Voluntary program gathers data on fruit, potatoes, wheat

By MATTHEW WEAVER

Capital Press

Some farmers may find themselves scheduling time for National Agriculture Statistics Service surveys this fall.

Through December, the service will conduct its fruit chemical use survey to collect data about pesticide use on fruit crops, said David Knopf, director of the service's Washington field office.

Budget constraints had forced the service to stop issuing the report, Knopf said, but grower and consumer demand was so high that Congress set aside money to resume it.

The survey is being conducted in California, Oregon and Washington.

Washington's fruit and potato industries have encouraged their stakeholders to participate, Knopf said, because they know they need ways to control pests, including the use of registered pesticides.

"It's important for them to have this data so they can demonstrate how these products are being used responsibly," he said.

NASS will also conduct a resource management survey in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California about a commodity of interest, this year focusing on wheat.

The survey looks for fertilizer and pesticide use information to be combined with the chemical use survey results and field operations information to build databases.

"We'll ask, what was the tractor used to do the tillage operation, what was the implement used, what was the width -- rather detailed information about these field operations," Knopf said.

Participants are selected from the NASS database and are asked to set up appointments with the service. Both surveys are voluntary.

A second phase of the resource management survey gathers economic information alongside the cropping practice information from the first phase.

"When we get all done, we're going to have a comprehensive report to describe what's all involved in raising wheat," Knopf said.

Knopf said participation is a chance for farmers to influence policy that may ultimately impact their operations.

"Just about every piece of farm policy or agricultural legislation is somehow impacted by the information from these surveys," he said. "Those decision makers need to have some kind of facts on which to base their decisions."

Results of the survey will be released in July 2010, Knopf said.

Staff writer Matthew Weaver is based in Spokane. E-mail: mweaver@capitalpress.com.

Online

National Agricultural Statistics Service: www.nass.usda.gov