The U.S. Department of Agriculture will livestream its agricultural data briefings beginning March 30 in order to provide as many people as possible with key information affecting the agricultural industry, the USDA announced March 16.
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will livestream the briefings on its YouTube channel five minutes after reports are made public, USDA reports in the announcement. Briefings on crop production will include data from reports released by the World Agricultural Outlook Board (WOAB), the report states.
"Livestreaming will improve access for the public, increasing transparency and understanding of NASS’s and WAOB’s data and processes," USDA states in the announcement.
The livestreamed briefings begin with the Hogs and Pigs briefing at 3:05 p.m. ET March 30, according to the announcement. The quarterly report features data on the U.S. pig crop supplied by a random sample of 7,500 U.S. hog producers, USDA reports. On 12:05 p.m. ET March 31, NASS will livestream its Prospective Plantings and Grain Stocks briefing. April livestreams include the crop production briefing, according to the statement.
“Our work is made possible by our agricultural producers who take valuable time to respond to surveys to ensure we have the best data available," Joe Parsons, chair of the Agricultural Statistics Board (ASB), said in the report. "To them, we say thank you."
Viewers will not be able to ask questions during the briefings, USDA states. Anyone with questions can pose them during NASS's live Twitter Stat Chat, held one hour after data releases, or contact NASS and WOAB directly.
“NASS and WAOB are committed to providing key agricultural information to the broadest possible audience and helping users understand the context of the data serving the agricultural community and our country,” Chairman Parsons said in the announcement. “Now, by livestreaming our briefings when major reports are released, we can provide information to a wider and more diverse audience than ever before.”
