In an effort to respect biosecurity protocols and reduce the risk of spreading porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), USDA is asking pork producers to complete U.S. Hogs & Pigs Report data via online or mail-in forms instead of gathering data from on-farm visits.

USDA is currently seeking information on the U.S. pig crop. Pork producers are the only source for accurate on-farm inventory, birth, and death rates that are included in the quarterly report.

USDA would prefer not to send people to farms to collect data. Producers who are located in the survey area will be asked to take a moment to complete a questionnaire and return it via mail or the internet.

Producers who receive a questionnaire and do not return it by February 28th, will receive a follow-up phone call from USDA to help with data gathering.

Any data that is gathered is held in strict confidence and can never be shared with anyone under penalty of Federal law. The data is also exempt from Freedom of Information Act requests, according to USDA.

Results from the March Hogs & Pigs Report will be released on March 28, 2014 and will be available on the Internet at www.nass.usda.gov.