Wisconsin Ag Connection - USDA to Study Soybean, Oat Production Practices

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USDA to Study Soybean, Oat Production Practices
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 09/02/2015

The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service will soon begin conducting the Agricultural Resource Management Survey in order to gather data from soybean and oat producers on their production practices. In Wisconsin, data will be collected from about 250 soybean producers and 200 oat producers this fall.

"ARMS serves as the primary source of information on the use of crop protection chemicals, ensuring that the Environmental Protection Agency and other regulators use real-world data when making decisions about the future availability of these products," said State Ag Statistician Greg Bussler. "The survey results help agricultural leaders and decision-makers better understand how producers cope with risk, adapt to policy changes, and make decisions about chemical use, new technologies and many other aspects of farming."

NASS representatives will be conducting in-person interviews with producers to gather data on their chemical use, pest management, and other practices used for soybean and oat production. The data collected for ARMS aids farmers in many ways.

"Your participation in ARMS ensures that decisions affecting you, your family, your business, and your community are based on the facts, straight from the source," Bussler notes.

As with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential by law. NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents and publishes data only in aggregate form, ensuring that no individual operation or grower can be identified.

The results of the ARMS will be released in May 2016.

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