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USDA pilot survey aims to improve Colorado farm data
Associated Press //July 17, 2025//
DENVER — Colorado farmers and ranchers will participate in a pilot program aimed at improving how agricultural data is collected nationwide, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced.
In Brief:
- USDA launches 2025 pilot to enhance farm data collection
- Colorado among five states selected for the study
- Survey tests new methods to reduce burden on producers
- Results may shape future USDA agricultural policies
The 2025 Area Screening Survey, led by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), is being conducted in Colorado and four other states: Illinois, New York, Oregon and Texas. The goal is to test a new screening questionnaire that could enhance the efficiency of the existing June Area Survey and reduce the time commitment for respondents.
Colorado is one of several states selected to evaluate the new methodology, which will include all agricultural tracts within state boundaries. About 12,000 producers across the participating states will take part in the pilot, which is expected to generate roughly 3,540 burden hours across all respondents.
The information collected will help guide improvements to data collection methods used in major USDA surveys. Officials said the updates could lead to more accurate and timely agricultural statistics while minimizing the workload for those providing the data.
The June Area Survey is one of the USDA’s most comprehensive tools for gauging farmland use, crop acreage and livestock inventory. By testing updates to this process, NASS hopes to better inform future agricultural policies and research.
The pilot is part of a broader USDA initiative to support American agriculture with precise and up-to-date information. Participants will only need to respond once a year under the new model.
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