View from the Cab: A month of surveys

February is a busy time for those working at the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service – more commonly known as NASS.

These busy folks are surveying farmers on a variety of topics, including planting intentions for the 2019 season. Producers around the nation are revealing what they plan to put into the ground very soon. These survey results will be published in the Prospective Plantings and Quarterly Grain Stocks reports which are scheduled to be released March 29.

“The March agricultural survey provides the factual data that underpins these projections, making it one of the most important surveys we conduct each year,” said Mark Schleusener, Illinois state statistician for NASS.

USDA-NASS is also contacting producers for the upcoming March Hogs and Pigs Survey which is the most comprehensive gathering of quarterly data on market hog and breeding stock inventories as well as pig crop and farrowing intentions in the U.S. Questionnaires are being mailed to producers this month and interviewers will contact those who do not respond by mail or online.

The March survey and resulting report will continue to provide important indicators for the industry of what changes, if any, are occurring. The data gathered allows NASS to accurately measure and report conditions and trends in the U.S. pork industry over the past three months. The Quarterly Hogs and Pigs Report will be released March 28.

Finally, USDA is currently contacting Illinois farmers and ranchers to gather land rental rate information for the Cash Rents and Leases Survey which serves as a valuable decision-making tool for farmers when negotiating rental agreements. By responding to this survey, producers help the farming community by ensuring USDA bases its decisions on the most accurate data.

Average cash rental rates for non-irrigated cropland, irrigated cropland and pastureland will be published on September 10. Over 8,000 Illinois farmers will receive survey forms and have the option of responding online through a secure connection.

Don’t forget about our March 12 CIFN Ag Outlook Meeting at Gig’s Place in downtown Fairbury starting at 6 p.m. Following the free dinner, our market panelists will speak and answer your questions. Reserve your spot by calling: 217-530-3107.

(The View from the Cab blog is powered each week by Petersen Motors of Fairbury)