California Ag Network

Tag: NASS

  • USDA Begins to Survey Farmers’ Conservation Estimates in 2024

    As the 2024 crop season moves forward, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will contact producers nationwide to determine the effects of conservation on working lands.

    “The USDA’s Conservation Effects Assessment Project is an expanded effort to help the farming community better understand the environmental impacts of conservation practices,” said Gary R. Keough, NASS Pacific Regional Director. “CEAP is vital to help determine what resources farmers may need to further protect the soil, water and related resources in their area.” NASS representatives will visit farms between August 2024 and February 2025 to collect information such as on-farm production practices; chemical, fertilizer and manure applications; integrated pest management activities; and installed conservation practices.

    USDA NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents. The information provided will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with federal law, responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form.

    The survey data will be published in the Crop Production report in 2025. This and all other NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov/Publications. For more information, call the NASS Pacific Regional Field Office at 1-800-851-1127.

  • USDA Begins to Survey Farmers’ Yield Estimates in 2024

    As the 2024 crop season moves forward, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will contact producers nationwide to determine acreage, yield, and production estimates throughout the growing season.

    “Each year, the agriculture industry anticipates USDA’s Crop Production reports, which provides monthly survey-based estimates of U.S. farmers’ yields throughout the year,” said Gary R. Keough, NASS Pacific Regional Director. “The May Agricultural Yield Survey provides the first indications of how farmers are doing.” NASS will mail the survey to producers in April, asking producers to provide information about the types of crops they planted in 2024, how many acres they planted, and the anticipated yields on their farms.

    Producers are encouraged to respond online at agcounts.usda.gov. On NASS’s Respondent Portal, they can complete their survey, track upcoming surveys, access data visualizations and reports of interest, link to other USDA agencies, and more. Those who do not respond by April 29 may be contacted for an interview.

    “Farmers reporting acreage of at least one commodity of interest are included in the monthly data collection to forecast crop yields,” explained Keough.

    USDA NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents. The information provided will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with federal law, responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form.

    The survey data will be published in the Crop Production report on May 10, 2024. This and all other NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov/Publications. For more information, call the NASS Pacific Regional Field Office at 1-800-851-1127.

  • Nine California Counties Make Top 10 List for Ag Sales in the Nation

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has announced the results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture, spanning more than 6 million data points about America’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them down to the county level. The information collected directly from producers shows a continued decline in the total number of California farms. However, the data also show an increase in the value of agriculture sales in California. The full Census of Agriculture report as well as publication dates for additional ag census data products can be found at nass.usda.gov/AgCensus. Ag census data can also be found in NASS’s searchable online database, Quick Stats.

    “The 2022 Census of Agriculture provides a wide range of demographic, economic, land, and crop and livestock production information as well as first-time or expanded data such as hemp, precision agriculture, and internet access.” said Gary R. Keough, Director, USDA NASS Pacific Region. “Many of these data about California and our counties are only collected and reported as part of the every-five- year census.”

    The 2022 Census of Agriculture data show the following key trends for California.

    • The number of farms decreased to 63,134, down 10 percent from 2017 with an average size of 383 acres (up 10%) on 24.2 million acres of farmland (down 1%).
    • The market value of agricultural products sold totaled $59.0 billion, up $13.8 billion from 2017.
    • Total farm production expenses totaled $49.3 billion, up $11.5 billion from 2017.
    • At 16,699 farms, California is the top state using renewable energy producing systems in agriculture. Solar is the most common renewable energy producing system on farms and ranches in The Golden State.
    • The average age of the California farmer is 59.9, up from 59.2 in 2017.
    • Fresno County ranked #1 in the U.S., agricultural sales in Fresno County were greater than those in 23 states.

    • After Fresno County, the top 10 California counties are:

    2. Tulare County

    3. Monterey County

    4. Kern County

    5. Merced County

    6. Imperial County

    7. San Joaquin County

    8. Stanislaus County

    9. Santa Barbara County

    10. Kings County

    The national response rate for the 2022 Census of Agriculture was 61%; more than 40% of responses were submitted online. California’ response rate was 56%. Ag census data highlight publications are available at nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights. Additional products, including state and county profiles and congressional districts will be released throughout 2024.

    First conducted in 1840 in conjunction with the decennial Census and conducted since 1997 by USDA NASS – the federal statistical agency responsible for producing official data about U.S. agriculture – the Census of Agriculture remains the most comprehensive agricultural data for every state and county in the nation.

  • USDA Surveying California Beef & Dairy Cattle Operations

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will survey about 2,000 cattle operations in California 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. It also helps packers and government leaders evaluate expected slaughter volume for future months and determine potential supplies for export,” said Director Gary Keough. “Obtaining the current count of cattle will serve as an important decision-making tool for the entire agriculture industry.”

    During the first two weeks of January, California 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, or mail.

    NASS safeguards the privacy of all responses and publishes only state- and national-level data in aggregate, ensuring that no individual producer or operation can be identified.

    The January Cattle report will be released on January 31, 2024. This and all NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov/publications. For more information, call the NASS Pacific Regional Field Office at (916) 738-6600.

  • USDA Seeks Feedback About 2023 Crops, Stocks, Inventories, and Values

    During the next several weeks, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct two major mid-year surveys, the June Agricultural Survey, and the June Area Survey. The agency will contact nearly 2,000 producers across California to determine crop acreage and stock levels as of June 1, 2023.

    “The June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey are two of the most important and well-known surveys NASS conducts,” explained NASS Pacific Regional Director Gary Keough. “When producers respond to these surveys, they provide essential information that helps determine the expected acreage and supply of major commodities in the United States for the 2023 crop year. The results are used by farmers and ranchers, USDA,businesses, exporters, researchers, economists, policymakers, and others to inform a wide range of decisions.”

    Producers can respond to the June Agricultural Survey online at www.agcounts.usda.gov, by phone, or mail. They will be asked to provide information on planted and harvested acreage, including acreage for biotech crops and grain stocks. For the June Area Survey, agency representatives will interview farm and ranch operators in randomly selected segments over the phone. Producers will be asked to provide information on crop acreage, grain stocks, livestock inventory, land values, and value of sales.

    “NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents, by keeping all individual information confidential and publishing the data in aggregate form only to ensure that no operation or producer can be identified,” said Keough. “We recognize that this is a hectic time for farmers, but the information they provide helps U.S. agriculture remain viable and capable. I urge them to respond to these surveys and thank them for their cooperation.”

    NASS will analyze the survey information and publish the results in a series of USDA reports, including the annual Acreage and quarterly Grain Stocks reports on June 30, 2023.

    Survey data also contribute to NASS’s monthly and annual Crop Production reports, the annual Small Grains Summary, annual Farms and Land in Farms and Land Values reports, various livestock reports, including Cattle, Sheep and Goats, and Hogs and Pigs, and USDA’s monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.

    These and all NASS reports are available at www.nass.usda.gov/Publications. For more information, call the NASS Pacific Regional Field Office at 1-800-851-1127.

  • North American Strawberry Symposium & Growers Association Conference

    Strawberry growers, researchers, and other industry members from around the globe are invited to attend the 10th North American Strawberry Symposium (NASS), a meeting of  to be held in conjunction with the annual North American Strawberry Growers Association (NASGA) conference, March 7-10, 2023 at the Embassy Suites in San Luis Obispo, California, USA. California, where nearly 90% of U.S. strawberries are grown, features a unique coastal environment with its western ocean exposure, moderate temperatures, warm sunny days, and cool foggy nights –perfect for growing strawberries year-round.

    The Symposium will include two and a half days of workshops, reception, research presentations, marketing presentations, poster sessions and an award luncheon, and will be followed by a post- conference tour on March 10, which will encompass strawberry production in the region as well as the research, training and testing facilities at the CalPoly Strawberry Center. The Program Committee is committed to making this a world-class research symposium for growers and scientists, and we eagerly look forward to seeing you in San Luis Obispo.

    Subject areas for oral and poster presentations include: Global and North American Overviews, Breeding, Genetics, Molecular Biology, Disease & Pest Management, Propagation & Nursery Management, Cultural Practices, Indoor Production, Precision Agriculture, Robotics, Automation, Plant Nutrition and Water Management, Plant Physiology, Economics of Production Practices, Post-Harvest Quality Management, and Food Safety.

    Workshop topics include: Disease Management, Nursery Developments, Entomology, Strawberry Breeding Tools and Tips, Production Management/Plant Physiology, Getting Started with Automation/Precision Agriculture, Indoor Production, Methyl Bromide Alternatives, Novel Weed Management Approaches. View the full program HERE.

    Look for a mail-in registration form and more program details (abstract deadlines, keynote speakers, etc.) and opportunities for industry, organization and agency sponsorship on the NASGA website: http://www.nasga.org/. Please spread the word to fellow researchers and strawberry growers.

  • USDA to Gather Cash Rents Data for Cropland & Pasture

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct the Cash Rents and Leases survey starting Feb. 6. The survey provides the basis for estimates of the current year’s cash rents paid for irrigated cropland, non-irrigated cropland, and permanent pasture. Over 241,000 survey recipients across the United States have been selected to complete the survey with nearly 5,400 in CA, which can be completed online at agcounts.usda.gov, by mail or phone. If respondents do not complete the survey by February 24, they may be contacted for an interview.

    “Survey response from as many farm operators as possible ensures that cash rental rates accurately represent their locality,” said Gary Keough, Director of the NASS Pacific Regional Office. “The data from the Cash Rents and Leases survey will also give landowners a useful tool in negotiating rental agreements and making other business decisions for their agricultural operations.”

    Information from this survey is also used in the Farm Service Agency Conservation Reserve Program as an alternative soil rental rate prior to finalizing new rates each year.

    In accordance with federal law, NASS keeps survey responses confidential. The data will be available in aggregate form only to ensure that no individual producer or operation can be identified. NASS will publish the state-level data on Aug. 4 and county-level data on Aug. 25 at https://www.quickstats.nass.usda.gov/. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Pacific Field Office at (800) 851-1127 or visithttps://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Cash_Rents_by_County/index.php.

  • United States Cattle Inventory Down 3%

    There were 89.3 million head of cattle and calves on U.S. farms as of Jan. 1, 2023, according to the Cattle report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

    Other key findings in the report were:

    • Of the 89.3 million head inventory, all cows and heifers that have calved totaled 38.3 million.
    • There are 28.9 million beef cows in the United States as of Jan. 1, 2023, down 4% from last year.
    • The number of milk cows in the United States increased to 9.40 million.
    • U.S. calf crop was estimated at 34.5 million head, down 2% from 2021.
    • All cattle on feed were at 14.2 million head, down 4% from 2022.

    To obtain an accurate measurement of the current state of the U.S. cattle industry, NASS surveyed approximately 35,400 operators across the nation during the first half of January. Surveyed producers were asked to report their cattle inventories as of Jan. 1, 2023, and calf crop for the entire year of 2022 by internet, mail, telephone, or in-person interview.

    The Cattle report and all other NASS reports are available online at nass.usda.gov/Publications.

  • USDA California Walnut Nursery Sales Report Reveals Steady Decline

    Combined sales of walnut trees to California growers were 6,444 acres for the 2021 crop year and 10,650 acres for the 2020 crop year. The majority of tree sales in 2021 were Seedlings, at 62% of new plantings. The Chandler variety came in second at 30%. For 2020, Seedlings were the largest percentage of new plantings at 58%, with the Chandler variety coming in second at 35%. The remaining percentages by variety can be seen in the pie charts.  Based on reported nursery sales data, planted walnut acreage for year 2021 was down by 12,471 acres from just five years prior. The table below reveals a steady downward trend in walnut nursery sales in the last several years, likely correlated with increased global competition, softening prices and drought conditions in the state.

    OBJECTIVE

    The primary objective of the California Walnut Nursery Sales Report survey is to estimate planted acres by variety for the 2020 and 2021 crop years based on the number of walnut trees sold for new plantings. This report summarizes data supplied by California nurseries throughout the State who sold to walnut growers for commercial plantings. Results from this survey will be used in conjunction with the Walnut Acreage Survey to estimate the walnut acres in California.

    PROCEDURES

    Questionnaires were mailed to all known walnut nurseries in California, and responses were received from most operations. Nurseries that did not report data were estimated. The nurseries were asked to report the number of trees sold by variety for commercial plantings, and to estimate the percentage of trees sold for new plantings. Acres planted by variety were then estimated based on the data reported. Acre estimates were calculated using the reported number of trees sold, along with the trees per acre by variety from the Walnut Acreage Survey.

    ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

    The USDA, NASS Pacific Regional Office sincerely appreciates the nurseries for providing the information. A special thanks goes to the California Walnut Board for providing funding and support for this special Walnut Nursery Sales Report survey.

  • Navel Oranges Dominate CA Citrus Production, Mandarin Acreage on the Rise

    The Pacific Regional Office of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts an acreage survey of California citrus growers as funding is available. The purpose of this survey is to provide bi-annual citrus acreage, which includes information on new plantings and removals. It is the continuation of a long series of industry-funded Citrus Acreage surveys. Resulting data reveals that the navel orange by far continues to dominant California citrus acreage and production; however, while bearing acreage of navels has been on a decline, mandarins and mandarin hybrids are trending higher than in previous years, with a significant amount of nonbearing acreage in the ground this year.  Overall, the industry has seen an increase in citrus acreage over the past couple years in the state.

    Users are cautioned that this report consists of two parts:

      • ➢  Table1 shows estimated statewide bearing acreage for the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.

      • ➢  Tables 2, 3, and 4 show detailed acreage data by type, variety, and year planted — as voluntarily reported by citrus growers and maintained in NASS’ database.

    With perfect information, the estimated statewide bearing acreage and the detailed acreage data would be the same. Generally, this will not be the case for the following reasons:

    • ➢  A voluntary survey of approximately 5,400 citrus growers is unlikely to ever attain 100 percent completeness.

    • ➢  It is difficult for USDA/NASS to detect growers who are planting citrus for the first time. 

    PROCEDURES

    The major source of the citrus detailed acreage data was a questionnaire mailed to all citrus growers currently in NASS’ database. The mailing was sent in January 2022. The questionnaire contained previously reported crop, variety, and acreage information preprinted. Producers were asked to update the information with new plantings, removals, and any other corrections. New growers were mailed a blank questionnaire. Growers were given about eight weeks to respond by mail. A telephone follow-up was then undertaken. Data collection ended in July 2022.

    To arrive at the estimated statewide bearing acreage, the NASS citrus acreage database was compared with pesticide application data maintained by County Agricultural Commissioners and the Department of Pesticide Regulation.

    ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

    The USDA, NASS Pacific Regional Office sincerely appreciates the many orchard operators, owners, and management firms that provided their acreage information. Funding for the survey was provided by the California Citrus industry.