As the 2023 crop production season begins, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will contact producers nationwide to determine their growing plans.

“Each year, the agriculture industry anticipates USDA’s Prospective Plantings report, which provides the first survey-based estimates of U.S. farmers’ planting intentions for the year,” said NASS Mississippi State Statistician Esmerelda Dickson. “The March Agricultural Survey provides the factual data that underpins these projections, making it one of the most important surveys we conduct each year.”

NASS will mail the survey to 1,451 Mississippi producers on Feb. 17, asking them to provide information about the types of crops they intend to plant this year, how many acres, and the amounts of grain and oilseed they will store on their farms.

Producers can respond online at agcounts.usda.gov, or by mail. Those who have not responded by Feb. 27 may be emailed a reminder or contacted for an interview.

In accordance with federal law, NASS keeps responses confidential and publishes data in aggregate form only, ensuring no individual operation or producer can be identified.

The data will be published in the Prospective Plantings and quarterly Grain Stocks reports on March 31. All NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov/publications.

For more information, call the NASS Delta Regional Field Office at 800-327-2970.