TL;DR: NASS cancels July Cattle Report and other surveys due to budget constraints, sparking criticism from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
NASS Decision
The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has announced the cancellation of the July Cattle Report. It will also cease the Cotton Objective Yield Survey and all County Estimates for Crops and Livestock from the 2024 production year. NASS explained that these decisions were necessary due to budget constraints. They aim to prioritise their mission and customer needs effectively.
Industry Response
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) labelled the cancellations as misguided. NCBA’s Vice President of Government Affairs, Ethan Lane, criticised the move. He argued that it contradicts NASS’s commitment to transparency. Lane highlighted that these reports are vital for clarity in livestock markets and doubted significant savings from their discontinuation.
Call for Action
NCBA has urged USDA-NASS to reconsider their decision. They demand the continuation of these crucial reports, to uphold transparency and support U.S. agriculture.