USDA Updates Organic Farm Survey for 2025 Insights
Published Date: 1/30/2025
Notice
Summary
The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is updating and extending its Annual Organic Survey, which helps track organic farming. This affects organic farmers and those involved in organic production, with some changes to questions and reporting rules starting in 2025. The surveys in 2026 and 2027 will stay voluntary, and a few tweaks will adjust how long it takes to complete them.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
2025 Organic Special Study Mandatory Reporting
NASS will resume the Census Special Study for organics in 2025 (to be enumerated in early 2026) and return it to its original scope of questions with a mandatory reporting requirement. If you are an organic producer, you will be required to respond to that 2025 Special Study when it is enumerated in early 2026.
2026–2027 Organic Surveys Stay Voluntary
The Annual Organic Surveys funded by USDA's Risk Management Agency will remain voluntary in 2026 and 2027. If you operate or are involved in organic production, you may be asked to respond but participation in those years is voluntary.
Survey Burden Hours and Question Tests
NASS will make a minor revision to the reported burden hours for the Annual Organic Survey and will add cognitive interviews to test requested changes to the surveys. These tweaks will adjust how long it takes to complete the surveys and involve some respondents in interview testing.
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