EAST LANSING, Mich. – Vegetable growers in parts of the Midwest and other states are being asked to take a survey on the chemicals and other substances they use on their crops.

The main purpose of the Vegetable Chemical Use Survey by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is making sure products used on the crops are safe as advertised so they remain available to farmers on the market, said Nathaniel Warenski, the Indiana state statistician for NASS.

He said another reason for the survey is identifying any chemicals or nutrients that might be causing unexpected damage to the environment and crops.

Farmers in 18 states, including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin,, will be asked to participate in the survey.

He said participating farmers will be asked to reveal things like the type of chemical used and how much was applied to their crops to make sure use complied to the instructions on the label and if any damage resulted from overuse.

The survey is conducted every two years.

Warenski said the information is added to a database to help farmers and other members of the general public choose which products are worth buying or investing in.

“Producers, of course, want to produce high yielding, high quality crops. Likewise, buyers and suppliers want to have a safe product,” he said.

He said lawmakers can also use the data to help decide if certain products need more or less regulation.

“All of them rely on information generated through this survey. That’s why it’s so important that farmers take the time to participate and ensure that we have the most accurate and up to date information straight from the source,” said Marlo Johnson, director of the Great Lakes Regional Field Office for NASS.

About 3,000 farmers are expected to take the voluntary survey, Warenski said.

Farmers agreeing to take the survey will be approached by a representative from NASS to assist with the information gathering. Attempts will be made to reach participants by phone to schedule the visit in advance.

“While these surveys can be lengthy and complex, trained and experienced enumerators can work with respondents to make the process go smoothly and relatively quickly,” Johnson said.

The survey is also targeted to farmers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Minnesota, California, Arizona, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Oregon and Washington.

Warenski said the states chosen for the survey are the largest producers of vegetables in the nation. Participants of the survey remain anonymous.

He said the idea is to encourage participation and gather as much accurate information as possible. The names of participants in the survey must also be kept confidential by law.

Warenski said surveys asking farmers to take part will go out in the mail in late September and early October.

Participants will be asked to provide information on their fertilizer, nutrient and pesticide applications as well as their pest management and spray practices for pumpkins and watermelons.

“The importance of these surveys cannot be understated,” Johnson said.