Oklahoma City - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is calling on nearly 50,000 cattle operations nationwide to report the latest and most accurate data on cattle inventories and calf production.

“During the first two weeks of January, Oklahoma producers have the opportunity to serve as the frontline source of accurate data on cattle in Oklahoma and the United States,” said Wilbert Hundl, Jr, Director of the Oklahoma Field Office of USDA-NASS. “We will be contacting nearly 2,100 Oklahoma operations requesting their response to the January Cattle Report, which measures trends in beef and dairy cattle inventories, calf crop, and cattle operations.”

To make it as easy as possible for producers to participate, NASS offers the option of responding via a secure Internet connection, telephone, mail, or personal interview with a local NASS representative. “However producers choose to respond, they are providing an important service to the cattle industry and to U.S. agriculture as a whole,” Hundl said.

“Their responses will be compiled with those of their fellow producers nationwide, providing the only accurate and comprehensive estimate of the state of U.S. cattle production.”

The information is a critical decision-making tool for the cattle industry, he explained. “This report will help measure the impact that the drought-stricken few years we’ve endured has had on the Oklahoma cattle industry,” Hundl said.

Survey results will be published in the USDA-NASS Cattle report, on Feb. 1, 2013. As with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential by law. NASS safeguards the privacy of all survey responses and publishes only aggregate data, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified.

The NASS will also be collecting data for the Sheep and Goat Inventory Survey. Conducted once a year in January, this survey provides critical inventory and production information for Oklahoma and the U.S. Accurate data on sheep and goat inventory and production allows the USDA and the industry to be more responsive to the American and international public, increase consumer understanding and awareness, and establish an appreciation for the benefits of U.S. sheep and goats and their products. When contacted, producers will be asked to provide information on the number of breeding and market sheep and goats, lambs and kids born during the previous year, as well as wool and mohair production and prices. As is the case with all USDA-NASS surveys, information provided is confidential by law. Results will be published in the Sheep and Goats report, also scheduled for release on Feb. 1, 2013. This and all USDA-NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov. For more information contact the Oklahoma Field Office at (888) 525-9226.

For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Oklahoma Field Office at (888) 525-9226.