During the first two weeks of September, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service will survey the growers of small grains, including wheat, barley and oats. The results of this survey will provide an in-depth look into small grain production in the United States in 2012.
"As part of the September Agricultural Survey, we will contact nearly 1,900 California producers," said Vic Tolomeo, director of the USDA-NASS California Field Office. "The results of this survey will provide the basis for official USDA estimates of 2012 acreage, yield and production for small grains and county production estimates."
California farmers will receive survey forms by mail in late August. They will be asked to provide information about acreage, final data on 2012 small grains production, as well as information on quantities of grains and oilseeds stored on farms statewide. Respondents will have the option to respond online or by mail. Those who do not respond will be contacted by a NASS representative who will assist with filling out the survey form.
As with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential by law.
"NASS safeguards the confidentiality of all responses and publishes only State- and National-level data, thus ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified," explained Tolomeo.
NASS will compile and analyze the survey information and publish the results in a series of USDA reports, including the annual Small Grains Summary and the quarterly Grain Stocks reports, both of which will be released Sept. 28.
For more information about NASS surveys and reports, visit the NASS website at www.nass.usda.gov/Publications.