United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

www.nass.usda.gov

As a statistical agency of the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, the National Agricultural Statistics Service 

(NASS) conducts hundreds of surveys each year. These 

questionnaires ask farmers, ranchers, and others in the 

agricultural industry for a variety of data. Every five 

years, NASS also conducts the Census of Agriculture, 

a complete accounting of producers, farms, ranches, 

and agricultural production in the country. The results 

of these surveys provide many benefits to farmers 

and ranchers. Some of the data are Principal Federal 

Economic Indicators.

• Farmers, ranchers, policymakers, community planners, 

agribusinesses, researchers, USDA, and other federal 

and state government agencies use aggregated NASS 

data from farmers and ranchers for planning, market 

assessment, decision making, research, and many 

other purposes.

• High-quality statistical information is essential for 

the smooth operation of federal farm programs as 

well as for planning and administering federal and 

state programs in areas such as consumer protection, 

conservation and environmental quality, trade, 

education, and recreation.

• NASS information contributes to a stable economic 

climate and reduces the uncertainties and risks in 

producing, marketing, and distributing commodities. 

Objective, timely, and equally available to all users, 

NASS data help level the playing field.

Here are just a few of the ways USDA uses 

NASS data to serve farmers and ranchers 

directly:

NASS provides the Farm Service Agency and the Risk 

Management Agency with important statistics that they 

use to serve farmers and ranchers. Individual responses 

to NASS surveys are kept confidential. Data are provided 

in aggregate form so that no individual operation or 

operator can be identified.

Farm Programs Depend on FarmerReported NASS State and County Data

• County loan rates for wheat, feed grains, and oilseeds

• Regional loan rates for pulses

• Loan repayment rates

• Program parameters for Agricultural Risk Coverage 

(ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PRC)

• Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)

• Livestock disaster assistance programs

• Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

• County committee elections

• Beginning farmer ownership loan eligibility

• Guaranteed loan limit adjustments

• Production loss calculations

• Funding targets and allocations

• Farm business planning

• Farm appraisals

Risk Management Programs Depend on 

Farmer-Reported NASS Data

The Risk Management Agency uses NASS data to provide 

federal crop insurance to America’s farmers and ranchers. 

These data are used to establish yields and to aid in the 

establishment of price elections for various crops.

• Actual Revenue History (ARH) Pilot Program

• Establishment of transitional yields

• Establishment of price elections on non-program 

crops

For more information

For help filling out a survey, call NASS Customer Service: 

888-424-7828

For more about the APS survey program, see 

www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/

Crops_Stocks/index.php 

Why Corn and Grain 

Producers Should Respond to

National Agricultural 

Statistics Service Surveys
Soybeans 2020

Counties with Published Yield per Harvested Acre 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Corn for Grain 2020

Counties with Published Yield per Harvested Acre 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Winter Wheat 2020

Counties with Published Yield per Harvested Acre 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Green—The green color in these maps shows counties with 

USDA NASS-published yield-per-harvested-acre data. 

White—The white color shows counties with no published 

yield-per-harvested-acre data. 

There are three primary reasons for a lack of published data: 

• Areas not included in the NASS county estimating 

program for a particular state

• No production

• Exclusion to maintain confidentiality/nondisclosure 

of individual identifying information. 

When enough producers do not respond to surveys, NASS 

is unable to publish data. Without data, agencies such as 

USDA’s Risk Management Agency and Farm Service Agency 

do not have information on which to base the programs that 

serve those same producers. Producers lose out when there 

is no data to determine accurate rates for loans, disaster 

payments, crop insurance price elections and more.

Confidentiality

The information you provide will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection and 

Statistical Efficiency Act of 2018, Title III of Pub. L. No. 115-435, codified in 44 U.S.C. Ch. 35 and other applicable Federal laws, your 

responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone other than employees or agents. By law, every 

National Agricultural Statistics Service employee as well as every agent has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, 

a fine of up to $250,000, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about you.

“Performing industry analysis without NASS would be like navigating 

a dark road without headlights.”

— Kevin Scott, President, American Soybean Association, soy grower from South Dakota

July 2021

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

www.nass.usda.gov