USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service is beginning to collect data from more than 100,000 farmers and ranchers for the annual Agricultural Resource Management Survey.
The survey looks at all aspects of U.S. agricultural production including farm financial well-being and chemical usage, according to USDA. In 2016, the survey will take a closer look at corn production, and both organic and conventional milk production in the United States. The survey is a joint effort of NASS and USDA’s Economic Research Service. USDA claims the information the agencies obtain through the survey influences national and state policy-making decisions. The data is also used to calculate the farm sector portion of the Gross Domestic Product. The survey is conducted in three phases from May 2016 through April 2017.