The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is reaching out to producers of market hogs and pigs for is regular survey. NASS is also contacting planters to determine their plans for the upcoming growing season.

Pork production

The agency will survey pork producers for detailed information on market hog and breeding stock inventories, as well as pig crop and farrowing intentions, for its March Hogs and Pigs Survey.

“According to the most recent Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report in December, there were 75.8 million hogs and pigs in the United States,” said Mississippi Field Office State Statistician Esmerelda Dickson. “The March survey and resulting report will continue to provide important indicators for the industry of what changes are coming.”

NASS will mail the questionnaires to all selected producers in mid-February. Those who have not responded by Feb. 28 may be contacted by a NASS representative from the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. 

The data gathered allows NASS to accurately measure and report conditions and trends in the industry over the course of the year. Used by all sector of the industry to help make sound and timely business decisions, the information will be published in the quarterly NASS Hogs and Pigs report on March 27. 

Planting plans

“Each spring, the agriculture industry anticipates USDA’s Prospective Plantings report, which provides initial survey-based estimates of U.S. farmers’ planting intentions for the year,” said Dickson. “The March Agricultural Survey provides the data that underpin projections, making it one of the most important surveys NASS conducts every year.”

NASS will send the survey to approximately 1,300 Mississippi producers on Feb. 18. The survey asks for information on the types of crops producers intend to plan in 2025, how many acres, and the amounts of grain and oilseed stored on their farms. Producers can respond via mail or online at agcounts.usda.gov. Those who do not respond by Feb. 27 may be contacted by a NASDA member.

These and all NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov/publications. For more information, call the NASS Delta Regional Office at 800-327-3970.