They are also a vital component in determining chemical usage needed to obtain and maintain registration. The survey questionnaire and a printout of their 1997 report were mailed to growers in the middle of October. Those not responding by mail will be contacted by telephone. Field enumerators will personally visit and obtain information from large growers and those who did not respond earlier. It is hoped growers will respond by mail since this is the cheapest and fastest method of data collection.
All data are confidential and used only for summary tables.
Growers, industry leaders, and extension personnel are extremely interested in knowing what changes have occurred in the fruit industry during the past three years. Survey results will be available in late summer, 2001. Each grower will receive a copy of the summary bulletin. Chickens and Eggs Michigan layers totaled 6.2 million birds in August, up 6 percent from a year ago. The 6.2 million layers included 5.9 million table egg layers in flocks greater than 30,000 birds.