| USDA: Ag Census Data Valuable; Grower, Input Crucial |
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| Written by NCGA | |
| Friday, 19 June 2009 | |
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Washington, DC - In a meeting with the National Corn Growers Association, representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s statistics branch stressed the importance of good data in helping drive policy and funding decisions, and thanked growers for taking the time to provide important information.
“The USDA’s Census of Agriculture provides the only source of consistent county-level information that looks at the whole structure of agriculture,” said the USDA’s Carol House. She is the deputy administrator for programs and products at the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service and is chair of the Agricultural Statistics Board. “We want to help you know what information is available, and how to use it in the best way possible.” At present, House noted, two surveys are in the field that follow up on the 2007 census. One is related to farm and ranch irrigation and the other to organic farming. While the deadlines for submission have passed, she said that they are still working to get responses back and growers who have received the material should send them out as soon as possible. “We really need your help,” House added. “Without you, we will have poor data and cannot tell your story.” In addition to those surveys, House said that the division is also preparing a survey to look into on-farm energy production - wind, solar, ethanol, biodiesel and methane. That survey is expected to go out into the field next year. |
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