The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)
will survey producers in 32 states, including Wisconsin, for its 2021 County Agricultural Production
Survey (CAPS) and September 1, 2021 Agricultural Survey.
These surveys will collect information on total acres planted and harvested, and yield and
production of small grains crops down to the county level. These surveys will provide the data
needed to estimate acreage and production of selected crops such as barley, oats, and wheat in the
United States.
“The data provided will help federal and state programs support the farmer,” said Greg
Bussler, Wisconsin State Statistician. “I hope every producer understands the importance of these
data and will take the time to respond if they receive this survey. Producers can lose out when there
are no data to determine accurate rates for loans, disaster payments, crop insurance price elections
and more. When enough producers do not respond to surveys, NASS is not able to publish data.
Without data, agencies such as USDA’s Risk Management Agency or Farm Service Agency do not
have information on which to base the programs that serve those same producers.”
You are encouraged to respond online at agcounts.usda.gov, or by mail. Alternatively, within
the next few weeks NASS representatives will contact selected Wisconsin growers to arrange
telephone interviews to complete the survey.
NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents and publishes only aggregate data,
ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified, as required by federal law.
Survey results from the September 1, 2021 Agricultural Survey will be published in the Small
Grains Summary and the quarterly Grain Stocks report, both to be released Wednesday, September
30, 2021. County-level survey results will be published on the NASS Quick Stats database
(quickstats.nass.usda.gov) on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. For more information on NASS surveys and
reports, call the NASS Wisconsin Field Office at 1-800-772-0825.
