“This information helps producers make timely, informed business decisions and plan 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 North Carolina State Statistician Dee Webb. “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, NC producers will have the opportunity to report their beef and dairy cattle inventories, calf crop, death loss and cattle on feed information. To make it as convenient as possible for producers to participate in the survey, NASS offers the option of responding via the Internet, telephone, or mail. 

NASS 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. 

The January Cattle report will be released on January 31, 2022. This and all NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov/publications. As with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is kept confidential, as required by federal law. Used for statistical purposes only, the information is not published in identifiable form. All NASS reports are available online at nass.usda.gov/Publications/. For more information, call the NASS NC Field Office at 919-707-3333.