USDA to collect ag data

Starting in late November, a sample of producers around the country will receive Agricultural Survey questionnaires from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

The agency is taking a comprehensive look into the 2024 production of crops. NASS will contact more than 2,700 Illinois producers to determine 2024 acreage, yield, and production for corn, soybeans, and hay as well as gather quantities of grains & oilseeds stored.

The data help the industry evaluate export potential and calculate the supply of crops available for the marketing year. Producers are encouraged to respond to the Agricultural Survey online at agcounts.usda.gov, as that saves taxpayer dollars. Mail returns are also a great way to help reduce costs. Producers who have not responded by Nov. 29 may be contacted by a NASS representative to schedule a time to help fill out the survey.

“NASS safeguards the privacy of respondents by keeping all individual information confidential and publishing the data in aggregate form only to ensure that no operation or producer can be identified,” said Mark Schleusener, Illinois State Statistician. “We recognize that this is a hectic time for farmers, but the information they provide helps U.S. agriculture remain viable and capable. I urge everyone to respond to these surveys and thank them in advance for their participation.”

NASS will publish state and national data in the quarterly Grain Stocks and annual Crop Production reports on January 10, 2025 on the NASS website. These survey data also contribute to USDA’s World Agricultural Outlook Board’s monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.

All NASS reports are available at nass.usda.gov/Publications. For assistance with the survey, or for more information, contact the NASS Heartland Regional Field Office at (800) 551- 1014 or nassrfohlr@usda.gov.