Agricultural statistics of the USA 1956

Agricultural Statistics brings together each year the more important series of statistics concerning Agriculture and closely related subjects. For the most part, the data included herein were prepared in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or compiled by the staff for official use. A few of the tables were prepared in other Government agencies. A particular effort has been made to meet the diverse interests and needs of the general public for a reliable reference book on agricultural production, supplies, consumption, facilities, costs, and returns. The tables presented cover a wide variety of facts in forms suited to most common use. Persons needing daily, weekly, and monthly information are served by the current reports of the agencies which prepare the summary statistics appearing in this book and to which the tables are credited. Research workers and others will usually wish to obtain direct from the agencies the latest facts bearing on particular problems associated with data contained in the tables included here. Inquiries concerning more current or more detailed data, the statistical methodology used, past and prospective revisions, etc., should be addressed directly to the agency responsible for the table.

The historical series in this volume have been generally limited to data beginning with 1939 or 1940 or to the most recent 10 years. Agricultural Statistics, 1952 was expanded to carry a longer series of years for most of the tables and should be used as a reference by those who have need for data for the earlier years. A few of the longer time series were included in the 1953 and 1954 issues because of revisions. Many of the tables in this issue carry a reference in the source note to the table in Agricultural Statistics, 1952 or later years where comparable data for earlier years can be found.

Revisions of the basic series on acreage and production of most crops and on inventory numbers of livestock, based on the results of the 1954 Census of Agriculture, have been included in this issue. These revision cover, generally, the period 1949 to 1954 for crops and 19f50 to 1955 for livestock inventories. Revisions for the vegetable crops, except potatoes and sweetpotatoes, and some of the supplementary series such as farm disposition, were not completed in time for inclusion. Since the tables were submitted for publication in late October 1956 revisions or changes made after that date are not included. Insofar as possible, these have been mentioned in the notes at the beginning of the chapters or in notes on the particular tables affected. For the State tables on field crops where a 10-year average comparison is shown, the 1945-54 average has been used since the 1944-53 average which would normally be used was on the unrevised basis and time did not permit recomputation following Census revisions.

Chapters:
Introduction.
Grains.
Cotton, sugar, and tobacco.
Oilseeds, fats and oils.
Frults, vegetables, melons, tree nuts, and beverage crops.
Hay, seeds, and minor field crops.
Cattle, hogs, and sheep.
Dairy and poultry products.
Farm resources, income, and expenses.
Agricultural conservation and forestry statistics.
Consumption and family living.
Miscellaneous agricultural statistics.
Index.