USDA to survey farmers' planting intentions

How many acres of corn do farmers intend to plant this growing season? How will this affect cotton and peanut acres for 2007? These are just a couple of the critical questions the Georgia Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be asking more than 1,500 producers statewide as part of the March Agricultural Survey.

"The March Agricultural Survey, also known as the Crops/ Stocks Survey, is one of the most important surveys conducted each year by NASS," explained Doug Kleweno, director of the NASS Georgia Field Office. "This survey will provide the first official estimates of U.S. farmers' planting intentions for 2007, giving a glimpse at the upcoming growing season.

"Data from the March Agricultural Survey benefit producers by providing timely and accurate information to help them make critical decisions for their operation. When finalizing cropping and marketing plans, this survey will be one of the most important sources of information for producers," added Kleweno.

Beginning today, selected Georgia producers will be contacted by mail, telephone or personal interviews and asked to provide information on the crop acreage they intend to plant for the 2007 crop year. NASS will also collect data on quantities of grains and oilseeds stored onfarm. The information will be compiled and analyzed then published in a series of USDA reports, including the "Prospective Plantings" report and quarterly "Grain Stocks" report, both the released in on March 30.

As with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential by law. "NASS safeguards the confidentiality of all responses and publishes only state and national level data, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified," stated Kleweno.

All survey results are available on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Georgia Field Office at 1-800- 253-4419.