FY07 Impact of Eliminating Agricultural Statistics
in the Michigan Department of Agriculture
February 13, 2007

Executive Order No.2007-1 will reduce the FY07 Statistical Reporting Service (Michigan Agricultural Statistics) budget from $326,000 to $195,300. Based on projections, the program will end approximately April 1, 2007. Three staff positions account for $286,000 (88%) of the budget. The remaining $40,000 has been expended on field enumeration work associated with the 2006-2007 Fruit Rotational Survey. The Cooperative Program partnership which has been in place for over 87 years between the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Agricultural Statistics Service will end. The State of Michigan Agricultural Statistics program which operates a part of the Cooperative Program within the MDA will end under the current Executive Budget. It makes up less than one percent of the MDA total budget.

Programs in FY07 that will not be completed or done are summarized below. Outcomes for FY08, many of which are similar to FY07, are outlined separately.

1. The Michigan Agricultural Statistics 2006-2007 annual publication, which has been provided to communicate the importance and diversity of Michigan agriculture, will not be done. Information from this document is the only official data source for documenting the significance and value of Michigan agriculture. It has been provided every year as a service since 1886. It is the only source consistently for monitoring and evaluating change in Michigan agriculture. It also serves as a bio-security information source for tracking, controlling, and treating plant and animal diseases. Bio-economic planning and development assessment depend on this factual database. Preservation of land and agricultural use planning depend extensively on this data.

2. The Equine Survey, a cooperative program effort involving the MSU Animal Coalition, Michigan Equine Partnership, Michigan Horse Council, MSU Extension, the Michigan legislature, numerous horse organizations, private equestrians, the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA), and USDA-NASS, encompasses both FY07 and FY08. Extensive work has been underway for more than a year to obtain funding for and develop a statistically sound survey which will provide inventory and economic data on Michigan’s equine industry. It has been over 10 years since the last inventory. This program reflects a true partnership involving the public and private sectors, all working jointly toward a common goal. Eliminating the Cooperative Program funding support will force this survey program to be stopped. Both State and Federal staff resources are required to conduct this survey. Projected funding of $126,500 has been obtained with approximately one-third expended on pre-survey development. The survey is scheduled to begin in May 2007 with analysis and summary data to be released in late 2007.

3. The 2006-2007 Fruit Rotational Survey began in July 2006 and is scheduled to have the final data released by late October 2007. Non-response follow-up data collection is currently being collected. Survey development and data collection efforts have already incurred approximately $80,000 in direct and indirect costs. This survey program was initiated in 1991 by the legislature ($120,000 GF/GP annually) to provide current and reliable information for the fruit, vegetable, nursery and Christmas tree industries. This has included special information on markets, neglected orchards, organic production, industry demographics, and new economic growth opportunities. The turf program was added in 2002 and is scheduled to be conducted for the second time in 2007. Turf Rotational Survey pre-survey planning and development as well as future Vegetable, Nursery, and Christmas Tree Surveys will be eliminated based on projected cuts. Budget reductions since 2002 have already reduced the program by more than 30 percent.

4. County estimates for hogs, dairy operations and milk produced will no longer be available. Data for each of these specialty areas fall within the State program. This localized data assist bio-economy planners with valuable insight on livestock operation numbers and locations.

5. The wine grape industry was targeted for a Wine Grape Survey to further evaluate the positive changes in Michigan’s $770 million dollar industry. Development and planning has been minimal but will not continue.

6. The Dry Bean Stocks report was re-initiated in August of 2006 at the request of the Michigan Bean Commission and the Michigan Bean Shippers Association. A report is produced twice a year using the reference dates of August 31 and November 30, NASS provided this service at no expense to the industry as part of the MDA Cooperative Program.

7. Statistical consultation and survey support for MDA have been provided as part of the Cooperative Program infrastructure. If this partnership is ended, services will not continue. Similar support given to Michigan State University (MSU) as part of a Memorandum of Understanding will also be reduced due to the loss of the three State positions (one mathematical statistician). Both staff and funding are needed to perform survey statistical services.

8. State Legislative District agricultural profiles were developed and provided for the first time to Michigan (only state) legislators after the 2002 Census of Agriculture. This product provides users with a summary of agriculture information by Senate and House District. This summary which was produced under the Cooperative Agreement will not be available for the 2007 Census of Agriculture.

9. Statistical County Profile, a publication from the 2007 Census of Agriculture will not be published. This special summary was done in 1996 and 2003 at the request of data users to address county data needs. Plans were being established for a similar product from the 2007 Census of Agriculture but will be curtailed.

10. State specific baseline information on water use, drain codes, land use, bio-energy, renaissance zones, and value-added agriculture needed to address Michigan’s diverse agriculture will not be available without the Cooperative Program.

11. The partnership infrastructure with USDA and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) to support State programs with Michigan agricultural information will no longer exist. The NASDA staff was used for more than two years to support MDA TB field mitigation efforts.

Additional Considerations:
Legislative action may be necessary to remove the current legal requirement for the State to provide crop and stock reports in place since 1881.
The Cooperative Agreement between the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, which has been in place since 1919, will need to be terminated.