The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will begin contacting farmers, ranchers and agricultural landowners in June as part of a nationwide effort to collect detailed information on conservation practices used across U.S. cropland.
The Conservation Effects Assessment Project survey, conducted in partnership with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, is designed to provide data that will help shape agricultural conservation policies and programs.
According to USDA, the survey will help provide a more accurate understanding of conservation practices being implemented on farms and ranches nationwide. Officials said strong participation will improve the quality of information used to support programs aimed at protecting soil, water and other natural resources important to agricultural production.
Survey findings are used to guide conservation program development and assist producers and agricultural partners in making management decisions based on scientific data. NRCS uses the information to produce CEAP Cropland Assessments, which evaluate the environmental benefits associated with conservation practices on agricultural lands.
USDA said the assessments can help identify future resource needs for protecting soil, water and wildlife habitat, highlight conservation methods currently being used by producers, strengthen technical and financial assistance programs for landowners and support conservation efforts that can improve both farm profitability and natural resource protection.
The survey process will occur in multiple phases. Between June and August 2026, representatives from the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture will work with NASS to visit agricultural operations and determine eligibility for the survey. Producers identified as eligible may then be contacted between November 2026 and March 2027 to participate.
NASS said nearly 23,000 operators nationwide will receive the 2026 Conservation Effects Assessment Project survey. Questions will focus on production practices, fertilizer and chemical applications, manure management, tillage, irrigation and installed conservation practices.
The data collected will support the third set of national and regional cropland assessments conducted through CEAP, a multi-agency initiative led by NRCS to measure the impacts of conservation practices on working agricultural lands across the country.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, "USDA to Gather Agricultural Conservation Data to Assess Trends and Improve Programs and Services"