Did you know that according to the 2019 State Agriculture Overview for NJ, 3,900 acres of peaches yielded 5/tons per acre at a value of over $25.6 million dollars? Or that 3,500 acres of peppers were harvested in 2019, with a value of $45.8 million dollars? Or that 9,300 acres of harvested blueberries were valued at $85.3 million dollars in 2019? And in 2018, NJ ranked 4th nationwide in cranberry and peach production, and third in bell peppers?
Details from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service New Jersey Field Office can be found online at https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/New_Jersey/index.php. A brief summary of New Jersey’s 2019 production highlights is found by clicking on “New Jersey Agricultural Overview” in the center of the page under the heading, New Jersey Statistics. Separate commodity publications are also listed in the right side column of the same page.
These numbers and values depend on growers just like you in reporting acreages and harvests through the survey tools and census reporting administered by the National Agricultural Statistic Service (NASS).
Your agricultural operation, large or small, is important to U.S. agriculture. NASS conducts a census of all agricultural operations every five years. In addition, they also conduct other agricultural surveys (commodity, production, labor, risk, etc.) to provide timely data to decision and policy makers.
NASS wants to make sure YOU are included – they need to know about all types of agricultural operations of all sizes. They have created a short 3-minute online survey available at https://www.agcounts.usda.gov/static/get-counted.html where growers can enter their farm operation and contact information. New names and information not currently in their database will be processed and added for future surveys and census requests. Please note that the Information you provide is kept confidential by law, Title 7, U.S. Code and will not be disclosed to any other government or private entity.
What’s in it for you? Why bother with just another survey? NASS is the primary statistical agency for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For more than 150 years, NASS has been known for its expertise, the quality of the data it collects, its contributions to statistical science, and its commitment to publishing agricultural and commodity data that can be used in multiple ways by producers like you to work smarter. Working smarter means using reliable facts and figures to make well-informed decisions that eliminate guesswork, reduce risk, and improve profitability.
The NASS mission is to provide timely, accurate, and useful statistics in service to U.S. agriculture. By collecting data, NASS does not set policy, regulate activities, permit influence, disclose individual reports, or favor any group above others.
Make sure you’re a part of the New Jersey agricultural success story and answer the survey today – https://www.agcounts.usda.gov/static/get-counted.html.
