There are some program changes at the National Agricultural Statistics Service after a five-year review of the 400 individual reports it is responsible for. After the Census of Agriculture is released, the agency responsible for collecting and presenting farm data from around the country takes a look at that information to ensure the estimating programs adapt to reflect changes in agriculture.
Greg Thessen, the Director of the Upper Midwest Regional Office with NASS, says changes were minimal in his area, especially in crops. But in livestock, it does impact lower production states and many were placed into a broad “all other” category like the final Hogs and Pigs report.
“The December report will be just like the other quarters, where we’ll publish 16 states individually and the 34 states, even in December will be part of the ‘other state’ total. And that’s consistent, we’ve made similar changes like that for some of the other livestock commodities as well.”
The number of published states for cattle will drop from 50 to 31, milk will drop to 33 states, 19 states removed from honey, three from the chicken and eggs report, two from meat goats, and one state from milk goats. Thessen says the reason for the change every five years is simple.
“Our programs are taxpayer-funded so we’re trying to use the resources that are provided to our agency in the best way possible.”
Ultimately, the reports rely on voluntary participation in filling out surveys.
“That’s another thing we run into if we can’t get enough responses, or the other aspect to it we have to keep information confidential, so sometimes that affects our ability to publish a particular state.”
You can find the changes by going online and searching “NASS Program Review.”
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