NASDA’s enumerators are gaining international recognition for their role in U.S. agricultural data collection. In 2024, delegations from Algeria, Malaysia, Bosnia, Herzegovina and the Philippines visited the U.S. through the USDA Cochran Fellowship Program to learn about methods for producing accurate agricultural statistics.
These visits, coordinated with NASS and USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, included demonstrations by NASDA enumerators and supervisors in several states:
- Iowa: Supervisor Connie Merkey showed the Malaysian delegation how to conduct Objective Yield surveys.
- Michigan: Supervisor Wes Ruggles guided the Algerian delegation through a Cherry and Fruit Production Survey.
- Ohio: Supervisor Kris Karr trained delegates on Corn Objective Yield surveys.
- Illinois: Supervisor Cindy Myer and Enumerator Karen Miller demonstrated data collection with farm operations for the Bosnia and Herzegovina visitors.
- Georgia: The Philippine delegation learned about the NASS Southern Regional Office and visited the UGA Extension Service.
NASDA’s Charlie Ingram and COO Martha Dale led briefings to highlight the importance of our NASDA-NASS partnership, enumerator program and the role of field operations in producing high-quality data.
These exchanges show how NASDA field enumerators contribute to accurate, reliable data that supports U.S. agricultural trade, global development and international partnerships. Thank you to the NASDA enumerators and NASS teams who made these visits a success. Your work sets a global standard for agricultural data accuracy and reliability.
###
NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association which represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries and directors of the departments of agriculture in all 50 states and four U.S. territories. NASDA enhances American food and agricultural communities through policy, partnerships and public engagement. To learn more about NASDA, please visit www.nasda.org.
