Iowa Farm Bureau’s annual USDA Crop Report Trip to Washington, D.C. will be September 11-13, 2019.  The trip is organized by the Iowa Farm Bureau in cooperation with Iowa’s Agricultural Statistical Reporting Service (USDA). With the uncertainty of the 2019 crop, this trip promises to be very interesting. 

As a part of this exclusive opportunity, 8-10 members selected will participate in the USDA’s lock-up for the announcement of the September crop production report, which will be on Thursday, September 12.  Hotel and air travel expenses (from Des Moines) are included for accepted applicants.  The deadline for applications is July 30, 2019.

The purpose of this educational trip is to become informed and knowledgeable of the USDA procedures used for assembling and analyzing national crop production data as well as meet with government agencies and other officials that regulate, oversee or influence agricultural markets.

Trip participants are asked to share what they learned from this experience with other Farm Bureau members, as well as the public.

For more information and to apply for consideration, please go to https://tinyurl.com/DCReport19

If you have any questions regarding this opportunity, feel free to contact Ed Kordick at ekordick@ifbf.org

Past participants’ trip rating = 4.8 (1 to 5 scale, 5 = very valuable)

Participant Comments:

This was a well-organized, well executed trip. I can honestly say that this has been one of the most valuable experiences I have had the privilege of participating in with Farm Bureau.

 

It's a rare experience that provides a lot of knowledge that you only get by being there.

 

It was very exciting to receive the report firsthand before the public and hear questions asked by Under Secretary of Ag.

 

I thought this experience provided great transparency to the process and heightened my understanding of the value of the USDA. 

 

Actually seeing the lock-up procedures was the key highlight of the trip, but meetings with USTR and USDA were close behind.

 

Highlight for me was the Crop Report and steps they use to complete the report. Gave me more insight and confidence in the report. Exciting to be in the lockup for the report.

 

The report lockup was a highlight. This showed me how important filling out my survey is and it was very interesting

 

As I've said earlier, this was a great trip all around. I would recommend this trip to anyone considering it in the future. It's a great learning experience and an opportunity to meet and network with other Farm Bureau members.

 

I have a lot of respect for what the USDA and NASS do for the crop report.