American Farmers' Distrust in USDA Surveys Grows Amid Data Accuracy Concerns
American farmers are increasingly ignoring surveys from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), reflecting a growing distrust in government data. The response rate for the USDA's annual prospective planting report has dropped to a record low, with only about a third of surveyed farm operations participating. Farmers express skepticism about the accuracy of USDA reports, which they feel often work against them, especially in light of abundant harvests keeping crop prices low. This distrust is exacerbated by unexpected USDA reports, such as the January crops report that significantly increased the corn crop estimate, leading to market volatility. 
