The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will soon begin contacting potato producers to learn about their production practices during the 2010 growing season. As part of the Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS), USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will gather data on farmers' chemical use and pest management practices for potatoes.
This year, ARMS will collect data on potatoes. This will be the first time since 2005 that ARMS has focused on potato production.
Beginning in late October, NASS representatives will conduct face-to-face interviews with nearly 1,110 potato growers nationwide, including 200 in Idaho.
As with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential by law. NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents and publishes data only in aggregate form, ensuring that no individual operation or grower can be identified.
For more information on NASS surveys and reports, visit http://www.nass.usda.gov/, or call the NASS Idaho Field Office at 800-691-9987.