Journal of Data Science

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducted a pilot study in 2024 to obtain data collected onboard farm machinery and explore their uses for statistical purposes. NASS has recognized high value in these machine-logged data (MLD) systems as they can potentially augment, or even replace, traditional survey efforts while providing additional benefits of reducing respondent burden and improving crop-related estimates. This pilot study ultimately addressed four topics: 1) understanding the obstacles in obtaining MLD from farmers; 2) creating geographic workflows to manage inherent geospatial MLD; 3) developing the linkages to NASS’s tabular list frame information; and 4) assessing the use of MLD to replace survey data for time-sensitive estimates. To study each topic, field-level information was gathered from the MLD systems of dozens of producers over hundreds of fields across the central United States (US) for the 2023 growing season. Results showed that 90% of the fields could be linked to a producer on the NASS list frame. Of those producers, the consistency of MLD versus traditional survey reporting was highly variable for those who were selected for a survey in 2023. Comparisons showed median MLD values were larger than historical NASS survey values. Approximately 48% of survey comparisons showed a difference of 25% or less between MLD and historical NASS survey values. MLD shows promise for use in official statistics; however, further analyses with additional producers’ data and enhancements to MLD collection processes are needed before supplementing traditional survey methods.