SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will survey producers in 32 states, including Illinois, for its 2020 Small Grains County Agricultural Production Survey (CAPS).
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 selected crops such as barley, oats, and wheat at the county level.
“The data provided will be used in federal and state programs that help support farmers,” said Mark Schleusener, Illinois State Statistician. “I hope every producer understands the importance of these data and will take the time to respond if they receive this survey. Producers can lose out when there are no data to determine accurate rates for loans, disaster payments, crop insurance price elections and more. NASS is not able to publish county data unless enough producers in the county respond. 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.”
You are encouraged to respond online at agcounts.usda.gov, or by mail. Alternatively, within the next few weeks NASS representatives will contact selected Illinois growers to arrange telephone interviews to complete the survey.
NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents and publishes only aggregate data, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified, as required by federal law.
Survey results will be published on the NASS Quick Stats database (quickstats.nass.usda.gov/) at 3:00 pm ET on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Heartland Regional Field Office at 800-551-1014.
— USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
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