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GGD-78-29 1 (1978-04-13)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaaxag0001 and id is 1 raw text is: DOCUMENT RESUME 0 56 30 - r B 1045986J The Statistical Reporting Service's Crop Reports Could Be of More Use to Farmers. GGD-78-29* E-137762.34. hpril 13, 1978. eleased April 19, 1978. 29 pp. + 6 appendices (15 pp.), Report to Sen. George McGovern; by Elmer B. Staats, Comptroller General. Issue Area* Statistical and Paperwork Implications of bon-Federal Data (3100); Food (170). Contact: General Government Div. Budqet Function: Agriculture: Agricultural Research and Services (352). Organization Concerned: Department of Agriculture; Department of Agriculture: Statistical Reporting Service; Bureau of the ce nsus. Congressional Relevance: Sen. George McGovern. Authority: Tax Reform Act of 1976. 26 U.S.C. 6103. 13 U.S.C. 8. The accuracy, reliability, and timeliness cf the Department of Agriculture's Statistical Reporting Service (SRS) reports and their usefulness to farmers were evaluated. Uhe SRS is responsible for preparing national and State forecasts and estimates pertaining to current and near-futiure supilies of aqricultural products. The purposE of pthlishing such data is to help farmers make production and marketing decisions. Findings/Conclusions: Farmers were not using SES reports because they were not aware of the repotte' availability or because they believed that the reports were inaccurate, untimely, or irrelevant. This problem is the result of poor communications between SRS and the farmers. In addition, SRS's internal evaluation system does not ask for farmers' views On their informaticn needs or on proposed SRS program modifications. The system lacks formal procedures which have limited its effectiveness. SRS's statistical practices could be improved by eliminating some of the subjective Judgments presently used in developing estimates and forecasts amd by using weather information in arriving at forecasts and estimates. The Bureau of the Census and SRS are attempting to maintain two separate mailing lists of the same farm population; such duplication is costly to the Covernment. Most of the otstacles to consolidation of the two functions stem from restricticns placed on Census information. Recommendations: The Secretary of Agriculture should: conduct a national campaign ained at identifying farmers' data needs and reactions to the Service program modification and making farmers aware of the information available to them, stressing the usefulness of the information; make sure that farmes receive SPS information ty improving distribution; formalize procedures for the SHS's internal evaluation system; and direct the research division to exoeriment with models using variables to increase the accuracy of early season forecasts and reduce the amount of subjective

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