USDA Press Release: NASS Uniquely Positioned to Conduct Hemp Survey

Here’s what they say

Last week, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) began collecting data for its first ever Hemp Acreage and Production Survey. Hemp is a commodity that can be used for numerous industrial and horticultural purposes, including fabric, food products, cosmetics, and more. Yet, there is no comprehensive, national production data for it. That’s where NASS comes in.

NASS conducts hundreds of surveys each year as well as the Census of Agriculture, which is done every five years. As a result, the agency maintains the most comprehensive list of agricultural operations in the United States. NASS has extensive experience in not only using the list to conduct studies of various agricultural populations but also doing so securely and confidentially.

For the hemp survey, NASS did more than just use its own comprehensive list of operations. The agency also gathered information from partners at USDA’s Agricultural Marketing ServiceRisk Management Agency, and Farm Service Agency as well as state departments of agriculture and other sources. Any records provided by these sources that were not found on the NASS list were included in the survey.

To design the survey itself, NASS conducted cognitive interviews with hemp growers to determine correct terminology and understanding of questions.

The result of this hard work will be survey data that set the benchmark for hemp acreage and production, and provide needed data to regulatory agencies, producers, state governments, processors, and other key industry entities. NASS is encouraging producers to respond online at agcounts.usda.gov.

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USDA NASS conducts its first Hemp Acreage and Production Survey

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2021 – USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will mail its first Hemp Acreage and Production Survey to 20,500 producers across the nation, beginning Oct. 18. The hemp survey will collect information on the total planted and harvested area, yield, production, and value of hemp in the United States.

“This inaugural hemp survey will establish a necessary benchmark and provide critically-needed data for the hemp industry,” said NASS Acting Administrator Kevin Barnes. “The information collected can help inform producers’ decisions about growing, harvesting, and selling hemp as well as the type of hemp they decide to produce. The resulting data will also foster greater understanding of the hemp production landscape across regulatory agencies, producers, state and Tribal governments, processors, and other key industry entities.”

Survey recipients are asked to respond securely online at agcounts.usda.gov, using the 12-digit survey code mailed with the survey, or to mail completed questionnaires back in the prepaid envelope provided, by Oct. 25.

As defined in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill), the term “hemp” means the plant species Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant such as the seeds, all derivatives, and extracts, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis. The Domestic Hemp Production Program established in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) allows for the cultivation of hemp under certain conditions.

All information reported by individuals will be kept confidential, as required by federal law. NASS will publish the survey results Feb. 17, 2022, on the NASS website and in the NASS Quick Stats searchable database. For more information about the Hemp Acreage and Production Survey, visit the hemp web page. For assistance with the survey, producers can call 888-424-7828.

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NASS is the federal statistical agency responsible for producing official data about U.S. agriculture and is committed to providing timely, accurate and useful statistics in service to U.S. agriculture.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay).

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