USDA To Measure Small Grain Production

Dan General, Grain, Industry News Release

wheat fieldDuring the first two weeks of September, growers of small grains around the country will receive survey forms from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The agency is taking an in-depth look into the 2014 production and supply of small grains, which include wheat, oats and barley.

“The small grains industry is a major component of agriculture in the Pacific Region, and it is crucial for us to have accurate data about this key sector,” said Vic Tolomeo, Director of the Pacific Regional Field Office. “We will contact more than 1,700 producers in California and Nevada to accurately measure 2014 acreage, yield, and production for small grains. The data collected from this survey will also help set small grain acreage and production estimates at the county level.”

NASS will contact survey participants in California and Nevada to gather information on their 2014 production and the quantities of whole grains and oilseeds stored on farm. As an alternative to mailing the survey back, to help save both time and money, growers will have the option to respond to the survey online. The farmers who have not responded by September 9 will receive a phone call from a NASS-trained enumerator who will help them fill out the survey form.

As with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential by law. NASS safeguards the privacy of all responses and publishes only aggregate data, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified.

Survey results will be published in several reports, including the annual Small Grains Summary and the quarterly Grain Stocks report, both to be released on September 30. These and all NASS reports are available online at http://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/. For more information call the NASS Pacific Regional Field Office at 1-800-851-1127.