NASS to cease livestock county estimates, cattle report [Video]

According to the Animal Livestock Markets & Dealers Association (ALMDA), last week USDA-NASS (National Agricultural Statistics Service) announced that, due to budget constraints, it will not collect data nor publish the July Cattle report and will no longer publish livestock county estimates beginning in 2024. The county level estimates are for all livestock classes, as well as crops.

During the USDA-NASS semi-annual USDA Data User’s Meeting the week of April 15, the USDA-NASS director reiterated that the data collection for the cancelled livestock reports has already been stopped.

The cancelled reports are important for market analysts, the Farm Credit system, banks, allied industry, state extension programs, and countless others in the agriculture industry, said Tim Niedecken, chief executive officer with the Animal Livestock Markets & Dealers Association.

He advised the association send a letter to USDA-NASS outlining concerns with the decision.

“ALMDA will continue to work with USDA to provide …