Farmer Feedback: USDA
How farmers rate USDA crop data, why they skip the surveys, and what they say would win back their trust.
- Average confidence (1 to 5)
- 1.93
- Filled out a USDA survey in the last 24 months
- 38%
- Willing to join a local listening session
- 61%
- Average local FSA office rating
- 3.97
- Median acres farmed or managed
- 1,750
- Total acres represented
- 3.85M
1,199 of 1,199 responses
73% of respondents rate their confidence in USDA data a 1 or 2 out of 5. 4% give it a 4 or 5.
- Rated1 · 459
- 38%
- Rated2 · 420
- 35%
- Rated3 · 271
- 23%
- Rated4 · 46
- 4%
- Rated5 · 3
- 0%
Confidence by farm size
Average confidence in USDA data (1 to 5) and response count per size group
- Under 500 acres1.93 · 120
- 500 to 9992.05 · 201
- 1,000 to 2,4991.94 · 437
- 2,500 to 4,9991.89 · 257
- 5,000 and up1.81 · 176
Where responses came from
Hover a state for details. Click one to filter the whole page.Tap a state to filter the whole page.
Responses by state
Click a row to filter. Click a heading to sort.Tap a row to filter. Tap a heading to sort.
| 204 | 1.87 | 32% | 60% | 4.0 | |
| 175 | 1.86 | 37% | 59% | 4.0 | |
| 140 | 2.11 | 44% | 54% | 4.1 | |
| 116 | 1.89 | 40% | 61% | 3.9 | |
| 100 | 1.96 | 39% | 67% | 4.1 | |
| 68 | 1.66 | 34% | 57% | 3.8 | |
| 65 | 1.88 | 31% | 57% | 3.9 | |
| 57 | 1.93 | 39% | 65% | 4.0 | |
| 56 | 2.11 | 43% | 66% | 4.1 | |
| 40 | 2.23 | 53% | 58% | 3.8 | |
| 27 | 2.15 | 37% | 70% | 4.0 | |
| 22 | 1.91 | 36% | 73% | 3.7 | |
| 13 | 1.85 | 31% | 54% | 4.1 | |
| 10 | 2.20 | 60% | 70% | 4.8 | |
| 9 | 1.56 | 22% | 67% | 3.6 | |
| 8 | 1.63 | 63% | 88% | 4.0 | |
| 8 | 2.38 | 50% | 75% | 4.4 | |
| 7 | 2.00 | 29% | 100% | 4.1 | |
| 7 | 2.00 | 43% | 71% | 3.7 | |
| 7 | 2.57 | 29% | 57% | 3.3 | |
| 7 | 2.00 | 57% | 57% | 4.0 | |
| 7 | 2.00 | 43% | 57% | 4.3 | |
| 4 | 2.00 | 50% | 75% | 4.5 | |
| 4 | 1.75 | 50% | 75% | 3.0 | |
| 4 | 1.50 | 75% | 50% | 3.0 | |
| 3 | 2.00 | 33% | 33% | 4.3 | |
| 3 | 1.33 | 100% | 67% | 4.7 | |
| 3 | 1.67 | 33% | 100% | 3.0 | |
| 2 | 2.00 | 100% | 100% | 1.5 | |
| 2 | 1.00 | 50% | 50% | 3.5 | |
| 2 | 1.50 | 0% | 50% | 2.5 | |
| 1 | 1.00 | 100% | 100% | 3.0 | |
| 1 | 1.00 | 100% | 100% | 3.0 | |
| 1 | 2.00 | 0% | 100% | 3.0 | |
| 1 | 1.00 | 0% | 0% | 2.0 | |
| 1 | 1.00 | 0% | 100% | 3.0 | |
| 1 | 2.00 | 0% | 0% | 3.0 | |
| 1 | 4.00 | 100% | 0% | 4.0 |
Skipped the survey
Respondents who have not filled out a USDA survey in 24 months, by main reason
738 skipped (62%). 605 picked a reason.
- I don’t feel it matters34% · 208
- Time consuming29% · 175
- Redundant information24% · 146
- I don’t want to share13% · 76
Filled out the survey
Respondents who did, by main reason
461 filled it out (38%). 448 picked a reason.
- I believe the data is important54% · 240
- I believe it is my duty19% · 85
- Someone asked me nicely17% · 74
- I fear repercussions of not filling it out11% · 49
Local FSA office rating
1 = poor, 5 = excellent
What would restore trust
The option that best matches what each respondent thinks needs to happen
- Partnering with private industry companies to get better data33% · 399
- Radical change in survey and reporting30% · 357
- More timely and accurate communication19% · 227
- More conservative and realistic results early as compared to final yields and acres18% · 216
Trust-breaking incidents
Themes in what respondents named as the moment they lost trust. A response can hit more than one theme. Click a theme to read the responses.
888 wrote an answer. Shares are of those answers.
Farmer-proposed fixes
Themes in the ideas respondents gave for better information. Click a theme to read the responses.
1,173 wrote an answer. Shares are of those answers.
Crops grown
Share of respondents growing each crop
- Corn96% · 1,151
- Soybeans91% · 1,095
- Wheat33% · 394
- Pasture21% · 246
- Hay/alfalfa7% · 89
- Pulses/beans4% · 43
- Sorghum/milo3% · 35
- Small grains3% · 35
- Vegetables2% · 24
Livestock raised
Share of respondents raising each species
- Cattle37% · 439
- Swine9% · 106
- Poultry3% · 35
- Sheep1% · 16
- Goats1% · 11
- Other0% · 3
- None56% · 676
Read the responses
Written answers from the respondents matching your filters
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