Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 6/22/15

In July, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will survey 9,300 cattle operations nationwide to provide an up-to-date measure of U.S. cattle inventories.

“In July 2014, NASS reported that the all cattle and calves inventory in the United States was 96 million head, the lowest since the series began in 1973,” said North Carolina State Statistician Dee Webb. “Obtaining the current count of cattle will serve as a strategic decisionmaking tool for producers and the entire agriculture industry.”

During the first two weeks of July, North Carolina producers will have the opportunity to report their beef and dairy cattle inventories, calf crop, death loss and cattle on feed. To make it as easy as possible for producers to participate in the survey, NASS offers the option of responding via the Internet, telephone, mail or a personal interview with a local NASS
representative.

“This information helps producers make timely, informed marketing decisions and plan for herd expansion or reduction,” Webb explained.

As is the case with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential by federal law. NASS safeguards the privacy of all responses and publishes only state- and national-level data, ensuring that no individual producer or operation can be identified.

The July Cattle report will be released on July 24, 2015. This and all NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov. For more information, call the NASS North Carolina Field Office at 1-800-437-8451.