Statistical information on cultivated land, production, stocks, prices, and income is essential for the smooth operation of Federal farm programs. It is also indispensable for planning and administering related Federal and State programs in such areas as consumer protection, conservation and environmental quality, trade, and education.

Reliable, timely, and detailed crop and livestock statistics help to maintain a stable economic climate and minimize the uncertainties and risks associated with the production, marketing, and distribution of commodities. Farmers and ranchers rely on stastical reports in making all sorts of production and marketing decisions. The reports help them decide on specific production plans, such as what type of cash crop to plant, where and when to plant, how many cattle to rise, and when to sell, and so forth.

Analysts transform the statistics into projections of coming trends, interpretations of the trends' economic implications, and evaluations of alternative courses of action for producers, agribusinesses, and policy makers.