USDA corn acreage estimate revision raises data reliability concerns
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Apr 30
USDA corn acreage estimate revision raises data reliability concerns
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Apr 30
Summary
The department raised its harvest estimate from 86.8 million acres to 91.3 million after finding 1.3 million more corn acres, its worst miss in recent memory.
Former chief economist Seth Meyer said the 5% undercount came as Trump administration staff cuts hit the Agriculture Department and trade-war pressures raised equipment costs and hurt exports.
USDA crop reports guide commodity trading and farmers' sales decisions, and growing scepticism over their accuracy could weaken the agency's historically close relationship with farmers.