Starting
in late December, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National
Agricultural Statistics Service will measure sheep and goat inventories
and wool and mohair production during a nationwide survey.
Operators
surveyed will be asked to provide information about their sheep and
goat inventories, counts of lambs and kids born during 2016, and
production and prices received for wool and mohair.
“Accurate data
on sheep and goat inventory and production is a significant
decision-making tool for USDA and the industry to be more responsive to
domestic and international markets and consumer needs,” said King Whetstone, Northeast regional director of the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
“The information can also help create public appreciation for the many
benefits of U.S. sheep and goats and their needed products,” said Whetstone.
To make it as easy as possible for producers to
participate in the survey, the statistics service offers the option of
responding online, by telephone, mail, or a personal interview with a
local representative.
The statistics service safeguards the privacy
of all responses and publishes only state- and national-level data in
aggregate, ensuring that no individual producer or operation can be
identified.
Survey results will be published Jan. 31 in the Sheep
and Goats report. This and all statistics service reports are available
online at www.nass.usda.gov.
For more information, call the Northeastern
Regional Field Office at (800) 498-1518.
In January, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will survey more
than 40,000 cattle operations nationwide to provide an up-to-date
measure of U.S. cattle inventories.
“This information helps producers
make timely, informed business decisions such as planning for herd
expansion or reduction. It also helps packers and government leaders
evaluate expected slaughter volume for future months and determine
potential supplies for export,” said Northeastern Regional Director King
Whetstone. “Obtaining the current count of cattle will serve as an
important decision-making tool for the entire agriculture industry.”
During
the first two weeks of January, Northeastern producers will have the
opportunity to report their beef and dairy cattle inventories, calf
crop, death loss and cattle on feed operations.
To make it as easy as
possible for producers to participate in the survey, the National
Agricultural Statistics Service offers the option of responding via the
Internet, telephone, mail or a personal interview with a local
statistics service representative.
The statistics service safeguards
the privacy of all responses and publishes only state- and
national-level data, ensuring that no individual producer or operation
can be identified.
The January Cattle report will be released Jan.
31. This and all statistics reports are available online at
www.nass.usda.gov. For more information, call the Northeastern Regional
Field Office at (800) 498-1518.
Information from New York FarmNet:
NY FarmNet is seeking middle managers working in farm businesses for a
new research effort that hopes to determine attributes of successful
managers, as well as identify areas for improvement.
Survey results may
be used to develop educational programs for farm managers.
"Middle
managers play an important role in the success of agriculture. However,
limited research exists related to the current skillset of on-farm
middle managers," said NY FarmNet Executive Director Ed Staehr.
"Information obtained from this study will provide valuable information
for furthering and developing agricultural managers with the necessary
skillsets to ensure long-term successes and sustainability of the
agricultural industry."
The definitions are as follows:
Middle
Managers -- A key employee that is controlled and controls. A middle is
responsible for a designated area of the business, may or may not
supervise employees, and may or may not serve as a junior partner. Most
middle managers have some decision making authority, while senior
managers are ultimately responsible for the decisions of middle
managers.
Senior Managers -- A senior manager controls and is
not controlled. Senior managers have final decision making authority
for all, or a portion of the business. Senior managers are responsible
for the decisions made by middle managers. For the purposes of this
study, a senior manager must have full or partial ownership of the
business; otherwise they are a middle manager.
The survey link is: https://cornell.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_3CMkV8vcVN7Zav3
For more information, contact (607) 255-4121.
