A sample of corn growers across Indiana will soon be contacted by the USDA, NASS, Great Lakes Region to participate in a survey focusing on nutrient and fertilizer use, pesticide applications, and pest management practices.
Conducted annually in the fall, Phase II of the Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS II) is USDA’s primary source of information on production practices for select field crops. This year ARMS focuses on corn production.
NASS will conduct interviews with approximately 4,100 corn producers nationwide, including 250 corn producers in Indiana. Operators will be asked to provide information on their fertilizer, nutrient and pesticide applications, as well as their pest management and spray practices for corn.
“Participation in this survey is vital to all agricultural industry stakeholders.” said Nathanial Warenski, State Statistician for USDA, NASS, Indiana Field Office. “The results of the ARMS will help agricultural leaders and decision-makers better understand how producers cope with risk, adapt to policy changes, and make decisions about chemical use, new technologies, and other aspects of farming. While the surveys can be lengthy and complex, trained and experienced enumerators can work with respondents to make the process go smoothly.”
The importance of these surveys cannot be understated, according to Warenski. “Virtually every federal farm program and policy is based on ARMS data – conservation programs, price support programs, risk management programs, pesticide approval and exemption programs, research programs – you name it. All of them rely on information generated through this survey. That’s why it’s so important that farmers take the time to participate and ensure that we have the most accurate and up-to-date information, straight from the source.”
Warenski assures survey participants that the confidentiality of their responses is protected by law. “NASS strictly safeguards the privacy of all respondents and publishes only aggregated state and national data, ensuring that no individual producer or operation can be identified,” he said.
For more information about ARMS and other surveys conducted by NASS, contact the Great Lakes Regional Office at 1-800-453-7501 or visit the NASS web site at: www.nass.usda.gov.