During the first two weeks of January, the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office will be conducting three surveys: the Cattle Report, the Sheep and Goats Report, and the Milk Production Report. Over 1,600 Michigan operators will be asked to provide information about their livestock operations. These data will be used to estimate Michigan's milk production, cattle inventory, and sheep and goats inventory by class.
Most selected farmers will receive a questionnaire in the mail. Producers not responding by mail or the internet will be contacted by telephone or interviewed in person. Reporting by mail or on the internet will eliminate the need for telephone or personal follow-up, thus keeping survey costs to a minimum. Individual reports from farmers are kept confidential and only summarized to set county, state, and national estimates of livestock inventories and production.
January Livestock Surveys Coming Out
Published estimates from these surveys will help keep all market participants equally informed. All reports are available on the internet at www.nass.usda.gov. The Milk Production report will be available after 3:00 p.m. on January 23, 2013. The Cattle report and the Sheep and Goats report will be available after 3:00 p.m. on February 1, 2013.
Operations participating in these surveys will receive a free copy of the results as published in Agriculture Across Michigan. Estimates by county will be available for cattle in mid-May.