By Jamie Martin
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through its National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and in collaboration with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is set to launch the 2025 Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) survey.
This initiative aims to collect comprehensive data on the conservation practices implemented by farmers, ranchers, and agricultural landowners across the United States.
The survey will reach out to nearly 23,000 operators nationwide. NASS representatives will visit these landowners between August and September of 2025 to determine eligibility for the survey. Once eligible participants are confirmed, they will be contacted from November 2025 to March 2026 and asked to participate.
Survey questions will focus on key areas like farm production practices, tillage, irrigation, and the application of fertilizers, chemicals, and manure. Additionally, information on installed conservation practices will be collected to assess how these efforts impact the environment and agricultural productivity.
The data from this survey is crucial for developing the CEAP Cropland Assessments, which evaluate the environmental outcomes of conservation practices. This information helps in shaping conservation programs and assisting farmers in making data-driven management decisions that protect natural resources while maintaining farm productivity.
The CEAP findings are also valuable in identifying future resource needs for farmers, shedding light on successful conservation techniques, and strengthening financial and technical programs that help landowners improve their conservation efforts.
The NRCS and NASS aim to enhance conservation programs that support sustainable agriculture and bolster the long-term viability of farming operations.
The data collected will be published on the CEAP Cropland Assessments webpage and will be used to guide future efforts in agriculture sustainability. Importantly, all survey responses are kept confidential as per federal law.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-alexeyrumyantsev
Categories: National