ATHENS, GA – Beginning in late December 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) began gathering information about farm
economics and production practices from farmers and ranchers, as the agency conducts the
third and final phase of the 2022 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS).
“ARMS is the only survey that measures the current financial well-being of producers and their
households as a whole,” said Anthony Prillaman, Director of the NASS Southern Reginal Field
Office. “The data will help inform decisions on local and federal policies and programs that affect
farms and farm families.”
In an effort to obtain the most accurate data, NASS will reach out to more than 35,000
producers nationwide, including 4,600 in the Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina
between January and April. The survey asks producers to provide in-depth information about
their operating revenues, production costs, and household characteristics. The survey also
includes questions to help measure any impacts of COVID on farms, farm and household
finances, and off-farm employment.
“In February, our interviewers will begin reaching out to those farmers who have not yet
responded,” said Prillaman. “We appreciate their time and are here to help them with the
questionnaire so that their information will continue supporting sound agricultural decision-
making. Completing this questionnaire fulfills your 2022 Census of Agriculture requirement.”
Information provided to NASS is kept confidential, as required by federal law. The agency only
publishes data in aggregate form, ensuring that no individual respondent or operation can be
identified.
The expense data gathered in ARMS will be published in the annual Farm Production
Expenditures report on July 21, 2023. That report and others are available at
nass.usda.gov/Publications. More reports based on ARMS data and more information about
ARMS are available at ers.usda.gov/arms.
