Soybean Objective Yield - Backgrounder

NASS Programs

Soybean Objective Yield Survey
About the Survey

How NASS Collects Data

Who Uses the Information?

USDA’s National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS) conducts
the Objective Yield Survey each
year to monitor sample areas
of soybean fields during the
growing season. By gathering
data on soybean plants, pod
count, and weight, NASS can
better determine the official
estimate of soybean yield and
production.

In August, NASS representatives
contact selected producers in
the major soybean producing
states to participate in the
Objective Yield Survey. An initial
phone call with the producer
consists of a brief interview to
determine field location and to
gain permission to enter the
selected field.

This survey is a crucial tool for
estimating soybean yield and
production in the United States.
All sectors of the agricultural
industry rely on NASS yield and
production estimates to help
make sound business decisions.
For example:

NASS publishes the findings
each month, August through
November, in the monthly Crop
Production report. Soybean final
yield and production estimates
are published in the Annual Crop
Production report every January.
All previous reports are available
on the NASS website: www.nass.
usda.gov/Publications/index.php.

Response Confidentiality
All information NASS collects
in this survey will be kept
strictly confidential, as
required by federal law. The
results of this survey will
be available in aggregate
form only, ensuring that
no individual operation or
producer can be identified.

On all following visits, the NASS
representative counts and
measures the soybean plants
within the sample areas. These
monthly visits do not require any
time from the producer. Once
in the field, the representative
establishes two sample areas
to monitor during the growing
season.
In addition to taking regular
monthly measurements, NASS
selects some fields for inclusion
in the post-harvest gleaning
sample. Those producers will
need to contact the NASS
representative during harvesting,
so we can acquire samples to
determine harvest loss.

United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service

•

Farmers use the information
to evaluate expected prices
and to determine when and
how to market their crops.

•

Agribusinesses that provide
farmers and ranchers with
inputs, equipment, and other
goods and services use the
information when developing
their future marketing
strategies.

•

Congress relies on current
yield and production data
to help formulate farm
legislation.

•

USDA agencies use the crop
yield data to determine crop
insurance and disaster aid
payments along with other
program benefits.

July 2020

www.nass.usda.gov