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 The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is
conducting a survey of Illinois farmers for the Illinois
Nutrient Research and Education Council (NREC) to measure a
number of management practices, including use of cover crops,
timing of fertilizer applications, and methods of determining
nitrogen application rates. In addition, the survey will measure
edge of field practices including wood chip bioreactors,
constructed wetlands, and saturated buffers.
“We mailed more than 1,000 questionnaires to producers, and I
encourage everyone to respond using the postage-paid envelope
that we provided. That is the best way to save taxpayer dollars
and still gather information from the best source possible, the
farmers themselves,” said Mark Schleusener, the Illinois State
Statistician for NASS. “Every individual report is confidential
by law and is also exempt from the Freedom of Information Act.
NASS will only publish and share state totals and averages,
never individual farm data,” Schleusener continued.
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NASS staff intended to mail the surveys in early
January, but the federal government shutdown caused a delay. One
month after the first mailing, NASS will mail another correspondence
to producers who have not yet responded. Finally, NASS will use its
St. Louis calling center to call those who do not respond to either
mailing. “Our goal is to get the highest response we can and still
stay under budget,” said Schleusener.
Results from the survey will be published in August 2019. For more
information, contact the NASS Heartland Regional Field Office at
800-551-1014.
[United States Department of
Agriculture] |
