E-mail: nass-ny@nass.usda.gov
(518) 457-5570

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:  JMarisa Reuber
Tuesday,  May 3, 2011

www.nass.usda.gov/ny



                     USDA SURVEYS TO PROVIDE INSIGHT ON 2011 AGRICULTURE OUTLOOK


ALBANY, NY - With the 2011 growing season now in full swing, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics 
Service (NASS) will spend the first two weeks of June surveying thousands of farmers across New York to 
get a clear indication of the production and supply of major commodities for the year. The information 
provided will be compiled into one publically accessible report and maintain confidentiality of individual 
farmer information.

	"In March, U.S. farmers reported that they have planted or intend to plant more acres of corn, 
wheat and cotton this crop season and fewer acres of soybeans. Now with most of the crop actually in the 
ground, we are reaching out to producers to find out what they actually planted," said King Whetstone, 
Director of the NASS New York Field Office.

	Through two major mid-year surveys, the June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey, 
NASS will gather data on what crops have been planted and what commodities are in storage. This 
information will provide a comprehensive picture of how things are shaping up in 2011 for the U.S. 
agriculture industry.

       "For the agricultural survey, we contact producers by mail, phone or personal visit. We ask them 
to provide information on their total acreage, acres planted to specific commodities - including biotech 
varieties, and quantities of grains and oilseeds stored on-farm," said Whetstone.

	"For the area survey, we visit randomly selected tracts of land and interview the operators of any 
farm or ranch on that land. We collect information on crop acreage - including biotech crops, as well as 
grain stocks, livestock inventory, cash rents, land values, and value of sales."

	This information is a critical component of several key national reports, including the annual 
Acreage report and the quarterly Grain Stocks report, both to be released on June 30. Survey data also 
contribute to NASS’s monthly and annual Crop Production reports and various other crop and livestock-
related publications, including USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.

	"Especially in these challenging economic times, farmers and the rest of the agricultural industry 
need timely, accurate data on the current state of U.S. agricultural production," Whetstone said. "The 
information collected through our mid-year surveys can help producers, suppliers, traders, buyers, export 
customers and others make sound and informed business decisions."	
       For more information, visit www.nass.usda.gov or call the NASS NY Field Office at 1-800-821-
1276.



                                                     #