LANSING - Today, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Keith Creagh encouraged the state's fruit growers to complete the 2011 Fruit Acreage Inventory being conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). 

"The fruit industry plays an important role in meeting our goal to increase the economic impact of the food and agriculture from $71.3 billion to $100 billion in five years," said Creagh. "The last Fruit Acreage Survey was conducted in 2006.  It is critical for the funding of university research and extension programs and federal grants available to Michigan producers and commodity organizations as well as other food and agriculture based businesses to have access to current statistical information."

Survey forms were mailed to USDA's database of Michigan fruit growers in early October.  Assistance in completing the survey is available from USDA staff by calling (800) 453-7501. 

The results of the 2011 Fruit Survey will be available in November 2012 and will provide a summary of the fruit acreage in Michigan and the varieties that have been planted.

Funding to conduct the survey is provided through the federal Specialty Crop Block Grant program, administered by MDARD.  The goal of the program is to increase the competitiveness of specialty crop industries, which includes fruit, vegetables, herbs, bedding plants, maple syrup and other crops. 

The 2006 data is available on the USDA website at http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Michigan.  Click on the drop down link to "Michigan Rotational Surveys" in the "Publications" section.  Other annual reports on Michigan agriculture are also available on this website.

For more information on Michigan's agricultural statistics, visit http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Michigan

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