SPRINGFIELD – In October, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will begin contacting soybean and wheat growers to learn about their production practices during the 2012 growing season. NASS and USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) jointly conduct the Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS), which gathers data on farmers’ chemical use and pest management and irrigation practices for these two crops.

“After a very favorable spring, followed by one of the worst droughts in U.S. history, it is extremely important for us to see how the growers are coping with these challenges,” said NASS Illinois Field Office director Brad Schwab. “The results of this survey will help agricultural leaders and decision-makers better understand how producers cope with risks and make decisions about chemical use, new technologies and other aspects of farming. Producers can use the survey results to make production decisions on their farm.”

Beginning in October and continuing through mid-December, NASS representatives will conduct face-to-face interviews with more than 6,000 growers nationwide, including 450 in Illinois.