Despite sequester, NASS to provide partial milk production estimates
WASHINGTON, April 3, 2013 - USDA's National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS) will provide an estimate of U.S. milk production each
month through September 2013, which is the end of Federal Fiscal Year 2013, the
agency announced today. NASS will use various
sources of administrative data to establish the monthly milk production
estimates rather than incorporating information from the two remaining
quarterly producer surveys, as is presently done.
Milk production is one element of the monthly Milk
Production report that NASS suspended last month to meet sequestration
requirements.
Because NASS is not conducting milk producer surveys, the
dairy cow and milk per cow statistics that were provided in previous reports
will not be available. In order to
provide the additional estimates and true up estimates based on administrative
data, a scientifically based statistical survey will be necessary in the longer
term.
The use of various administrative data by NASS to establish
the monthly estimates of milk production will provide a consistent estimation
process across all states and the nation, while maintaining cost savings by not
conducting the producer survey.
NASS will release the milk production estimate on the dates
previously scheduled through September.
In addition, NASS will release the Annual Milk Production,
Disposition and Income 2012 Summary report as scheduled on April 25. This report provides the annual number of
milk cows, production per cow, and production for the year at the state and
national levels for 2011 and 2012. The amount of milk used on farms and the
amount sold, cash receipts, and value of production by state and at the U.S.
level are also included.
#30
For more news, visit www.agri-pulse.com.