The US Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is close to letting farmers retrieve agricultural data by typing or speaking a question, NASS administrator Joe Parsons said, as part of a broader modernisation effort.

The aim is to make official statistics easier to find and use on mobile devices, Parsons said: a farmer in a tractor, pickup or combine may need a specific figure quickly without searching through a lengthy report.

The service is building on its Ag Insights platform, which lets users filter data and view charts online, and Parsons said most NASS reports will in future be available in that format rather than only as static PDF files.

NASS is moving carefully because some USDA statistics can move agricultural markets, and the agency must protect the accuracy and reliability of official data while improving access. Other tools are in development, including better use of social media and partnerships with state agriculture departments, and Ag Insights will be refined on feedback from producers and agribusiness.

The report was by Tony St. James for All Ag News.

Source: All Ag News