USDA Seeks Feedback on Farm Survey Overhaul Plans
Published Date: 3/16/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Agriculture wants your thoughts on a new plan to collect farming info through surveys. This helps them keep track of crops, prices, and more, making sure the data is useful and not too much work for farmers and others. If you have ideas or concerns, send them in by April 15, 2026—your input could shape how these surveys work and save time and money!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Larger Crop Survey Sample Size
The National Agricultural Statistics Service is increasing the sample size for the Crop Acreage and Grain Stocks quarterly surveys. This change affects farms and ranches who may be asked to provide more data and is part of a program with 596,600 respondents and a total of 206,959 burden hours.
Reinstatement of ACES Survey
The Agricultural Coverage Evaluation Survey (ACES) will be reinstated, adding another data collection that farms and ranches may need to respond to. The agency states these changes increase overall burden hours within the program's total of 206,959 burden hours for 596,600 respondents.
June Area Survey Race Data Update
NASS will update the June Area Survey questionnaire to be fully compliant with Statistical Policy Directive No. 15 (SPD-15) on race and ethnicity. Farms and ranches responding to the June Area Survey will see the questionnaire changes as part of the broader program that lists 596,600 respondents and 206,959 total burden hours.
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