MID-YEAR AGRICULTURAL SURVEY

SACRAMENTO -- About 4,000 California farmers and ranchers will be part of a national sample of  100,000 producers who will be contacted for the U.S. Agriculture Department's mid-year survey.

The survey will be conducted during the first half of June by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The information gathered will be used to make state, regional, and national estimates of crop acreage, grain stocks, livestock inventory, number of farms, land in farms, and other statistics.

"This survey is important in making accurate crop and livestock estimates, which provide a basis for an orderly marketing system," said Vic Tolomeo, who heads the California Agricultural Statistics Service. "An orderly marketing system is essential to all involved in agriculture."

In addition to general releases to the public and press, the survey findings will go to government policy makers and farm organizations, which use the survey results to help develop farm policy positions.

Other users include state governments, universities, extension agents, farm management consultants, agricultural lenders, and businesses that supply input to farmers.

The June Agricultural Survey is one of the most important of the many surveys conducted each year by the California Agricultural Statistics Service. Other agricultural surveys are scheduled for September, December, and March. Objective yield surveys for cotton are conducted near the end of each month throughout the growing season.  Separate cattle and sheep inventory surveys are conducted in July and January.

"We are asking for the cooperation of California farmers so we can ensure that agriculture in our State is fully represented in the national sample," said Tolomeo.

The 100,000 farmers expected to participate in the June survey were selected at random from 2.1 million farms nationwide. Facts about an individual's farm or ranch are strictly confidential and used only in combination with reports from other farmers to produce agricultural statistics for California and the nation.

After results of the survey are compiled and analyzed in Washington, the information will be released in a series of reports. Those who participate in the survey will receive a special summary of the results for their state and the nation.

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