NCGA urges statistics survey completion

Recognizing the critical importance of consistent data collection, conscientious farm stakeholders have collaborated to publicize the need for more diligent survey participation among American growers, recently meeting to brainstorm as polling results have lagged nationwide.
 
Daykin, Nebraska, farmer Steve Ebke serves as risk management action team chair for the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). When he consulted with Michael Clements of the National Farm Broadcasters, they determined that farmers’ profits could be adversely impacted without regular and adequate feedback to entities such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the government agency behind many of the surveys distributed by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
 
“There seem to be county-to-county differences that are unaccounted for and … some counties did not have enough information … for them to publish data,” Ebke said. “Farm Service Agency uses that data to calculate ARC payments. So, if NASS does not have the data, they will have to look elsewhere for it.”
 
In other words, Agriculture Risk Coverage suffers without documentation to support the program. Ebke, Clements and their colleagues are raising awareness among growers, urging them to complete their surveys.
 
“In fact, I just received my county agricultural production survey in the mail for 2016 the other day,” he said. “You can either do it manually … and mail that back in, or you can complete it online. Most of the information in that survey is information farmers have readily available.”
 
Ebke emphasized that responses are kept confidential so that individual farmers’ privacy is fully protected. He said neglecting to complete NASS surveys can actually put farms at risk for receiving ARC payments.
 
“I just want to urge everyone to go ahead and complete this as it is very important to your bottom line,” Ebke said. “We have additional information on our website and even a direct link to USDA’s site, where you can complete your survey.”