NASS to send economic surveys to agricultural landowners - AgMinute for December 22, 2014

More than 8,000 agricultural landowners throughout the West are receiving surveys this month from the National Agricultural Statistics Service gauging the economic health of their industries. Click here for the full story

NASS: Winter wheat production down this year - AgMinute for June 13, 2014

Winter wheat production will be down in the Pacific Northwest and across the country, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Click here for the full story

Analysts predict profitable year for dairymen - AgMinute for April 4, 2014

U.S. farmers are expected to plant 4 percent fewer acres of corn this year, increase soybean acres by 6 percent and hold steady on hay acres, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistic Service. For more information visit www.capitalpress.com

Reports cut — AgMinute for March 21, 2013

Last week the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service announced it would suspend several of its agricultural estimates reports to meet requirements of sequestration, but unlike the Food Safety and Inspection Service, it won't be furloughing employees.

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Census rising — AgMinute for Dec. 4, 2012

The next national Census of Agriculture will seek more specific data on internet use and alternative energy production on farms, ranches and dairies. The census is the only survey producers are legally required to complete.

AgMinute is sponsored by "Western Innovators," which is available at http://amzn.to/WesternInnovators

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A counting of American agriculture

In case you missed it, the National Agricultural Statistics Service released its massive Census of Agriculture report on Wednesday. You are more than welcome to pour through all the data yourself, but if you are interested in the highlights of what's happening in California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, the Capital Press staff and our sources did some of the pouring for you.

You can find our main story here, with links to others. Or if you prefer to read that in print, we'll have those stories for you in the Friday, Feb. 6 edition.

Or if you just want the quickest of quick summaries, here it is: There are more farms in the U.S. and most of the four Western states, but they are smaller than they were in 2002. And the average age of farmers continues to climb.