Agricultural Census &Sample Surveys of U.S. Agriculture

presented byKevin L. Barnes

National Agricultural Statistics ServiceU.S. Department of Agriculture

FAO/NASS/GSS Technical Workshop on Sampling 19-23 April 2010ACCRA, Ghana

Discussion Topics

• NASS view of census and sample surveys• How NASS uses frames for census and

sample surveys• NASS survey program for major crops• Examples of census based follow-on

surveys conducted by NASS• Challenges for census based surveys

U.S. Agricultural Statistics System

efficiently use limited resourcesto satisfy needs of data users

Censuscomprehensive

5 year benchmark

county, state & U.S.

Sample Surveys timely

state & U.S.

efficient

selected commodities

National Agricultural Statistics Service

Agricultural Census

all farms

fertilizer & chemical usefarm production expenses

inventory & value of machinery & equipmentmarket value of land & buildings

farm labor

~ years ending in “2” & “7” ~inventories as of December 31 ~ production, sales & other information for calendar year

total area & land useirrigation

land in government programs

field & forage cropsfruits, nuts & berriesvegetables & melons

horticultural specialties

livestock & poultryanimal specialties

aquacultureproduction contractsgross value of sales

direct sales to consumers

government loansgovernment program

paymentsfarm-related income

grain storage capacityoperator characteristics

farm organization

U.S. Census of Agriculture

U.S. Census of Agriculture

List Sampling Frame

Census

Sample Surveys

Updates

Updates

External List Sources

Area

Frame

U.S. Census of Agriculture

NASS Survey Program for Major Crops

jan feb mar apr may jun jul aug sep oct nov dec

Crop Yield Surveys small grains

summer crops

Quarterly Agricultural Surveys

summer crops: planting intentions planted areaharvest intentions

– planted areaharvested area

production

small grains: planted areaharvest intentions

planted areaharvest intentions

planted areaharvested area

production

planted area(for harvest next year)

on-farm grain stocks: storage capacityquantity stored

storage capacityquantity stored

small grains - final old crop

storage capacityquantity stored

summer crops - final old crop

storage capacityquantity stored

Off-farm Grain Stocks Surveys

Prices Received by Farmers

Census Based Follow-on Surveys

2008 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey

2008 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey

Census form screening question

Farm & Ranch Irrigation Survey

sample of operations reporting irrigationon the agricultural census

irrigated areaarea, yield & quantity of water applied by crop

methods of on-farm water distributionquantity of water used by source

number & description of irrigation wells & pumpsenergy use

irrigation facilities & equipment costsirrigation maintenance & repair costs

irrigation & water management practicesimprovements to irrigation systems

recycled water use and systems

~years ending in “4” & “9” ~

2008 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey

2008 Organic Production Survey

2008 Organic Production Survey

Census form screening questions

2008 Organic Production Survey

all USDA certified organic farms

fertilizer & chemical usefarm production expenses

total land areaarea harvested by crop

acres Irrigatedfield & forage cropsfruits, nuts & berriesvegetables & melons

livestock & poultryanimal specialties

production and marketing practicesgross value of sales

direct sales to consumersvalue added sales

2008 Organic Production Survey

2009 Census of Horticultural Specialties

2009 Census of Horticultural Specialties

Census form screening question

Horticultural Census

establishments growing & selling$10,000 or more of horticultural specialties

~ years ending in “8” ~

units,wholesale & total

sales:bedding plants

potted flowering plantscut flowers

cut cultivated greensfoliage plants

deciduous treesunfinished plant materials

area,wholesale & total

sales:nursery plants

turfgrassbulbs

greenhouse fruits & vegetablesvegetable seedsaquatic plants

Christmas treestobacco transplants

area, production,wholesale & total

sales:mushroomsflower seeds

short term woody plants

value of land & buildingsvalue of machinery & equipmentarea & structure of greenhouses

area irrigated

total retail & wholesale salesmarkets

production expensesnumber of hired workers &

wages

2009 On-Farm Renewable Energy Production Survey

2009 On-Farm Renewable Energy Production Survey

Census form screening question

2010 Tenure, Ownership & Transfer of Agricultural Land Survey

2010 Tenure, Ownership & Transfer of Agricultural Land Survey

sample of farm operators & their landlordsland owned, rented in & rented out

rent by method of paymentquantity & value of land acquisitions & sales

land usemarket value of land & buildings

production expensescapital expenditures

farm assetsfarm income

farm debtfarm household characteristicscharacteristics of farm owners

landlord participation in management decisions

~ periodic as follow-on to agricultural census ~

Challenges For Census Based Surveys

Rapid changes in the agricultural sector can result in the census frame being outdated.

Sampling and stratification rely on the quality and accuracy of list frame control data.

Changes to the frame can cause difficulty in maintaining the integrity of the frame.

It can sometimes be a challenge to accurately define the sample population.