The USDA NASS Minnesota Field Office announced two upcoming surveys that request responses by Minnesota farmers.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service will be seeking responses to its the third and final phase of the 2019 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS). NASS will be contacting more than 36,000 producers nationwide, including 1,500 in Minnesota, between January and April. The survey asks producers to provide in-depth information about their operating revenues, production costs and household characteristics. The 2019 survey includes a version focused on barley costs and returns.

“ARMS is the only survey that measures the current financial well-being of Minnesota producers and their households as a whole,” says Dan Lofthus, Minnesota state statistician. “The results of this survey will help inform decisions on local and federal policies and programs that affect Minnesota farms and farm families.”

Lofthus says the survey is lengthy and that some producers may have questions.

“In February, our interviewers will begin reaching out to those farmers who have not yet responded to answer any questions they may have and help them fill out their questionnaires,” he says.

NASS has safeguards in place to protect the confidentiality of all farmers who respond to its surveys. The agency will only publish data in aggregate form, ensuring the confidentiality of all responses so no individual respondent or operation can be identified.

The expense data gathered in ARMS will be published in the annual Farm Production Expenditures report on July 31. That report and others are available at nass.usda.gov. More reports based on ARMS data and more information about ARMS is available at ers.usda.gov/arms.

Cattle survey

In January, NASS will survey about 41,000 cattle operations nationwide to provide an up-to-date measure of U.S. cattle inventories.

“This information helps producers make timely, informed business decisions and plan for herd expansion or reduction,” Lofthus says. “It also helps packers and government leaders evaluate expected slaughter volume for future months and determine potential supplies for export.”

During the first two weeks of January, Minnesota producers will have the opportunity to report their beef and dairy cattle inventories, calf crop, death loss and cattle on feed information.

To make it as convenient as possible for producers to participate in the survey, NASS offers the option of responding via the Internet, telephone, mail or a personal interview with a local NASS representative.

Survey results will be published in the January Cattle report to be released on Jan. 31.

This report will be available online.

For more information, call the NASS Minnesota Field Office at 651-728-3113.

Source: USDA NASS Minnesota Field Office, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.