USDA FALL VIRTUAL

DATA USERS’ MEETING

2023




USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting

October 17-18, 2023 

Live Webinar – All times are Eastern

AGENDA

Day 1 – October 17 

12:00pm Welcome and Overview

Joe Parsons, National Agricultural Statistics Service

12:10pm Agency Updates 

Foreign Agricultural Service

World Agricultural Outlook Board 

National Agricultural Statistics Service

Economic Research Service

Farm Service Agency

Agricultural Marketing Service

U.S. Census Bureau

12:50pm Break

1:00pm Breakout Session #1

1:55pm Break

2:05pm Breakout Session #2

3:00pm End

Day 1 Breakout Sessions

Day 1 – October 17

All times 

Eastern

Session A Session B

1:00pm Focus on the 2022 Census of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

The Use of Weather Information In Producing the WASDE

World Agricultural Outlook Board

1:55pm 10Minute Break

2:05pm

NASS Historical Revisions and Estimating 

Program Review

National Agricultural Statistics Service

AMS Data Visualizations 

Agricultural Marketing Service

Foreign Agricultural Service - Paul Trupo..........................1

World Agricultural Outlook Board - Mark Jekanowski........7

National Agricultural Statistics Service - Tony Dorn ........10

Economic Research Service - Kelly Maguire ..................14

Farm Service Agency - Tim Gravlin................................ 22

Agricultural Marketing Service - Michael Sheats............ 29

U.S. Census Bureau - Joseph DeCampo....................... 35
Day 2 – October 18

12:00pm Open Forum - Questions and comments from participants

1:20pm Break

1:30pm Breakout Session #3

2:25pm End

Day 2 Breakout Sessions

Day 2 – October 18

All times Eastern Session A Session B

1:30pm

ERS Feed Grains Database: A comprehensive 

look at this valuable resource

Economic Research Service

Understanding Publicly Available Data 

from USDA-Risk Management Agency

Risk Management Agency

We are pleased to have representatives from the Risk Management Agency (RMA) and Energy 

Information Administration (EIA) available for questions during the Open Forum.
Breakout Session Descriptions

Day 1 Breakout Sessions – October 17, 2023

Breakout #1 – 1:00 p.m. – 1:55 p.m. ET 

Session A

Focus on the 2022 Census of Agriculture – National Agricultural Statistics Service

Once every five years NASS conducts a census of agriculture. This is that year! Join us to get a clear 

picture looking back at data collection, a look into applying our statistical methodology, and a look 

ahead to the upcoming release of the many data products. 

Session B

The Use of Weather Information In Producing the WASDE – World Agricultural Outlook Board

As weather and climate are a key factor in determining agricultural production, the WAOB has on staff a 

group of meteorologists dedicated to monitoring global conditions. This session will provide an 

overview of the weather-related data and products produced by the WAOB meteorology team and 

available to the public, along with a discussion of the analytical techniques employed by the group to 

provide timely and accurate assessments of crop conditions worldwide during the growing season.

Breakout #2 – 2:05 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET 

Session A

NASS Historical Revisions and Estimating Program Review – National Agricultural Statistics Service

Following each Census of Agriculture, NASS prepares and publishes the final revisions for all estimates 

since the previous Census and through the reference year of the current Census (in this case 2018-

2022). Additionally, a thorough review of all annual estimating programs is completed. In this session, 

NASS will describe both processes including timing, explain how input is gathered & considered, and 

answer participant’s questions.

Session B

AMS Data Visualizations – Agricultural Marketing Service

AMS Market News plans to highlight their data visualization offerings during the breakout sessions of 

the NASS Data Users meeting. These dashboard offerings include the Cattle Contract Library Pilot 

Dashboard and the Livestock Auction Dashboard. During the breakout session, AMS Market News staff 

will demonstrate the data offerings included in both dashboards and the benefits each of these 

dashboards provides in terms of dynamic visualization and data analysis. 

Breakout Session Descriptions

Day 1 Breakout Sessions – October 17, 2023

Breakout #1 – 1:00 p.m. – 1:55 p.m. ET 

Session A

Focus on the 2022 Census of Agriculture – National Agricultural Statistics Service

Once every five years NASS conducts a census of agriculture. This is that year! Join us to get a clear 

picture looking back at data collection, a look into applying our statistical methodology, and a look 

ahead to the upcoming release of the many data products. 

Session B

The Use of Weather Information In Producing the WASDE – World Agricultural Outlook Board

As weather and climate are a key factor in determining agricultural production, the WAOB has on staff a 

group of meteorologists dedicated to monitoring global conditions. This session will provide an 

overview of the weather-related data and products produced by the WAOB meteorology team and 

available to the public, along with a discussion of the analytical techniques employed by the group to 

provide timely and accurate assessments of crop conditions worldwide during the growing season.

Breakout #2 – 2:05 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET 

Session A

NASS Historical Revisions and Estimating Program Review – National Agricultural Statistics Service

Following each Census of Agriculture, NASS prepares and publishes the final revisions for all estimates 

since the previous Census and through the reference year of the current Census (in this case 2018-

2022). Additionally, a thorough review of all annual estimating programs is completed. In this session, 

NASS will describe both processes including timing, explain how input is gathered & considered, and 

answer participant’s questions.

Session B

AMS Data Visualizations – Agricultural Marketing Service

AMS Market News plans to highlight their data visualization offerings during the breakout sessions of 

the NASS Data Users meeting. These dashboard offerings include the Cattle Contract Library Pilot 

Dashboard and the Livestock Auction Dashboard. During the breakout session, AMS Market News staff 

will demonstrate the data offerings included in both dashboards and the benefits each of these 

dashboards provides in terms of dynamic visualization and data analysis. 
Day 2 Breakout Sessions – October 18, 2023

Breakout #3 – 1:30 p.m. – 2:25 p.m. ET 

Session A

ERS Feed Grains Database: A comprehensive look at this valuable resource – Economic Research 

Service

The Feed Grains Database is a comprehensive component of USDA Economic Research Service’s data 

products. The Feed Grains Database includes data related to the supply, demand, price points and 

quantities of the 4 major U.S. feed grains (corn, barley, grain sorghum, oats), foreign coarse grains (feed 

grains plus rye, millet and mixed grains) and hay as well as ERS calculations that include Grain 

Consuming Animal Units and Feed Ratios for livestock, poultry and milk. Data is available on a monthly, 

quarterly, and/or annual basis depending upon the data point.

Session B

Understanding Publicly Available Data from USDA-Risk Management Agency – Risk Management 

Agency

The Risk Management Agency will provide an overview of publicly available data about the Federal crop 

insurance program and highlight its partnership with Oregon State University’s PRISM Climate Group for 

Weather and Climate Data. Data users will learn to access and use Summary of Business pre-generated 

reports, Summary of Business application for customizable reports, historical cause of loss data, and 

weather and climate data from PRISM. Time will be allotted to answer data users’ questions.
Day 1 Session Links

Agency Updates – 12:00 pm ET

Register: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_6u5jy8YER32gz1L3H1Uv_g

Breakout 1 - 1:00 pm ET

Session A – Focus on the 2022 Census of Agriculture

Join: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1605578719?pwd=UG95Q21jQkJTWWppVFhOUzNrcVNnZz09

Phone Only: +1 669 254 5252 or +1 646 828 7666 | Webinar ID: 160 557 8719| Passcode: 733225

Session B – The Use of Weather Information In Producing the WASDE

Join: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1616591814

Phone Only: +1 669 254 5252 or +1 646 828 7666 | Webinar ID: 161 659 1814 | Passcode: 194457

Breakout 2 - 2:05 pm ET

Session A – NASS Historical Revisions and Estimating Program Review

Join: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1605675127?pwd=Q1NlSU1PdnBRL2tSSXlYTFlyM3N0Zz09

Phone Only: +1 669 254 5252 or +1 646 828 7666 | Webinar ID: 160 567 5127 | Passcode: 605091

Session B – AMS Data Visualizations

Join: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1605512643

Phone Only: +1 669 254 5252 or +1 646 828 7666 | Webinar ID: 160 551 2643| Passcode: 383951
Day 2 Session Links

Open Forum Session – 12:00 pm ET

Register: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_6u5jy8YER32gz1L3H1Uv_g

Breakout 3 - 1:30 pm ET

Session A – ERS Feed Grains Database: A comprehensive look at this valuable resource

Join: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1609068838?pwd=ODJ3c2t2RU95bXBPSVAzKzhESzJBQT09

Phone Only: +1 669 254 5252 or +1 646 828 7666 | Webinar ID: 160 906 8838 | Passcode: 146442

Session B – Understanding Publicly Available Data from USDA-Risk Management Agency

Join: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1602038788

Phone Only: +1 669 254 5252 or +1 646 828 7666 | Webinar ID: 160 203 8788 | Passcode: 173028
2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting 1

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Update on Information and Data Products Available from 

USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service

October 2023 

Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) 

USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) provides timely reports on foreign markets through the 

Global Agriculture Information Network (GAIN) database. The GAIN database houses reports from 95 

offices covering nearly 180 countries that include intelligence and analysis on global agriculture, 

agricultural markets, and foreign government policies affecting agricultural trade. In 2022, 

approximately 2,229 GAIN reports were submitted and published. They were downloaded over 1.22 

million times.

Users can access GAIN reports dating back to 1996 from the GAIN homepage: 

https://gain.fas.usda.gov/#/. 

For questions about the GAIN search engine please contact 1-GAINAppSupport@fas.usda.gov. 

To receive GAIN reports via email, register at:

https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAFAS/subscriber/new

FAS – U.S. Agricultural Export Yearbook 

The 2022 Agricultural Export Yearbook was published on the FAS website in May 2023. The yearbook 

provides a statistical summary of U.S. agricultural commodity exports to the world and the United 

States’ primary trading partners. The 2022 Yearbook is available at

https://www.fas.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2023-05/2022-Yearbook.pdf. 

All U.S. export data found within the Yearbook are collected and published by the U.S. Census Bureau 

of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Foreign country export data are sourced from the reporting 

countries’ national statistical agencies as reported through Trade Data Monitor (TDM). The 2022 U.S. 

Agricultural Export Yearbook consists of two sections: 1) commodity exports, and 2) country of 

destination exports. The Yearbook utilizes FAS product groups as defined in FAS’ Global Agricultural 

Trade System (GATS) using the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) at the ten-digit level and 

aggregated into classifications that include the primary commodity and its derivatives. FAS has titled 

these product groups as “BICO (HS-10).” BICO is an FAS designation that stands for Bulk, 

Intermediate & Consumer Oriented goods. 

The 13 Yearbook product groups or commodity aggregations are based on the United States’ largest 

export categories. The country Yearbook pages include the United States’ top seventeen export 

destinations. Each commodity and country page includes a list of drivers that influenced exports, market 

conditions affecting supply and demand, and policy and market access issues that impact the United 

States’ ability to export. 
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Global Agricultural Trade System (GATS)

USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Global Agricultural Trade System (GATS) includes U.S. 

agricultural, fishery, and forestry trade statistics dating back to 1967, through the inception of the 

harmonized coding system in 1989 to present. U.S. trade data are updated monthly according to the U.S. 

Census Bureau’s reporting system. Users can access the GATS homepage at 

https://apps.fas.usda.gov/gats/default.aspx.

For questions, please contact Jason Carver (Jason.Carver@usda.gov) or Alex Beckman 

(Alexander.Beckman@usda.gov). 

Production, Supply and Distribution (PSD) Online

USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) PSD Online provides reports and the option for custom 

queries for data on production, supply, and distribution of agricultural commodities for the United States 

and key producing and consuming countries and aggregated regions, going back to 1960. 

The international portion of the data is updated with input from agricultural attachés stationed at U.S. 

embassies around the world, FAS commodity analysts, and country and commodity analysts with the 

Economic Research Service (ERS). The U.S. domestic component is updated with input from analysts in 

FAS, ERS, the National Agricultural Statistical Service, and the Farm Service Agency. Interagency 

work on the database is carried out under the aegis of the World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB). 

The official USDA supply and distribution data is published monthly in: WAOB, World Agricultural 

Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE); in the foreign agricultural commodity circular series issued 

by FAS; and in the regional situation and outlook reports and monthly commodity newsletters of ERS. 

Users can access PSD online at https://apps.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/app/index.html#/app/home. 

For questions, please contact us at https://apps.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/app/index.html#/app/contact. 

Export Sales Reporting and Maintenance System (ESRMS) 

The Export Sales Reporting (ESR) Program requires U.S. exporters of reportable commodities to report 

each week all their export sales to the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). There are 40 commodities 

currently covered under the program which includes wheat, wheat products, barley, corn, grain sorghum, 

oats, rye, soybeans, soybean cake and meal, soybean oil, flaxseed, linseed oil, cotton, sunflower seed oil, 

cottonseed, cottonseed cake and meal, cottonseed oil, rice, cattle hides and skins, wet blues, beef, and 

pork. 

The electronic reporting system for the collection of export sales, is being upgraded for the first time in 

more than two decades. As part of the upgrade, FAS issued a Federal Register Notice requesting input 

on moving to a contract-based reporting approach instead of the current aggregated sales reporting 

approach. Based on the feedback received, FAS decided to retain the current aggregated reporting 

approach and not move to contract-based reporting. Exporters were notified of the decision the last week 

of September. FAS will continue the work to upgrade the online reporting system, but the new portal 

will be designed to look, act, and publish all the same information that is currently available.
2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting 3

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Users can access the legacy ESR System at https://apps.fas.usda.gov/ESRMS/Default.aspx. In addition 

to being available online through the ESR webpage and the ESR Query System, weekly and daily 

reports are now available through email via GovDelivery to all users who sign up. To receive ESR daily

sales reports via email, register at: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAFAS/subscriber/new) 

For more information, contact the Export Sales Reporting team at esr@usda.gov.

FAS Data Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) 

USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) data API portal provides users the ability to obtain 

programmatic access to publicly available agricultural commodity data from the Global Agricultural 

Trade System (GATS), Production, Supply & Distribution (PSD), and Export Sales Report (ESR) 

databases. 

The FAS Open Data Services can be found at https://apps.fas.usda.gov/opendataweb/home. 

For technical questions, please contact the FAS Web Admin Team at FASWebAdminTeam@usda.gov.

Agricultural Tariff Tracker

To help exporters obtain information about tariff reductions resulting from free trade agreements 

(FTAs), FAS launched the Agricultural Tariff Tracker in 2013. The Ag Tariff Tracker has tariff, tariff 

rate quota (TRQ), and safeguard information for the United States’ existing free trade agreements with 

11 FTA partners. In 2019, terms of the U.S.– Japan Trade agreement were added to the Ag Tariff 

Tracker. 

This tool is available at https://apps.fas.usda.gov/agtarifftracker/Home/Search on the Trade Policy/Trade 

Agreements topic page of the FAS website: https://www.fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-agreements. 

For questions, please contact Jason Carver (Jason.Carver@usda.gov). 

Production Estimates

FAS maintains a website that is a dynamic global crop production portal with key information including 

World Agricultural Production (WAP) briefs, Commodity Intelligence Reports (CIR), geospatial 

applications, crop production maps, and crop calendars at a subnational level for the top-20 producing 

countries (Figure 1, https://www.ipad.fas.usda.gov).
4 2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting

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Figure 1. FAS home page for global crop production
2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting 5

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The FAS website for global crop production also hosts an application called Crop Explorer that displays 

global and routinely updated data on precipitation, average temperature, maximum/minimum 

temperature, evapotranspiration, soil moisture, SPI (Standardized Precipitation Index) Drought Severity 

with 5-day time steps, NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) vegetation conditions with 8-

day time steps, snow cover, production maps, etc. Crop Explorer supports monitoring crop conditions 

for 12 different crops: cotton, corn, barley, millet, rice, sorghum, wheat, soybeans, sunflower, rapeseed, 

peanuts, and palm oil. (https://ipad.fas.usda.gov/cropexplorer/).

The Crop Explorer website was upgraded to monitor the latest crop conditions and seasonal rainfall 

received for 12 specific crops grown within primary production states. The upgraded Crop Explorer web 

apps are called Corn Explorer, Soybean Explorer, Wheat Explorer, Cotton Explorer, etc. For example, 

the dashboard view for Corn Explorer shows corn production maps at sub-national (state and county) 

levels, cumulative rainfall, and NDVI crop conditions for all major corn producing countries and regions 

(Figure 2).

For more information, please contact Curt Reynolds at curt.reynolds@usda.gov. 

Figure 2. Commodity Explorers and Dashboard View of Corn Explorer 

 
6 2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting

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Global Agricultural and Disaster Assessment System (GADAS)

GADAS is a state-of-the-art Geographic Information System (GIS) that integrates a vast array of highly 

detailed earth observation data streams with cropland datasets to facilitate agricultural and disaster 

assessments, into an easy-to-use, web-based environment. GADAS provides analysts with a wide 

variety of routine geospatial products (maps, charts, tables) they require for comprehensive situational 

investigations and recurring assessments. GADAS can be accessed directly at 

(https://geo.fas.usda.gov/GADAS/index.html) or through (https://www.ipad.fas.usda.gov).

GADAS helps USDA/FAS remain a global leader in the use of location-based technologies for 

agricultural monitoring and global food security intelligence. The system combines daily weather, 

climate, crop conditions, satellite imagery, and other geospatial data with custom-built applications that 

quickly support the visual comparison of agricultural production-related data. GADAS is also designed 

to provide hourly updates of natural disasters (cyclone tracking, drought evolution, flooding impacts) as 

well as tools for rapid pre- and post-disaster agricultural assessments. Web-based GIS improves 

collaboration between teams in FAS working around the world. 

In the past year, significant improvements have been made to the disaster data category to enhance the 

data and possible interpretation of tropical storm impacts in terms of precipitation, winds, and storm 

surge. New data sets were made available, such as NDVI and NDVI Anomaly derived from VIIRS.

For questions, please contact Lisa Colson at lisa.colson@usda.gov. 

Figure 3. GADAS home page 
2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting 7

Office of the Chief Economist

U.S. DEPARTMENT of AGRICULTURE

World Agricultural Outlook Board

Questions about World Agricultural Outlook Board programs may be directed to Mark Jekanowski Chairman, 

WAOB, Mail Stop 3812, South Building, USDA, Washington, D.C. 20250-3812; Mark.Jekanowski@usda.gov

The World Agricultural Outlook Board’s (WAOB) primary mission is to provide reliable and 

objective economic forecasts for farmers and other participants in the food and fiber system. 

Functions include coordinating USDA forecasts of domestic and international agriculture; 

providing economic analysis related to global commodity markets; monitoring markets and 

agricultural weather; and disseminating relevant commodity market information.

Mark Jekanowski, WAOB Chairman, oversees the creation of the World Agricultural Supply 

and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report and chairs the Program Committee for USDA’s annual 

Agricultural Outlook Forum. Former positions include Deputy Director for the commodity 

outlook program at USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS), Chief of the Crops Branch at 

ERS, and Senior Vice President at Informa Economics.

WAOB senior economists chair the Department’s Interagency Commodity Estimates 

Committees (ICECs) and clear all USDA commodity outlook reports to ensure consistency with 

official USDA estimates. The ICECs develop supply and demand estimates for the United States

over 100 individual countries. Four USDA agencies are represented on the committees: 

Economic Research Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, Farm Service Agency, and the 

Agricultural Marketing Service. 

Report Usage: Each year, WAOB issues 12 monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand 

Estimates (WASDE) reports; and publishes 52 weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin reports. On 

average, the WASDE is accessed by over 100,000 users worldwide each month. It is one of 

USDA’s Principal Federal Economic Indicators and directly impacts commodity markets. The 

WASDE report is available at: https://www.usda.gov/oce/commodity/wasde

USDA Baseline: WAOB oversees the annual publication of the inter-agency USDA Agricultural 

Long-term Projections. The Long-term Projections report provides a conditional long run 

scenario about what would be expected to happen to the global agricultural economy under a 

continuation of current farm legislation and other specific assumptions. These reports are an 

important source of strategic planning information used in formulating the President’s budget 

and for decision-making by agricultural producers, agribusiness leaders, and policy officials. The 

latest edition of the report and data tables (Projections to 2032) can be found at

https://www.usda.gov/oce/commodity-markets/baseline.

Agricultural Weather Monitoring and Assessments: WAOB’s staff of meteorologists 

generate timely weather and crop assessments in support of the monthly Crop Production and 

WASDE reports issued by National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and WAOB, 

respectively. The meteorologists also provide weekly updates of crop weather to USDA Radio 
8 2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting

and often appear on local and national radio and television broadcasts. As recognized experts 

within the Department, they are often asked to brief Capitol Hill staff, review legislation, and 

contribute expertise to various USDA publications. They also routinely meet with foreign 

delegations and domestic groups regarding the process of using weather and climate products to 

produce agricultural weather assessments and yield forecasts. 

WAOB meteorologists publish the Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin (WWCB), which provides 

the public with weekly assessments of global agricultural weather. Data and products are 

supplied to the WWCB by NASS and NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, through a formal 

agreement establishing the Joint Agricultural Weather Facility. The WWCB averaged over 

10,000 downloads per week in FY23 from the USDA site, and additional downloads from the 

Cornell site. On a rotating basis, WAOB meteorologists prepare the weekly U.S. Drought 

Monitor and the monthly North American Drought Monitor. WAOB continues to engage our 

international counterparts and lends support to activities led by the World Meteorological 

Organization and Global Water Partnership. WAOB weather products can be found at: 

https://www.usda.gov/oce/weather-drought-monitor

Mark Brusberg, Chief Meteorologist, chairs USDA’s Combined Drought and Water 

Management Team, a venue for agencies within the Department to share information and 

coordinate responses on projects and programs involving drought and water resources. He is 

USDA’s main point of contact for, drought-related activities involving the Department and other 

Federal Partners, especially the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Mr. 

Brusberg serves on the Executive Council of the NOAA-led National Integrated Drought 

Information System (NIDIS) and leads several projects related to the work done by NIDIS and 

other drought-oriented groups on behalf of the Department.

Agricultural Outlook Forum: USDA’s 100th annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, “Cultivating

the Future”, will be held February 15-16, 2024, at the Crystal City Gateway Marriott in 

Arlington, Virginia. The event will be held in person, with all sessions also live-streamed freeof-charge for those preferring to attend virtually.

The Agricultural Outlook Forum (AOF) is USDA’s largest and premier annual gathering. The 

breadth and timeliness of the AOF sessions have consistently attracted a large and diverse group 

of attendees to learn about and discuss current and emerging issues, including producers, 

processors, policymakers, government officials, and non-governmental organizations. It 

routinely attracts upwards of 1,800 attendees in person, along with 4,000-5,000 virtual attendees 

from the U.S. and around the world.

During the Forum, USDA’s Chief Economist presents the Department’s initial forecasts for the 

U.S. agricultural economy, commodity markets, and foreign trade for the new marketing year.

The 2024 Forum will include remarks from the Secretary of Agriculture and other top 

Department officials, along with 30 breakout sessions featuring more than 120 leading experts 

across a wide range of food and agriculture-related topics. 

Registration for the Forum will open at the end of October. Check here for more details: 

https://www.usda.gov/oce/ag-outlook-forum
2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting 9

INTERAGENCY COMMODITY ESTIMATES COMMITTEES

Note: The World Agricultural Outlook Board reviews and approves the World Agricultural 

Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. The Board’s analysts chair the Interagency 

Commodity Estimates Committees (ICECs) that prepare the monthly report. 

Wheat: Mark Simone, ICEC Chair, WAOB, mark.simone@usda.gov

Andrew Sowell, ERS; Amy Gaito, FAS; Bruce McWilliams, FPAC

Rice: Mark Simone, ICEC Chair, WAOB, mark.simone@usda.gov

Nathan Childs, ERS; Rachel Trego, FAS; Kent Lanclos, FPAC.

Feed Grains: Michael Jewison, ICEC Chair, WAOB, michael.jewison2@usda.gov

Aaron Ates, ERS; Kevin Min, FAS; Jacob Vuillemin, FPAC.

Oilseeds: Joanna Hitchner, ICEC Chair, WAOB, joanna.hitchner@usda.gov Maria 

Bukowski, ERS;; Agata Kingsbury, FAS; Gustavo Ferreira, FPAC.

Cotton: Stephen MacDonald, ICEC Chair, WAOB, stephen.macdonald3@usda.gov

Leslie Meyer, ERS; Graham Soley, FAS; Kent Lanclos, FPAC.

Sugar: Stephen Haley, ICEC Chair, WAOB, stephen.haley2@usda.gov

Vida Abadam, ERS; Souleymane Diaby, FAS; Barbara Fecso, FPAC.

Meat Animals: Shayle Shagam, ICEC Chair, WAOB, shayle.shagam@usda.gov

Sherry Wise, AMS; Mildred Haley, ERS; John Brower, FAS; Georgi Gabrielyan, FPAC.

Poultry: Shayle Shagam, ICEC Chair, WAOB, shayle.shagam@usda.gov

Peyton Ferrier, AMS; Grace Grossen, ERS; Claire Mezoughem, FAS; Georgi Gabrielyan, 

FPAC.

Dairy: Shayle Shagam, ICEC Chair, WAOB, shayle.shagam@usda.gov

Carolyn Liebrand, AMS; Angel Teran, ERS; Jeffery Dwyer, FAS; Georgi Gabrielyan, 

FPAC.

In 2023 the WASDE report will be released on Nov. 9, and Dec. 8.

The 2024 WASDE report release dates are: Jan. 12, Feb. 8, March 8, April 

11, May 10, June 12, July 12, Aug. 12, Sept. 12, Oct. 11, Nov. 8, Dec. 10
10 2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE

STATISTICS DIVISION 

What’s New and What’s Changing?

NASS Mission Statement:

To provide timely, accurate, and useful statistics in service to U.S. Agriculture

Crops

For many years, NASS has been reviewing and updating planted acreage during the forecast 

season for various crops based on all available data, including survey data, satellite-based data, 

and the latest information from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Risk Management 

Agency (RMA). Adjustments to the timing of these updates have been made in recent years to 

provide more timely results as changes in the data have allowed. Beginning in 2024, NASS will 

again enhance the schedule, primarily due to the earlier reporting and processing of the FSA 

certified acreage information in recent years. Following are the months when planted acreage 

will be reviewed for each crop.

August: barley, corn, cotton, dry edible beans, oats, peanuts, rice, sorghum, soybeans, 

sugarbeets, Durum wheat, other spring wheat, and winter wheat

September: chickpeas, corn, cotton, dry edible peas, lentils, peanuts, rice, sorghum, 

soybeans, and sugarbeets

October: canola, dry edible beans, and sunflowers

NASS moved the Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production Annual Summary report from 

March to September beginning in 2023. This report incorporates updated previous year data from 

NASS surveys as well as data obtained from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). EIA 

has begun publishing annual revisions to the previous crop year in August, therefore the new 

NASS release timeframe will allow these critical data to be included in the revision process.

Beginning in September 2023, NASS discontinued the “Vegetable foots, raw and acidulated” 

item from the Fats & Oils report. In order to be published, data must meet NASS confidentiality 

and quality standards. Data collected for “Vegetable foots, raw and acidulated” do not meet these 

standards and they are unlikely to in the future. 

Estimates for Sorghum consumed for fuel alcohol have been discontinued by NASS and are no 

longer included in the Grain Crushings report. Sorghum consumed for fuel alcohol can be found 

in the Monthly Biofuels Capacity and Feedstocks report issued by the U.S. Energy Information 

Administration (EIA).
2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting 11

As is normally done after each Census of Agriculture, NASS will review and finalize all 

estimates since the last Census (2018-2022 crop seasons). Final estimates for all crop 

commodities for these years will be released to QuickStats early in 2024. Exact release dates are 

included on the 2024 Agricultural Statistics Board Calendar. 

NASS will complete a thorough review of all crop-related estimating programs beginning this 

fall. Input will be considered from all interested parties and data from the 2022 Census of 

Agriculture will be utilized. Final decisions will be communicated to the public by mid-March 

2024. 

Livestock

On January 11, 2023, NASS Cost of Pollination report was released with 2017 and 2022 data. 

Census five-year revisions for livestock will be released on QuickStats. Exact dates of the 

releases are on the 2024 ASB release calendar.

Environmental, Economics and Demographics 

On April 28, 2023, the monthly Agricultural Prices was released that uses an updated annual 

benchmark methodology for all monthly prices paid indexes. This is the second year the new 

methodology is being used. With the new benchmarking method, the annual average of 

administrative data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Energy Information 

Administration (EIA) is now being used as a component of the index formula. Previously, this 

component was the most recent March estimate of the administrative data. This update better 

reflects the trends of the annual survey and accounts for the updated data collection time period 

from March of the current year to the entire previous year.

On May 12, 2023, Field Crop Chemical Usage data was released. Originating in 1990, the 

NASS Chemical Use data series is USDA’s official source of statistics about on-farm chemical 

use and pest management practices. 

On July 19, 2023, Vegetable Chemical Usage data was released. This report is released every 

other year. Originating in 1990, the NASS Chemical Use data series is USDA’s official source of 

statistics about on-farm chemical use and pest management practices.

The Cash Rents county level data were released on August 25, 2023. NASS was directed through 

the “Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008” and amended by the “Agricultural Act of 

2014” to collect cash rents data for use by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in program 

administration. This was the third year that Bayesian small area models will be used for countylevel rented acre totals and rental rates.

On August 17, 2023, Technology Use, formerly called Farm Computer Usage and Ownership, 

results were released. The title of this biannual release was changed to better reflect the content 
12 2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting

of the report, which includes types of internet access on the farm, devices farmers use to connect 

to the internet, and precision agriculture. This was the second time use of precision ag data were 

collected.

Census five-year revisions for economics will be released on QuickStats. Exact dates of the 

releases are on the 2024 ASB release calendar.

Census of Agriculture Program

Data collection for the 2022 Census of Agriculture wrapped up this summer. Editing, analysis, 

and data review will continue throughout 2023. Release is tentatively planned for February 2024. 

NASS continues to realize increased responses received from its enhanced online reporting 

system. Nearly 40% of all responses were collected using this online tool. That is compared to 

just under 25% five years ago. This web-based data collection instrument provides respondents 

streamlined reporting of census of agriculture data with better options to ‘save and return’ along 

with the ability for the producer to print a copy for their records. The online tool speeds up 

reporting for the respondent by customizing the instrument based on the types of crops and 

livestock they produce. 

As part of the Census of Agriculture Program, NASS conducts ag censuses in the territories of 

American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Planning is in 

full swing for these outlying areas with data collection set to begin in early 2024. The census of 

agriculture is the only source of official agriculture statistics for these U.S. territories.

Two Special Studies (follow-on surveys) are planned for fiscal year 2024. The 2023 Irrigation 

and Water Management Survey (IWMS) and the 2023 Census of Aquaculture. The 2023 IWMS 

is an integral part of the Census of Agriculture and is conducted every five years under the 

authority of the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-113) where participation is 

mandatory. The primary purpose of IWMS is to provide a wide range of irrigation–related data 

covering water usage, irrigation practices, irrigation by type, irrigation by crop, expenses, 

sources of information, purchase of energy for pumping water by power source, and use of 

recycled or reclaimed water. Data collection is set to begin in January 2023 with a release 

intended for later in the year. The IMWS (formerly Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey) data 

series goes back to 1979. It was last released in November 2019. 

The other Special Study being planned for FY 2024 is the 2023 Census of Aquaculture. It is also 

conducted under the authority of the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997 and participation is 

mandatory. The primary purpose of the Census of Aquaculture is to provide inventory, 

production, value of sales and sales outlets, and distribution of fish not sold. The Census of 

Aquaculture will provide comprehensive data at the State and National level for aquaculture 

products such as shellfish, egg production, food or sport fish, baitfish, ornamentals, crustaceans, 

mollusks, catfish, crawfish, koi, minnows, oysters, perch, soft-shell crabs, trout, and turtles. Data 

collection is set to begin in December 2023 with the release intended before the end of 2024. 

This will be the fifth Census of Aquaculture conducted by NASS with the last release in 2018. 
2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting 13

Modernization 

USDA NASS is committed to high standards of customer service and making it easy for farmers, 

ranchers, and data users to interact with us. NASS is modernizing their online systems to 

improve the customer experience around reporting data and accessing NASS official federal 

agricultural data and reports. We are making accurate data available on schedule in ways that 

customers like yourself have told us they want. 

NASS has continued its ongoing efforts to modernize its customer interfaces, making responding 

to surveys and accessing NASS data and reports faster, friendlier, and easier. This 

modernization effort also allows NASS to work more efficiently. Modernization will be focused 

in two main areas, Data Collection and Data Dissemination. 

Data Collection - NASS recently released the new Respondent Portal and all new data 

collections now flow through this modern entry point. Immediate benefits of the portal are 

• Streamlined authentication process provides a convenient, central point to respond to all 

NASS surveys. 

• Creating and using a user account allows respondents to see past survey responses. 

Incremental development and improvements over the next few years will further meet customer 

expectations, such as 

• Improve performance and speed of the portal and offer additional options for reporting 

data to NASS including an upload feature. 

• Providing a customized digital experience designed around the user’s needs and 

behaviors. Farmers and ranchers will be able to build and save custom homepages to 

compare their data with other (national, state, county) data. 

• Integration with USDA’s Farmers.gov website, allowing farmers, ranchers, and 

agribusinesses to expand their access to multiple USDA agencies’ information to make 

decisions for their operation that are fact based and data driven. 

Data Dissemination - Milk Production, Economic, and Field Crop data are currently available in

the new modern format. Since August, Milk Production, Disposition and Income, Field Crop 

Acreage, Farms and Land in Farms, and Mink have been released in the new format. As NASS 

continues to evolve and optimize its data products and services, new content and functionality 

will be added. 

NASS Links 

Visit the NASS website (www.nass.usda.gov) and follow us on Twitter @usda_nass to stay up 

to date.
14 2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting

ERS’ mission is to anticipate trends and emerging issues in agriculture, 

food, the environment, and rural America and to conduct high-quality, objective 

economic research to inform and enhance public and private decision making. 

ERS also provides a wide range of data products covering different commodity 

markets and the agricultural economy.
2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting 15

U.S. Department of Agriculture | Economic Research Service | www.ers.usda.gov

 www.ers.usda.gov

Cover photo image from Getty Images.

Use of commercial and trade names does not imply approval or constitute endorsement by USDA.

To ensure the quality of its research reports and satisfy governmentwide standards, ERS requires that all 

research reports with substantively new material be reviewed by qualified technical research peers. This 

technical peer review process, coordinated by ERS' Peer Review Coordinating Council, allows experts who 

possess the technical background, perspective, and expertise to provide an objective and meaningful 

assessment of the output’s substantive content and clarity of communication during the publication’s review.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights 

regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in 

or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, 

religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital 

status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal 

or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all 

bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., 

Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or 

USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay 

Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other 

than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDAProgram Discrimination Complaint Form,AD3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDAoffice or write a letter

addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all information requested in the form. To request a copy of the

complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, 

SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
16 2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting

Resources & 

Environment

Economic impacts of conservation programs, efficacy of policies designed to protect

the environment, and the use of technology to enhance agricultural 

U.S. Department of Agriculture | Economic Research Service | www.ers.usda.gov

Food & 

Nutrition

Economic research and analysis on policy-relevant issues related to the food sector 

(food safety, food prices, and markets); consumer behavior related to food choices 

(food consumption, diet quality, and nutrition); and food and nutrition assistance 

programs (SNAP, WIC, National School Lunch Program).

High-Quality, Objective 

Economic Research

ERS research programs provide timely, independent, and objective information about the U.S. agricultural 

economy, its resources, and its links to the general economy and food markets. Our research integrates 

market information and economic theory to inform decision makers in the Government, the U.S. Congress, 

agribusinesses, farm and industry groups, the media, and the general public.

Our research covers a range of economic and policy topics, including:

Farm & Rural 

Economy

Farm sector performance and farm households’ well-being; farm size and concentration; 

investments in rural communities and drivers of rural economic performance; and demographic change and its impact on rural communities.

Commodity

Markets &

Outlook

Timely, in-depth analyses and information important to understanding and anticipating 

developments in agricultural commodity markets. The Outlook program covers the 

major field crops (feedgrains, oilseeds, wheat, rice, cotton, and sugar), livestock and 

products, specialty crops (fruits, nuts, vegetables, and pulses), and agricultural trade.

Global Markets

& Trade

Major markets and competitors; economic impacts of existing and potential exports 

and imports, trade barriers, and existing/potential trade agreements.
2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting 17

U.S. Department of Agriculture | Economic Research Service | www.ers.usda.gov

Timely Data on the 

Agricultural Economy 

and Commodity Markets

ERS creates more than 65 data products covering the agricultural economy, commodities, and food 

markets. Collectively, ERS data products were accessed 4 million times in fiscal year 2023. 

Our work on data products includes transforming raw survey data to make the information accessible to 

users, as well as developing new datasets based on economic models or through the compilation of data 

from diverse sources.

ERS releases four types of data products:

 Survey Data such as the Agricultural Resource Management Survey, which is a 

primary source of information on the financial conditions, production practices, and 

resource use of U.S. farm businesses.

 Model-Based Results, including estimates from our economic models, such as the 

Food Dollar series, which measures annual expenditures by U.S. consumers on 

domestically produced food; and the Agricultural Trade Multipliers, which estimate the 

amount of economic activity and jobs generated by agricultural exports.

 Economic Indicators and Summary Statistics compiled from an array of 

official sources. Examples include Farm Income estimates, Cost of Production estimates, 

and detailed data on commodity supply/use and U.S. agricultural trade.

 Charts and Visualizations, including Charts of Note released daily, Tableau 

visualizations, and an extensive inventory of chart galleries that display key trends and 

relationships across market variables.
18 2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting

U.S. Department of Agriculture | Economic Research Service | www.ers.usda.gov

Modernization of Data

Delivery

To expand the reach of our data products, ERS is continuously innovating to develop data dissemination 

tools and channels that meet the changing needs and expectations of our users. Ongoing efforts include:

Developing Structured and Automated Databases to facilitate open and centralized access to a broad range of data.

Expanding Use of Application Programming Interfaces

to allow users and developers to design new ways to access and 

present data.

Developing a New Data Dissemination Web Platform

that will serve as a one-stop shop for our most used data, including 

commodity market data.

Leveraging Tableau and Other Visualization Software

to present data in a modern, user-friendly format.

1

2

3

4
2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting 19

U.S. Department of Agriculture | Economic Research Service | www.ers.usda.gov

Recent Publications by the

Economic Research Service

ERS releases periodic outlook reports covering developments in commodity markets, including seven 

monthly releases on field crops and livestock/dairy/poultry, two biannual reports covering specialty crops, 

and quarterly U.S. Agricultural Trade Outlook reports.

Other ERS outlooks, economic research reports and economic informational bulletins include: 

Characterizing Rugged Terrain in the United States

Food Mountains and other topographic features with variable elevation provide benefits to 

residents and visitors but may also impose barriers to travel and restrict economic 

development. To understand variation of characteristics by terrain ruggedness, this report

analyzes population, population density, and income across road ruggedness categories, 

rurality, and regions in the United States.

Concentration and Competition in U.S. Agribusiness

Market concentration and its impact on competition have attracted growing public scrutiny. 

Critics argue that many industries have grown too concentrated, with fewer firms competing 

with one another and a consequent weakening of competition. This report details issues 

surrounding market concentration in agribusiness, particularly in three agribusiness sectors 

where concentration has increased over time: seeds, meatpacking, and food retail. 

Cost of School Meals and Households’ Difficulty Paying for Expenses: 

Evidence From the Household Pulse Survey

To mitigate hardship for families and safeguard children’s access to food during the 

Coronavirus pandemic, USDA issued a waiver allowing schools to provide meals at no cost to 

all children, regardless of their household’s income in the 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 school 

years. This waiver expired June 30, 2022, leading some advocates and policymakers to 

express concern that the reintroduction of prices for school meals could make it difficult for 

some households to meet their other expenses. This report studies the experiences of 

households with children aged 5–17 to provide descriptive statistics that can help add context 

to these discussions.
20 2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting

U.S. Department of Agriculture | Economic Research Service | www.ers.usda.gov

Irrigation Organizations: Water Inflows and Outflows

Irrigation water delivery organizations provide water for about 19 million irrigable acres, or 

approximately a third of all irrigated harvested cropland in the United States. This report 

examines these delivery organization inflows and outflows, and the extent of water transfers 

both within and across delivery organizations. The report is the fourth in a series of economic 

briefs on key topics related to irrigation organizations using data collected in the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture’s 2019 Survey of Irrigation Organizations.

Rural America at a Glance: 2022 Edition

This report looks at recent population trends, the changing structure of economic sectors, the 

labor force, and job growth in rural areas. After a decade of overall population loss from 2010 

to 2020, nonmetropolitan areas grew at a faster rate than metropolitan areas during 2020—21 

due to a sharp turnaround in migration flows occurring in the first year and a half of the 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 

The Food and Nutrition Assistance Landscape: Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Report

The USDA administers 15 domestic food and nutrition assistance programs that together affect 

the lives of millions of people and account for roughly two-thirds of USDA’s annual budget. In 

response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, USDA launched additional temporary 

programs and implemented numerous policy changes that expanded the scope and coverage 

of existing programs. This report uses preliminary data from USDA, Food and Nutrition Service

and USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service to examine program trends and policy changes in 

USDA’s largest U.S. food and nutrition assistance programs through FY 2022.

U.S. Agricultural Policy Review, 2021

This report is the inaugural edition in a series examining annual developments in U.S. 

agricultural policies, focusing on policies related to production agriculture, agrofood value 

chains, and food and nutrition assistance. U.S. agricultural policies are designed to address 

multiple objectives—including providing an income safety net for agricultural producers, 

minimizing negative environmental impacts of agricultural production, ensuring agricultural 

supply chains are equipped to provide adequate quantities of safe food to consumers, and 

helping address food and nutrition insecurity among vulnerable populations. 
2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting 21

U.S. Department of Agriculture | Economic Research Service | www.ers.usda.gov

Examples of Data Products by the

Economic Research Service

Primary–Survey Data

 ARMS Farm Financial and Crop Production Practices, which are developed jointly with 

USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)

Model Results Estimates

 Food Dollar

 Agricultural Trade Multipliers

 International Baseline Data

 Season-Average Price Forecasts

Summary Statistics

 Foreign Agricultural Trade of the U.S.

 U.S. Bioenergy Statistics

 Feed Grains Database

 Livestock & Meat Domestic Data

Charts and Visualizations

 Charts of Note  Now available via mobile app

 Cross-Commodity Visualization
22 2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting

Emergency Livestock Relief Program Payments

FSA is closing out the Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) for losses suffered in 

2021. ELRP Phase Two payments are estimated at $115.7 million. Ranchers who lost 

grazing acres due to drought and wildfire and received assistance through ELRP Phase 

One will soon receive an additional payment through ELRP Phase Two. This second 

payment will be equal to 20% of the 2021 gross ELRP Phase One payment. ELRP Phase 

Two payments to producers will be automatic with no application required. In April 2022, 

FSA staff processed more than 100,000 payments through ELRP Phase One and paid 

eligible ranchers more than $600 million for 2021 grazing losses.

In 2022, ranchers continued to experience significant loss of grazing acres due to drought 

and wildfire. To help mitigate these losses, eligible ranchers will receive ELRP disaster 

assistance payments for increases in supplemental feed costs. To expedite payments, 

determine producer eligibility and calculate the ELRP 2022 payment, FSA is using 

livestock inventories and drought-affected forage acreage or restricted animal units and 

grazing days due to wildfire already reported to FSA by ranchers when they submitted 

their Livestock Forage Disaster Program applications.  ELRP payments for 2022 losses are 

estimated at $465.4 million and will be automatic with no application required.  

More than $1.1 Billion in ELRP Payments have been disbursed. 

Farm Service Agency
2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting 23

Emergency Relief Program Payments

FSA is closing out Phase Two of the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) through the delivery 

of more than $1.17 billion in crop disaster assistance payments to producers of eligible 

crops who suffered losses, measured through decreases in revenue, due to qualifying 

natural disaster events that occurred in calendar years 2020 and 2021. ERP Phase Two 

was intended primarily for producers of crops that were not covered by federal crop 

insurance or FSA’s Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). Previously, 

through ERP Phase one, FSA staff processed more than 300,000 applications and paid an 

estimated 217,000 eligible producers more than $8 billion. 

FSA has released an ERP public dashboard and provides weekly updates which provides 

data and transparency on the Emergency Relief Program.
24 2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting

Dairy Margin Coverage Program Provides Critical Support for Dairy Operations

The August milk margin triggered the eighth consecutive payment for dairy producers 

who obtained Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) for the 2023 program year. August’s income 

over feed margin is $6.46 per hundredweight (cwt.) with projected DMC payments 

totaling $120 million. To date, including the projected August payments, dairy producers 

have received more than $1.2 billion in much needed economic support for 2023 and 

margin forecasts indicate the likelihood of more to come before the end of the calendar 

year. 

DMC is a voluntary risk management program administered by USDA’s Farm Service 

Agency (FSA) that offers protection to dairy producers when the difference between the 

all-milk price and the average feed price (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount 

selected by the producer.   

“While livestock and crop producers alike have been financially impacted by catastrophic 

natural disaster events, dairy producers’ financial stressors have been compounded by 

significant market volatilities,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Dairy Margin 

Coverage is a key risk management tool for dairy operations to financially endure the 

numerous, and often unpredictable uncertainties that adversely impact market prices for 

milk.”    

FSA has released a DMC Public Dashboard and provides monthly updates which provides 

data and transparency on the Dairy Margin Coverage Program. 
2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting 25
26 2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting

USDA To Provide Additional Financial Assistance to Qualifying Guaranteed Farm 

Loan Borrowers Facing Financial Risk

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will begin providing additional, 

automatic financial assistance for qualifying guaranteed Farm Loan Programs (FLP) 

borrowers who are facing financial risk. The announcement is part of the $3.1 billion to 

help certain distressed farm loan borrowers that was provided through Section 22006 of 

the Inflation Reduction Act.

An FLP guaranteed loan borrower is distressed if they qualify under one of the options 

below. FLP guaranteed borrowers who qualify under multiple options will receive a 

payment based on the option that provides the greatest payment amount:

• Payment of any outstanding delinquency on all qualifying FLP guaranteed loans as 

of Oct. 18, 2022. This includes any guaranteed loan borrowers who did not receive 

an automatic payment in 2022 on that loan because they were not yet 60 days 

delinquent as of Sept. 30, 2022, as well as guaranteed borrowers that became 

delinquent on a qualifying FLP guaranteed loan between September 30, 2022, and 

Oct.18, 2022. 

• Payment on a qualifying FLP guaranteed loan for which a guaranteed loan 

borrower received a loan restructure, which modified the guaranteed loan 

maturity date, between March 1, 2020, and Aug. 11, 2023. The payment amount 

will be the lesser of the post-restructure annual installment or the amount 

required to pay the loan in full. The guaranteed loan must not have been paid in 

full prior to Aug. 11, 2023.

• Payments on certain deferred amounts on qualifying FLP guaranteed loans, not to 

exceed $100,000, for guaranteed borrowers who received a deferral or another 

type of payment extension, for at least 45 days, between March 1, 2020, and Sept. 

30, 2022, from their guaranteed lender on that qualifying guaranteed loan in 

response to COVID-19, disasters, or other revenue shortfalls. The Inflation 

Reduction Act payment amount will be the lesser of the most recent deferral or 

extension amount on the qualifying FLP guaranteed loan, or the amount required 

to pay that loan in full. The guaranteed loan must not have been paid in full prior 

to Aug. 11, 2023.

This assistance is only available for FLP guaranteed loan borrowers who did not or will 

not receive an initial payment on the same FLP guaranteed loan under Inflation Reduction 

Act assistance announced in October 2022.
2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting 27

Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program

The new ODMAP, administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), is intended to help smaller 

organic dairy farms that have faced a unique set of challenges and higher costs over the past several 

years that have been compounded by the ongoing pandemic and drought conditions across the country. 

Many small organic dairy operations are now struggling to stay in business and FSA plans to provide 

payments to cover a portion of their estimated marketing costs for 2023. Final spending will depend on 

enrollment and each producers projected production, but ODMAP has been allocated up to $100 

million.

More than $20 Million in ODMAP Payments have been disbursed.
28 2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting

Signup for 2023 Assistance for On-Farm Food Safety Expenses for Specialty Crop 

Growers

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds specialty crop producers of available assistance to help cover 

certain costs of complying with regulatory and market-driven food safety certification requirements. FSA

will accept applications for 2023 costs from Feb. 1, 2023, to Jan. 31, 2024. 

FSA is making available up to $200 million through the FSCSC program, which is part of USDA’s broader 

effort to transform the food system to create a more level playing field for small-scale agricultural 

operations and a more balanced, equitable economy for everyone working in food and agriculture.
2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting 29

The mission of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) 

is to facilitate the competitive and efficient marketing of agricultural products.

USDA DATA USERS’ FALL MEETING 2023

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) administers programs that create domestic and 

international marketing opportunities for U.S. producers of food, fiber, and specialty crops and 

provides the agriculture industry with valuable services to ensure the quality and availability of 

wholesome food for consumers across the country. 

Nearly 4,000 AMS professionals work every day to support the country’s diverse agricultural 

operations, which range from individual farmers to international businesses and employ 1 in 12 

people. AMS services and its millions of dollars in annual grant investments also create 

opportunities by supporting economic development in small towns and rural communities that 

stand as the backbone of American values.

Much of the agency’s support for agriculture is provided through commodity-specific efforts,

such as its Dairy; Specialty Crops; Livestock and Poultry; and Cotton and Tobacco Programs. 

AMS also oversees the National Organic; Science and Technology; and Transportation and 

Marketing Programs. AMS provides regulatory oversight for over 20 research and promotion 

programs and enforces other Federal regulations such as the Packers and Stockyards Act, the 

Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA), and the Seed Act.

CURRENT ISSUES OF INTEREST 

Data Offerings

 

AMS Market News continues to update and improve their electronic data offerings through the 

AMS, My Market News and Datamart websites. Through these websites, users can access 

commodity specific data on over 1,500 reports that are updated daily, weekly, monthly, and 

annually to provide up-to-the-minute information that assists producers, consumers, and other 

businesses in making informed marketing and production decisions. AMS Market News is a 

valuable resource for anyone who is involved in the agricultural industry. It provides unbiased, 

comprehensive, and timely information that can help users to make informed decisions. 

Additionally, AMS Market News provides two separate Application Programming Interfaces 

(API), where customers can now access data from over 875 unique commodity data sets. The 

APIs allows users to automatically download data in custom formats. After a one-time setup, the 

API will continue to deliver the requested information to the user in the established format 

without further action. Other updates that have been implemented on the site over the past year 

include the functionality that allows users to identify corrected data sets both by report and 

through the My Market News API and Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) API. 

In June 2023, AMS introduced version 3.0 of the USDA Market News Mobile Application with 

free iOS and Android versions available to download through the Apple and Google Play stores. 

The app gives users instant access to nearly 1,500 reports covering conventional and organic 
30 2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting

livestock, poultry, grain, dairy, cotton, and specialty crop market reports. The app lets users 

search for current and historical reports by location, State, or commodity. Version 3.0 of the app 

provides additional tools that allow users identify reports containing international, retail, and 

organic data. The update also simplifies the search process for the state and commodity search 

screens, making newly released reports more visible to users. 

Federal-State Cooperation

AMS Market News has Federal-State Cooperative Agreements with 30 states for commodity 

market reporting activities. Beginning in FY 2023, these agreements were converted into the 

USDA ezFedGrants (eFG) Grants and Agreements System. The eFG system is used for 

processing Federal financial assistance transactions and provides significant efficiencies to all 

users managing grant and agreement portfolios. AMS worked closely with its state partners to 

ensure a successful transition to the new system. These cooperative working relationships enable 

resources at the Federal and State levels to be leveraged to expand the breadth, depth, and 

dissemination of market reporting to the benefit of the industry and information users. State 

reporters cover livestock auction and grain elevator markets, and other local reporting activities, 

such as farmers markets, that would otherwise be costly and more difficult to cover using Federal 

resources alone. 

Organic Market Reporting

The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (Act) re-authorized $5 million to USDA for the 

collection and reporting of data on the production and marketing of organic agricultural products. 

As required by the Act, USDA collects and distributes reporting on prices of organic agricultural 

products; develops and implements surveys on organic production, handling, and distribution; 

and conducts analysis on the data for publication in reports. Of the $5 million allocation, $3.5 

million was provided to AMS to support organic production and market data activities. 

AMS is currently engaged in several key activities to support organic production and market data 

activities, as required by the Act, under the Organic Data Initiative (ODI). Key among these is 

the collection and distribution of market information for organic and conventionally produced 

agricultural products. Each business day, AMS Market News reporters collect price, demand, 

and movement information and make it available online at no cost to ensure market transparency 

and assist in the marketing and distribution of agricultural commodities. AMS Market News 

currently reports over 240 organic commodities, and tracks and reports organic markets at three 

main levels – shipping point or point of entry (for imports), wholesale, and retail. Reporting of 

organic commodities at shipping point usually includes tracking the volume of movement, which 

consists of domestic shipments or crossings from Mexico/imports from other countries. Market 

News provides some comprehensive reports for the organic sector, such as the daily National 

Specialty Crops Organic Summary. AMS has a webpage showcasing Market News organic 

reports including a Weekly Retail Organic Price Comparison Report that shows the price 

differences between organic and conventional products to assist stakeholders in analysis of 

commodity sales and consumers’ willingness to pay for organic products. 
2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting 31

In FY 2023, AMS continued to expand its outreach and educational efforts to the organic sector 

to promote the availability and usage of the existing market information and resources, identify 

new data needs, and build stronger relationships with stakeholders. Collection of organic data 

from additional markets and market types has been expanded as part of the ODI effort. AMS 

was able to participate in outreach at dozens of industry conferences and events under the 

Initiative, and partnered with multiple state institutions to both increase organic data as well as to 

conduct gap analyses of organic data needs.

Market Information Organization of the Americas/International Collaboration

AMS Market News serves as the chair of the Market Information Organization of the Americas 

(MIOA), a cooperation network of institutions from 33 countries that operate like Market News. 

These institutions track and report major markets within their nations to ensure the availability of 

reliable information for their agro-industrial complex, relevant ministries, and government 

agencies. MIOA works to harmonize efforts, identify, and share best practices, and support trade 

and economic development through the availability of critical market data. MIOA supports the 

concept that timely and unbiased market information helps provide market transparency – a basic 

public good. MIOA and AMS Market News have partnered to create the MIOA Toolbox, a fivepart series of modules available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. This series has provided 

hundreds of leading market information specialists, data analysts, and various strategic partners

from the 33 member countries with key information on the strategies, new tools, and good 

practices to improve market reporting.

across the Americas. The five modules are titled:

• Components of a Successful MIS

• Value of and Strategies for Accurate Market Information 

• Market Reporter: Profile and Good Practices for Success

• Good Practices for MIS in Preparation for Emergencies

• Outreach, Education and Promotion for MIS

AMS Market News, along with the other data agencies of USDA, is partnering with the Foreign 

Agricultural Service (FAS) to deliver capacity building programs in the Dominican Republic and 

the State of Maharashtra, India. AMS is drawing upon the MIOA Toolbox for these training 

programs for market information specialists. Information specialists from other countries have 

sat in on these advanced training programs, greatly increasing the reach and impact of these 

programs. Additional projects for improving Market Information Systems with guidance from 

AMS Market News are also underway in Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru, and Paraguay. AMS 

Market News has also provided technical assistance for FAS capacity building programs in 

Ethiopia which may be expanded to cover much of the African continent.

Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News Reporting

Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News (LPGMN) continues to focus much of its efforts on 

improving our customers’ experience by providing greater access to LPGMN data through more 

modern tools. The statutory authority for the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Program (LMR) 

was the statutory authority was scheduled to expire September 30, 2020. However, 
32 2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting

reauthorization has been extended several times, the latest by the Continuing Appropriations Act, 

2024 and other Extensions Act through November 17, 2023. 

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 provided funding to the Livestock, Poultry, and 

Grain Market News Division to develop and maintain a Cattle Contracts Library (CCL) pilot 

program like the Swine Contract Library maintained by the Packers and Stockyards 

Division. Development of the CCL is underway and expected to be released publicly no later 

than September 30, 2023. The Cattle Contract Library is a pilot program was launched in 

January 2023. The program collects and maintains information on contracts between packers and 

cattle producers for the purchase of fed cattle. This information is then aggregated and reported 

to the industry and public on a weekly basis. The Cattle Contract Library is intended to help 

cattle producers make more informed marketing and business decisions. By having access to 

information on the terms and conditions of cattle contracts, producers can better understand the 

market and negotiate better prices for their cattle. The Cattle Contract Library is still in its pilot 

phase, and the USDA is seeking feedback from the industry on how to improve the program. 

In July 2023 LPGMN released the Livestock Auction Dashboard that provides users with 

dynamic access to livestock auction market information for cattle, sheep, and goats in an 

intuitive and user-friendly format that allows for more in-depth analysis of past and present 

market conditions. 

Cotton Market News Reporting

During the 2022-2023 cotton crop year, Cotton Market News made changes to the Spot Cotton 

Quotations and the associated reports (Daily Spot Cotton Quotations and the Cotton Price 

Statistics). This change required a change in the regulations associated with the Cotton Futures 

Act. The rule was cleared for Redefining Bona Fide Cotton Spot Markets and publicly 

displayed on July 31, 2023, and published on August 1, 2023. Cotton from Kansas and 

Oklahoma is now included with cotton from West Texas for analysis and reporting. Two markets 

have been impacted and renamed: East Texas and South Texas, and West Texas, Kansas, and 

Oklahoma. 

 

Dairy Market News Reporting

Dairy Market News (DMN) continues to enhance My Market News, improving access to 

information and data for the dairy industry. Class II, Class III, and Class IV weekly cream 

multiples and prices were added to the domestic East and West Fluid weekly regional reports. In 

February 2023, Dairy Market News added several new package sizes to the weekly retail ad 

collection entries, allowing for improved coverage of organic butter, cheese, and ice cream 

product ads. Enhancements to APIs at the My Market News landing pages are available, with 

updates made regularly to meet customer needs. API documentation is displayed on the 

homepage of each Dairy Market News report in the My Market News system. Dairy Market 

News reports will be transitioning to PDF format, from txt format, soon.

In conjunction with the Organic Data Initiative, Dairy Market News added 4 Pennsylvania 

regional farmers market reports, which can be found on the Dairy Market News Local and 
2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting 33

Regional Food Marketing website. Additional farmers market reports are being developed and 

will be added to the Dairy Market News Local and Regional Food Marketing website in the near 

future. 

Reports of mandatory dairy product survey prices and Federal order statistics are published by 

the Dairy Market Information Branch (MIB) on the My Market News website, the AMS website, 

and Cornell’s USDA Economics, Statistics and Market Information System (ESMIS). The 

underlying data for these reports are available in Datamart and the associated API, both part of 

the Livestock Mandatory Reporting system. Sample API workbooks are also available on the 

My Market News website.

Specialty Crops Market News Reporting

Specialty Crops Market News (SCMN) continues the transition to MARS/ My Market News 

with the successful launch of the Retail market level in September 2023. Terminal, Shipping 

Point, and Movement market levels will be the next to make the transition. For each market 

level, the full dataset including historical data will be available via API once transition to the 

new system is complete. SCMN added new packages, origins, and varieties to its market reports 

as they emerged in the marketplace, or in response to industry requests to report new products or 

enhance existing products. The National Retail Report – Specialty Crops has grown to be one of 

the mostly closed tracked reports published by Market News. SCMN tracks approximately 410 

supermarket chains, with over 30,300 individual outlets. Overall, SCMN tracks over 785 unique 

specialty crop commodities at three market levels (retail, wholesale, and shipping point) plus the 

movement, which consists of domestic shipments, crossings from Mexico, and import volumes. 

To better meet specialized information needs, the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement Seasonal 

Perishable Products Weekly Update was created to highlight the seasonal market situation on 

several of the most widely imported specialty crops commodities, with additional commentary 

and market price and volume data visualizations. SCMN has been working closely with the 

Domestic Hemp Production Program to improve access to and awareness hemp commodities. 

The National Weekly Hemp Report was launched in January 2023, featuring both retail prices as 

well as movement volumes of imports of selected hemp commodities.

SCMN gained access to the Automated Commercial Environment/International Trade Data 

System (ACE), implemented through the joint efforts of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service (APHIS), Homeland Security, and the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). SCMN 

transitioned to using the ACE system as the primary source of import data, starting with the 

northern border on January 2, 2020. On January 3, 2021, SCMN continued the transition to ACE 

for all other points and ports of entry, excluding Mexico Crossings through Nogales, Arizona. 

The ACE data using the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes is timelier, allowing SCMN 

to have daily reports for hundreds of commodities, and it reflects the actual volumes more 

accurately, as it covers all ports and points of entry. 

SCMN worked closely with industry leaders to request new HTS codes from the International 

Trade Commission (ITC) to increase the specificity of the ACE data and provide transparency 

for commodities that have significant economic value in the marketplace. Since January 2021, 

SCMN is responsible for the creation of 227 new HTS codes, 47 of which are organic. 
34 2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting

Currently, 39 organic and 13 conventional commodities are being held in abeyance for the 

October 2023 ITC 484 (f) Committee meeting and additional commodities are being researched 

for the March 2024 submission. 

Agricultural Transportation Open Data Visualization Platform – AgTransport 

The AgTransport platform offers farmers, commodity analysts, elevator operators, shippers, and 

other stakeholders’ access to USDA data that can help them make timely market decisions about 

moving agricultural products across the country and around the world. This free, open data 

platform contains numerous datasets and dashboards about the four modes—rail, truck, barge, 

and ocean vessel—used to transport agricultural products. 

AgTransport facilitates easy analytics. Users can gain personalized insight through interactive 

charts, and they can generate and save their own unique visualizations and data views that will 

be updated automatically over time. If they wish, users also can share their visualizations with 

others in the tool’s open data community. AgTransport makes data available in many different, 

open formats and automatically generates and maintains an Application Programming Interface 

(API) for each dataset.

There have been many new features added to the platform with the latest expansion in July. One 

feature helps users visualize data about international transport costs to better understand 

international trade competitiveness. New interactive datasets have been added related to highway 

infrastructure from the report, The Importance of Highways to U.S. Agriculture, released in 

December 2020. There is also an online version of the 2021 Compendium of Agricultural 

Transportation Research, which offers insight on all major transport modes by highlighting the 

main findings and methods from recent research between 2015 and 2021. 

Other features on the platform include: 

• Grain Transportation Cost Indicators and Global Competitiveness Dashboard with data 

on Brazil, Mexico, and Japan 

• Interactive Rail Dashboard with expanded Data, Maps, and Analysis, featuring 14 years 

of Surface Transportation Board Public Waybill data in an easy-to-use, accessible format.

• Agricultural Rail Service Metrics Dashboard

• Barge Dashboard with additional rivers and locks added to the waterway Lock 

Performance Management Data

• Ocean Port Profiles Dashboard

• Bulk and Container Ocean Fleet Data

• Grain Trucking Indicators 

• Refrigerated Truck Dashboard with Rates, Volumes, and Availability 

• Dashboard for selected Grain Price and Basis Data

• Digitized Modal Share Analysis for Transportation of U.S. Grains 

• Biofuels Dashboard, including Ethanol, Biodiesel, and DDGs 
2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting 35

Economic Data from the U.S. Census Bureau

The U.S. Census Bureau provides information that tells the story of our changing economy. The Economic 

Indicators, Economic Census and our quarterly and annual economic surveys give Federal, state, and local 

governments, policy makers, and business and community leaders the information needed to make informed 

decisions that shape our economy.

Issues of Interest to Data Users

1. Accessing Data from the U.S. Census Bureau

• USA Trade Online 

USA Trade Online is a dynamic data tool that gives users access to current and cumulative U.S. export 

and import data. With multiple data sets and capabilities, USA Trade Online can assist different types 

of customers from a wide range of industries and fields. This tool offers data by Harmonized System, 

North America Industry Classification System (NAICS), and the Department of Agriculture code. This 

powerful software allows users to create customized reports and colorful charts detailing international 

trade data at different levels. 

https://usatrade.census.gov/index.php

• Monthly Trade Data in the Census Data API

 The U.S. Census Bureau has detailed monthly international trade data in its Application Programming 

Interface (API). The Census Data API has international trade data from 2013 to present. The 

international trade statistics provide monthly and cumulative year-to-date export and import totals 

with multiple layers of detail. The statistics also include two datasets with U.S. exports and imports by 

Department of Agriculture code. 

 The Application Programming Interface provides researchers and developers free access to its 

demographic and economic data.

 https://census.gov/data/developers/data-sets/international-trade.html

• Global Market Finder (GMF)

The Global Market Finder is an interactive data visualization tool that paints a picture of the export 

market for a particular commodity. The user just needs to select the Schedule B code they are 

interested in and the tool will display all the countries that the U.S. exports to, shows value by method 
36 2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting

of transportation, and unit price. Users can drill down to specific countries and download the data that 

they have pulled. 

https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/export-markets.html

• Census Business Builder

The Census Business Builder (CBB) is a suite of services that provide selected demographic and 

economic data from the Census Bureau tailored to specific types of users in a simple to access and use 

format. The CBB includes: 

o Demographic, socioeconomic, and housing data from the American Community Survey 

o Business data from the County Business Patterns, Nonemployer Statistics, Economic Census, and 

Survey of Business Owners 

o Trade data on total imports and exports, broken out by mode of transportation (Air & Vessel), for 

selected three- and four-digit agriculture, mining, and manufacturing NAICS codes at the national and 

state level. 

o Building Permits data at the county and place level 

In addition, it provides Agriculture data from the Census of Agriculture (USDA). 

https://www.census.gov/data/data-tools/cbb.html

2. Principal Economic Indicators

The U.S. Census Bureau's Economic Indicators keep the world informed by providing the first official 

measures of the U.S. economy. Our Economic Indicator surveys provide monthly and quarterly data that 

are timely, reliable, and offer comprehensive measures of the U.S. economy. These surveys produce a 

variety of statistics covering construction, housing, international trade, retail trade, wholesale trade, 

services, and manufacturing. The survey data provide measures of economic activity that allow analysis of 

economic performance and inform business investment and policy decisions. The data can be accessed via 

the Economic Indicator Briefing Room and the Economic Indicator Database. 

• Economic Indicator Briefing Room

The Economic Indicator Briefing Room web site provides access to the latest data, full release reports, 

historical data, and time series and trend charts. census.gov/economic-indicators

• Economic Indicator Database

Select an economic indicator and customize your data selection. Ability to download the data to a 

spreadsheet and create your own time series charts. Business and Industry: Time Series / Trend Charts 

(census.gov)
2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting 37

• For questions regarding Economic Indicators, please contact:

Ms. Catherine Buffington, Chief, Economic Indicators Division

U.S. Census Bureau

Washington, DC 20233-6010

Phone: (301)-763-1838

Email: Catherine.D.Buffington@census.gov

3. International Trade

Each month, the U.S. Census Bureau releases the U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services (FT900) 

report, which is one of the principal economic indicators for the United States. This report can be found 

along with other information on our website https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/index.html

Webinars are archived at: https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/outreach/index.html

• 15 CFR PART 30 — Foreign Trade Regulations

The Census Bureau is mandated by Title 13, Ch. 9, Sec. 301 to collect information from all persons who 

are exporting goods from or importing goods into the U.S. The legal authority that the Census Bureau 

uses to collect export information is guided by the FTR. The FTR contains the legal definitions and 

requirements for reporting Electronic Export Information (EEI) in the Automated Export System. After 

the EEI is collected, it is used as the primary source to create export statistics. For information on the 

FTR and filing requirements, please email emd.askregs@census.gov or use the International Trade 

Helpline number, 1-800-549-0595 and select option 3. 

• Questionable data should be brought to our attention as soon as possible. Potential data errors caught 

early are easier to verify and improve the quality of data going forward. To request data verification, 

please contact Mr. Gregory Kondilas (gregory.kondilas@census.qov), Chief of our International Trade 

Indicator Micro Analysis Branch.

4. Other Economic Data from the U.S. Census Bureau

The Census Bureau produces economic data across the entire economy on a monthly, quarterly, yearly, 

and five-year basis, including industries related to agriculture. These industries can include: 

o NAICS 113 Forestry and Logging 

o NAICS 114 Fishing, Hunting and Trapping 

o NAICS 115 Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry 
38 2023 USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting

o NAICS 311 Food Manufacturing 

o NAICS 4244 Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers 

o NAICS 4245 Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers 

o NAICS 445 Food and Beverage Stores 

• COVID-19 Data Hub

The U.S. Census Bureau's COVID-19 Hub contains demographic and economic data designed to help guide 

decision-making related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The interactive platform includes key demographic 

data from the American Community Survey and key data on businesses with one or more paid employees 

from the County Business Patterns program. In addition, the COVID-19 Data Hub brings together data 

from multiple Federal agencies including the USDA’s Emergency Food Assistance Program and private 

sector organizations. The hub was built in collaboration with ESRI and leverages many features of the 

ArcGIS platform and solution templates. 

https://covid19.census.gov/