Farmers Grow Wary of USDA as Survey Response Rates Plummet

Declining participation in key USDA reports raises concerns about the agency's credibility and data integrity.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 11:09pm

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A geometric abstract illustration using simple shapes and muted earth tones to conceptually represent the declining trust between farmers and the USDA, without any text or identifiable elements.Farmers' waning confidence in the USDA's data-gathering efforts raises concerns about the reliability of key economic indicators for the agricultural sector.Columbia Today

A sharp drop in farmer participation for recent USDA surveys and reports has industry experts worried about a growing lack of trust in the agency. With USDA data playing a critical role in agricultural markets, the record-low response rates are raising red flags about the reliability and representativeness of the government's key economic indicators for the farm sector.

Why it matters

The USDA's reports on crop production, livestock inventories, and other key metrics are closely watched by farmers, agribusinesses, and commodity traders. If farmers are increasingly unwilling to provide information to the agency, it could undermine the credibility of these crucial data sets and lead to more market volatility.

The details

According to Dr. Seth Meyer, Director of the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri, recent USDA surveys have seen response rates plummet to historic lows. This trend has emerged as farmers grapple with a prolonged downturn in the agricultural economy, potentially fueling distrust in the government agency tasked with supporting their interests.

  • The decline in USDA survey participation has been observed in recent years.
  • On April 10, 2026, Dr. Meyer discussed the issue during an episode of the 'Agriculture of America' podcast.

The players

Dr. Seth Meyer

Director of the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri, an expert on agricultural economics and policy.

USDA

The United States Department of Agriculture, the federal agency responsible for developing and executing policies related to agriculture, food, natural resources, and rural development.

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What’s next

Experts will continue to monitor USDA survey response rates and analyze the potential implications for the reliability of the agency's data and reports.

The takeaway

The plummeting participation in USDA surveys reflects a growing disconnect between the agency and the farmers it serves, potentially undermining the credibility of crucial economic indicators for the agricultural sector during a challenging time.