![](media/image3.jpeg){width="0.7798611111111111in"
height="0.8055555555555556in"}**NEWS RELEASE**

United States Department of Agriculture

**NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE**

**LOUISIANA FIELD OFFICE**

5825 Florida Blvd.

Baton Rouge, La. 70806

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  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE               Contact: Nathan Crisp

  October 6, 2006                     \(225\) 922-1362
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**NASS to Look at Louisiana Rice and Soybean Production Practices and
Costs**

Baton Rouge, La. -- How will we determine the viability of south
Louisiana rice farms after the devastating 2005 hurricane season? Were
there new production practices that offered a reasonable chance of
growing a profitable crop? Acreage of rice in the state has dropped
considerably, partly due to the hurricanes. Pressure from low prices and
rising production costs has made growing rice more difficult in recent
years, especially in 2006. Salt water intrusion kept some south
Louisiana rice land out of production in 2006.

Did the threat of Asian Rust cause soybean growers to adjust their 2006
production plan? What method of treatment was used by growers who
actually found the disease in their fields? Has the widespread use of
GMO seed really helped the average soybean farmer's bottom line? How did
the 2006 drought affect profitability?

These and other important questions will be answered when the U.S.
Department of Agriculture conducts the 2006 Agricultural Resource
Management Survey (ARMS). "ARMS is USDA's primary source of information
on the production practices, resource use and economic well-being of
America\'s farm households," said Nathan Crisp, Director of the
Louisiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics
Service (NASS).

From October to December, NASS will conduct personal interviews with
nearly 9,000 farm operators nationwide, including 327 producers in
Louisiana. These farmers will be asked to provide information on their
fertilizer, nutrient and pesticide applications, as well as their pest
management and irrigation practices.

"This is the second phase of the ARMS survey, where we focus on
production practices and costs. This year, we are looking at rice and
soybeans," said Crisp. "During the third phase of the survey, in early
2007, we will follow up with some producers to obtain additional
economic data to be able to provide a complete economic picture." Crisp
added, "The last time we collected comprehensive rice production and
economic data was in year 2000, and it's been at least that long for
soybeans, so it's particularly important that all growers respond."

Continued

While ARMS is a lengthy and complex survey, its importance cannot be
underestimated, according to Crisp. "Virtually every federal farm
program and policy is based on ARMS data," he said. "Conservation
programs, price support programs, risk management programs, research
programs -- you name it. All of them rely on information generated
through this survey. That's why it's so important that farmers take the
time to participate and ensure that we have the most accurate and
up-to-date information, straight from the source."

Crisp assures ARMS participants that the confidentiality of their
responses is protected by law. "NASS strictly safeguards the privacy of
all respondents and publishes only state-level and national-level data,
ensuring that no individual producer or operation can be identified," he
said.

For more information about ARMS and other surveys conducted by NASS,
contact the Louisiana Field Office at 225 922-1362 or visit the NASS web
site at: *www.nass.usda.gov.*

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