Workshop participants will explore statistical aspects of agricultural survey research. NASS will review the latest methods in editing surveys that other organizations are using and will highlight NASS' developing plans to improve its system.

NASS has typically used univariate approaches to both imputation and mean-squared-error estimation. This workshop will explore and develop schemes for multivariate imputation that optimally support both economic modeling and direct estimates, while providing for an estimable impace of imputation on mean squared error.

The workshop will cover dual-frame estimation and look at advances in a ariety of statistical techniques including capture-recapture, multiple frame estimation methodologies and weighting.

A session on small area/county estimation will cover efficient, accurate and statisticaly defensible county estimates. These are very important to NASS and are used in administering the USDA Farm Program.

The workshop will explore statistical approaches to forecasting and estimation that will focus on utilizing data from multiple surveys; from adminstrative/auxiliary information, including weather and remotely sensed data; and from long, historical series of surveys and estimation results.

Schedule

Monday, June 1, 2009

8:30 a.m.	Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00	Welcome and Introductory Remarks Alan Karr, Director of NISS Cynthia Z. F. Clark, Administrator, NASS
9:15	Overview of NASS Carol House, Deputy Administrator for Programs and Products, NASS
9:45	Statistical Editing in NASS Surveys (With Discussion) Dale Atkinson, Chief, Census and Survey Research Branch, NASS
10:30	Break
11:00	Multivariate Imputation with Valid Mean-Squared Error Estimation for the Agricultural Resource Management Survey (With Discussion) James MacDonald, Chief, Agricultural Structure and Productivity Branch, Economic Research Service, USDA
11:45	Statistical Directions Discussants: Jerry Reiter (Duke University) and Ralph Folsom (RTI International)
12:15	Lunch
1:15	New Design and Estimation Methodologies for Number of Small Farms Utilizing NASS Sampling Frames (With Discussion) Mark Harris, Director, Research and Development Division, NASS
2:00	Small Area/County Estimates in NASS (With Discussion) Phil Kott, Chief Research Statistician, NASS
2:45	Break
3:15	Statistical Multi-source Predictive Models and Error Estimates for Major USDA/NASS Crop Production Forecasts and Estimates (With Discussion) Joe Prusacki, Director, Statistics Division, NASS
4:00	Statistical Directions Discussants: Jerry Reiter (Duke University) and Ralph Folsom (RTI International)
4:30	Discussion of Tuesday's Agenda
5:00	Adjourn

Tuesday, June 2, 2009 (by pre-registration only)

8:30 a.m.	Continental Breakfast
9:00	Synthesis and Round Table Discussion Pam Arroway, North Carolina State University Sujit Ghosh, North Carolina State University Barry Goodwin, North Carolina State University Mark Harris, NASS Scott Holan, University of Missouri James MacDonald, USDA Balgobin Nandrum, Worcester Polytechnic University Linda Young, University of Florida
10:00	Charge to Writing Groups
10:15	Break
10:30	Working/Writing Group Formation
12:15	Lunch
1:15	Working/Writing Groups
3:15	Break
3:45	Group Progress Presentations and Discussion
4:45	Adjourn

 

 

Hotel Information: A block of rooms has been reserved for NISS at the Radisson Research Triangle Park 150 Park Drive Research Triangle Park, NC Call 919-549-8631 to make your reservation! Block Code is NISSWORKSHOP The rate is $95.00/night May 11, 2009 is the cutoff date