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 HOW CROJ 
 REPORT! 
 
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 £ APR 22 i*S4 . 
 
 Crop and Livesto*feeporting is a jgdfice 
 rendered farmers by \e X^DeWn^fft j>f 
 Agriculture, usually wif^^po^pet%o^f the 
 State department of agric^aifea^^e State 
 agricultural college. 
 
 This service was started because farmers 
 found out how hard it was to grow the right 
 amounts of farm products to get a fair price 
 without having nationwide information on the 
 kind and amount of each product needed. It is 
 one of the oldest of all Government services. 
 It started in the Patent Office in 1839, before 
 there was a Department of Agriculture. 
 
 HERE IT IS IN A NUTSHELL 
 
 Most of the basic information on production, 
 supplies, and prices of farm products is col- 
 lected and analyzed by the Crop and Livestock 
 Reporting Service. 
 
 Whether you get information about produc- 
 tion of crops and livestock direct from your 
 State statistician, your county agent, or from a 
 newspaper or radio, just remember that these 
 facts come from your Crop and Livestock Re- 
 porting Service. The information comes first, 
 though, from some 600,000 experienced farmers 
 and ranchers in the United States who are crop 
 reporters. 
 
 Information is also furnished by some 83,000 
 local merchants; 8,500 ginners; 14,000 mills, 
 elevators, and warehouses; 10,000 hatcheries; 
 28,000 dairy plants; and 14,000 meat packers. 
 
\ 
 
 REPORTS HELP ALL FARMERS 
 
 DIRECTLY, the crop forecasts help farmers 
 and ranchers from month to month in planning 
 the marketing of their crops. 
 
 INDIRECTLY, crop estimates made during 
 the growing season help you by making it pos- 
 sible for the railroads, trucking industries, mills, 
 elevators, gins, and so on, to take care of your 
 crops properly. 
 
 The cotton reports help cotton growers to 
 keep up with crop prospects. There are special 
 reports for dairymen and for producers of 
 tobacco, poultry, vegetables, fruits, and most 
 other products. 
 
 GET ALL THE FACTS 
 
 The Government reports give estimates of 
 the number of cattle on feed. If the feeder 
 thinks the supply looks too high, he may want 
 to reduce his feeding operation — or else get set 
 for lower prices. Likewise, if the supply of fat 
 cattle is down and demand looks strong, he may 
 want to put some more cattle on feed, or feed 
 to heavier weights and higher grades. 
 
 You benefit directly when you use livestock 
 reports in planning your breeding and market- 
 ing programs. You benefit indirectly when the 
 buyer uses Government reports. 
 
 If the buyer did not know about the prospec- 
 tive supply and demand, he would have to pay 
 less than he could otherwise because of his 
 uncertainty. 
 
 Speculation thrives on uncertainty and adds 
 to the cost of marketing. When all of the facts 
 are known, there is less speculation. 
 
STUDY THE FACTS 
 
 The annual report on livestock numbers on 
 farms, issued in mid-February, tells you the 
 number of cattle and calves in the United States, 
 and where they are. There are also reports on 
 cattle feeding issued in January, April, July, 
 and November. Thus, both cattle producers and 
 feeders can get a very good picture of the supply 
 situation during the year. 
 
 Likewise, the June and December pig surveys 
 give the facts about numbers of hogs and pigs 
 on hand and what farmers plan about future 
 farrowings. 
 
 REPORTERS CAN TAKE PRIDE 
 
 Every reporter can take special pride in the 
 crop and livestock reports because he helps 
 make them. It gives a person a lot of satisfac- 
 tion to know he has helped with a public service 
 that is so essential, and helps millions of people. 
 
 You Crop Reporters can get free reports cov- 
 ering such items as ACREAGE, YIELD, PRO- 
 DUCTION, and PRICES of field and orchard 
 crops; numbers and value of LIVESTOCK; 
 quantity and value of livestock products; and 
 prices PAID by farmers for their supplies and 
 for labor. 
 
 HOW IT'S DONE 
 
 Your State is served by trained agricultural 
 statisticians who understand farming. The 
 figures in completed questionnaires from farm- 
 
ers and ranchers are listed and added in the 
 State statistician's office. Averages and other 
 statistical measures are computed and crop and 
 livestock estimates are made for the State. 
 
 The method is like that used to find the grade 
 and test weight of a load of grain that a farmer 
 sells. The sample of grain taken from the load 
 represents the entire load. Likewise, the replies 
 from farmers — who serve as voluntary report- 
 ers without pay — make up the sample used to 
 represent the State. 
 
 The estimates for all States are sent to 
 Washington, D. C, and combined by the U. S. 
 Crop Reporting Board. 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 
 
 3 1262 08860 5893 
 
 EVERY ANSWER HELPS 
 
 Every answer helps complete the picture. So, 
 you can see why your State statistician needs 
 to get a good representative coverage from 
 farmers and ranchers EVERY time an inquiry 
 is mailed to them. Even though you may be 
 able to answer only one or two questions, you 
 will still be helping a great deal by reporting 
 these. 
 
 If you do not mail your report PROMPTLY 
 after receiving your questionnaire, it may get 
 in too late to help with the report from your 
 State. You wouldn't want that to happen — and 
 neither do we. 
 
 Again, thanks a million for your help ! 
 
 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE <^fj^> 
 AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE (AMbj 
 
 2-54 
 
 U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 288928 D