Aug 8, 2024USDA’s new Watersheds report enhances ag data for environmental policy insights
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has released the Watersheds report, a new addition to the 2022 Census of Agriculture data series. This report, the first of six Subject Series publications, offers a detailed look at agricultural data categorized by Hydrologic Unit Code boundaries, which represent specific watershed regions.
“Subject Series publications like Watersheds augment the already expansive collection of data from the Census of Agriculture,” said Joseph Parsons, administrator for NASS. “The Watersheds publication provides agricultural and environmental data users with a novel way to examine and compare ag census data.”
The Watersheds report includes data on farms, land use, fertilizer and chemical application and specific commodities, broken down by watershed boundaries. This granular data helps researchers, policymakers and producers evaluate the impact of agriculture on environmental factors and water quality.
The report is expected to aid in shaping policies and programs related to agriculture and environmental management. It is available for review on the NASS website at nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2022.
Additional upcoming reports include the American Indian Reservations Report and Specialty Crops publication, with release dates available on the NASS website. For more information, visit nass.usda.gov/AgCensus.
