USDA Asks Producers to Report Crop Yields

LOUISVILLE, Ky. –The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is surveying Kentucky producers for its County Agricultural Production Survey (CAPS) small grains survey.

The survey will collect information on total acres planted and harvested, and yield and production of small grains crops. CAPS will provide the data needed to estimate acreage and production of winter wheat in Kentucky.

“The data provided by producers will be used to set county average yields, which are needed in federal farm programs, such as the agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC),” said David Knopf, Director of the Eastern Mountain Regional Field Office. “I hope every single producer understands the importance of these data and will take the time to respond if they receive this survey. Producers lose out when there is no data to determine county yields, crop insurance price elections and more. When enough producers do not respond to surveys, NASS is not able to publish data. Without data, agencies such as USDA’s Risk Management Agency or Farm Service Agency do not have information on which to base the programs that serve those same producers”.

Within the next few weeks NASS representatives will contact selected growers to arrange telephone or in-person interviews for conducting the survey.

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

County average yields will be published on December 13, 2018. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Eastern Mountain Regional Field Office at 1-800-928-
5277.