Mar 23 -- The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) invites comments to OMB by April 27, 2023 regarding the revision and extension of Objective Yield Surveys. [Comments are due 30 days after submission to OMB on March 28, 2023.]
The primary objective of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is to collect, prepare and issue State and national estimates of crop and livestock production, prices, and disposition as well as economic statistics, farm numbers, land values, on-farm pesticide usage, pest crop management practices, as well as the Census of Agriculture. The Objective Yield Surveys objectively predict yields for corn, cotton, potatoes, soybeans, wheat, citrus, almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts. Sample fields are randomly selected for these crops, plots are laid out, and periodic counts and measurements are taken and then used to forecast production during the growing season. Production forecasts are published in USDA crop reports.
The fruit and nut objective yield surveys are conducted under cooperative agreements with several State Departments of Agriculture. The individual States will be reimbursing NASS for the costs associated with these additional surveys. The surveys will include: California citrus, almonds and walnuts; Florida citrus; and Oregon hazelnuts.
NASS will collect information on sample fields of, corn, cotton, potatoes, soybeans, and winter wheat. The information will be used by USDA to anticipate loan receipts and pricing of loan stocks for grains. Farmers and businesses use the production estimates in marketing decisions to evaluate expected prices and to determine when to sell. The fruit and nut data will be used by the State Departments of Agriculture and commodity marketing boards to make informed decisions concerning the stocks and marketing of these commodities.
Objective Yield Surveys:
https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Objective_Yield/index.php
NASS submission to OMB:
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202301-0535-001 Click IC List for information collection instrument, View Supporting Statement for technical documentation. Submit comments through this webpage.
FRN:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-05977
For AEA members wishing to submit comments, "A Primer on How to Respond to Calls for Comment on Federal Data Collections" is available at
https://www.aeaweb.org/content/file?id=5806