WASHINGTON, D.C. — USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is asking approximately 85,000 producers across the country to respond to important surveys involving corn, soybeans, sorghum, rice, cotton and hogs. NASS will be gathering final information about the 2012 U.S. row crops focusing on harvested acreage, as well as crops produced and stored. There will also be a hog survey that will capture current inventory figures.

“It is important to note that responses to these surveys will be included in the County Agricultural Production Survey data and used in calculating county yields,” said Bob Bass, director of NASS’s data collection and processing center. “Producers should not underestimate the importance of their participation in these surveys because USDA uses county yields to evaluate and administer vital farm disaster and insurance programs.”

In addition to row crops, NASS is asking hog producers about their fall pig crop, farrowing intentions for the next six months and current inventory for the quarterly Hogs and Pigs Report.