Jan 8, 2014

USDA surveying on-farm irrigation practices

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is conducting the national Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey. Farmers, ranchers and horticulture producers across the United States will begin receiving the survey this week in the mail, asking them to provide information about their water use and irrigation practices, with responses due by Feb. 10.

“Water is arguably the most important resource for agriculture and horticulture industries,” said NASS’ Census Planning Branch Chief Chris Messer. “The Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey will gauge farmers’ and ranchers’ stewardship of this precious resource and identify opportunities for new technologies.”

NASS traditionally conducts the irrigation survey following each Census of Agriculture. Only those producers who indicated in the 2012 Census of Agriculture that they irrigate are eligible for sampling. The results of the survey help in the development of improved technology, better equipment and more efficient water-use practices.

The survey is conducted as part of the Census of Agriculture program, and just as with the 2012 Census, the responses are mandatory under U.S. law. The same law ensures that NASS will keep all individual responses completely confidential.

“We take confidentiality extremely seriously at NASS, and only publish data in aggregate form,” Messer said. “This approach helps us guarantee that no individual operation or producer can be identified in the report.”

For more information about the Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey, call 888-424-7828, or click here.