Today’s Topic: Farmer participation in agricultural surveys is important

by | Apr 24, 2012

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Rhonda Garrison to discuss “Today’s Topic.”

Southern Farm Network logoFarmer participation in USDA’s quarterly agricultural surveys is currently averaging from 75 to 80 percent, a drop of about 5 percentage points from a decade ago. It’s a trend that Commissioner Troxler would like to see reversed.

Troxler says farmers need access to good commodity and economic data, because it helps them make decisions about what they’re going to raise. The best way to get good data is to talk to a farmer, he says.

It’s also important for policy makers to have accurate data as they make decisions pertaining to crop insurance and the farm bill.

Click below to listen to Commissioner Troxler and Rhonda talk about ag surveys, why participation has dropped in recent years and why it’s important for farmers to take part in them.

[Audio:http://info.ncagr.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Troxler_4-24.mp3 |titles=Today’s Topic for April 24]

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