Story perspectives

USDA Boosts Survey Sample 35% After Record Low Response

4/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

USDA will increase survey sample sizes, adding a 35 % boost to the June 30 acreage report to improve estimate precision.
The March 31 planting intentions survey recorded a 37.6 % response rate, lowest on record, prompting criticism of data reliability.
Administrator Joseph Parsons said USDA will add uncertainty notes, issue a yearly crop report after Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval, and launch the comparison as announced by Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden.

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Story summary

USDA will increase survey sample sizes, adding a 35 % boost to the June 30 acreage report to improve estimate precision.
The March 31 planting intentions survey recorded a 37.6 % response rate, lowest on record, prompting criticism of data reliability.
Administrator Joseph Parsons said USDA will add uncertainty notes, issue a yearly crop report after Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval, and launch the comparison as announced by Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden.