This year has been quite the year. Farmers, ranchers and producers have had to maneuver the COVID-19 pandemic as well as usual weather. During the first two weeks of September, the US Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistic Service will be taking a comprehensive look at the 2020 production and supply of small grains. They are defining small grains as wheat, oats, barley and rye.
South Dakota USDA NASS State Statistician Erik Gerlach says that small grains play a huge role in South Dakota’s agriculture industry. He says that the NASS will contact around 2,300 producers in South Dakota to measure the 2020 acreage, yield and production from small grains. They are also going to be looking at the quantities of grains and oil seeds stored on farms. Gerlach says it is very important to get accurate data about this sector of the agriculture economy.
According to Gerlach, the NASS will be using surveys to collect the data. The data collected will then be used to calculate county yields, which will then be used by the USDA to determine and administer the vital farm disaster mitigation program.
It is important to fill out the information as accurately as possible if you are chosen to take the survey. Gerlach says that you want your county to be properly represented. He does say that your privacy will be protected. No information that is published will be able to be tracked back to any operations or specific producers. The results of this survey will be published in the annual Small Grains Summary and quarterly Grain Stocks reports that are released at www.nass.usda.gov on September 30th.
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