will receive a visit from field interviewer during the late January to April timeframe.  Producers will report 2011 farm operating expenses and returns, production practices, and the economic state of farm households.  In Georgia, slightly over 1,600 producers will be asked to provide economic data and be the voice of the State's agricultural growers.  The release date for Farm Production Expenditures will be August 2, 2012.         

March Prospective Plantings:  The Georgia Field Office of USDA NASS will be asking by mail, phone, and personal interviews more than 1,500 Georgia growers in late February of their intentions for planting crops in 2012.  This is an important survey that provides the first official estimates of U.S. farmers' planting intentions for 2012.  The Prospective Plantings and quarterly Grain Stocks reports will be released at 8:30 a.m. on March 30, 2012.

March Hogs: Data collection will occur by mail and personal interviews for Georgia hog producers beginning in late February. The survey will collect hog inventories as of March 1.  Results will be published in the Hogs and Pigs report on March 30, 2012.

Agricultural Yield: Data collection for the May Ag Yield will begin April 29 and end May 4 Crop Production report on May 10, 2012.

April Milk:  Dairy producers will be contacted late March through early April for April 1, 2012 production.  Published data will be available in the Milk Production release on April 19, 2012. 

Cash Rents:  NASS collects cash rents data as directed by the 2008 Farm Bill for use by the Farm Service Agency in program administration.  Inquiries are mailed to producers on March 16 and data collection ends on June 29.  U.S., regional and state results are available online only on August 3, 2012.

Contact our office at (800) 253.4419 with any questions or comments.

Douglas G. Kleweno, Director
USDA NASS Georgia Field Office
Phone:  706.546.2236
Cell:  706.817.1822
FAX:  706.546.2416
E-Mail:  douglas_kleweno@nass.usda.gov