The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

COLUMBIA COUNTY-Have you ever wondered how annual wheat yields are calculated? Local data-gatherer Joe Huether wasn't sure before, but he is now a part of the process, which he says he has found to be fascinating.

This spring, Huether responded to an ad and was hired as a field enumerator to gather data for the National Association of State Departments of Agricultural (NASDA), which works to achieve sound policy between state departments of agriculture, the federal government and stakeholders. He covers Columbia County and the surrounding areas.

Since 1972, NASDA has partnered with the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to provide timely, accurate, and useful agricultural statistics.

Armed with a measuring apparatus, a measure tape, stakes, marking tape and collection bags, Huether heads to the field to collect sample data. He measures a 21.6" by three-row plot of wheat and records how many stalks there are, how many heads on each stalk and notes the stages the wheat is in. He then collects samples which are sent back to the national lab. Huether will visit each sample plot several times prior to harvest.

"One sample from four or five farmers in each area in the top ten wheat-producing states will probably be about 10,000 of those little patches. From that area, which is probably less than one acre of land, we'll be able to figure the average wheat yield for 19 million acres of wheat in the country. And we'll be able to do that by Sept. 1," Huether said. "The data is very accurate."

Huether said cooperation in the program is voluntary but most producers have been glad to oblige.

"Farmers understand the benefit of the surveys and statistics efforts. We try to keep interference to a minimum, so we don't occupy too much of their time. They will use those reports for their own benefit. It helps in making production decisions. It's intended to be useful for the local operator as well as all of the other people involved in agriculture, from our local grain growers to marketers, shippers and exporters," he said.

Individual results are also kept confidential.

"It's up to the farmer if they want to brag or not," Huether said with a smile.

Monitoring and recording sample plots is just one example of Huether's data-gathering duties. Each morning, Huether logs into his NASDA-issued iPad to check for assignments.

Often, he will be requested to perform interviews or complete surveys. He said he works closely with the Farm Service Agency in Dayton.

"They know where the farmers are, how their fields are laid out, and what crops they are growing this year versus last year. Sometimes I don't have to ask the farmer; I can get the information and just confirm it with the farmers, which saves time that I don't have to take from the farmers.

Huether said surveys can range from two pages to 30 pages and cover much more than just wheat.

He recently conducted a 30-page National Animal Health Management survey with several area goat producers. Huether said the survey focuses on health management practices and the program offers free follow-up veterinary screening services to help ensure healthy herds.

NASS gathers information about crops of all kinds, as well as livestock, on a year-round basis. Huether said he also submits an acreage, production and storage survey on a monthly basis.

"It has been fascinating to get involved in. I didn't know how much went on out here. It's kind of exciting to see how it all works. I grew up on a farm in Whitman County so this has been back to the farm for me," Huether said.