USDA corn acreage estimate revision raises data reliability concerns

14 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Apr 30

The department raised its harvest estimate from 86.8 million acres to 91.3 million after finding 1.3 million more corn acres, its worst miss in recent memory.
Former chief economist Seth Meyer said the 5% undercount came as Trump administration staff cuts hit the Agriculture Department and trade-war pressures raised equipment costs and hurt exports.
USDA crop reports guide commodity trading and farmers' sales decisions, and growing scepticism over their accuracy could weaken the agency's historically close relationship with farmers.

As government crop forecasts fail, can satellite technology provide a more reliable guide for America's farmers?

After the U.S.D.A.'s historic miscalculation, what changes are needed to restore trust in our nation's agricultural data?

With flawed data and soaring costs, how can farmers make the right financial decisions to survive the current economic storm?