NASS redesigns Web site

The South Dakota Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has launched its newly redesigned Web site, www.nass.usda.gov/sd/. With a click of the mouse, there is now more agricultural data available at your fingertips. The entire NASS Web site, including pages for its 46 field offices, has been completely revamped to better serve the needs of NASS customers.

"The new site will further our mission by providing a user-friendly and consistent resource of statistics in service to South Dakota agriculture," said Carter Anderson, director of the South Dakota Office.

The NASS Web development team incorporated a variety of Web based tools to enhance the site's usability and enrich its content. Technological enhancements include a new Google-powered search engine, an SVG interactive mapping application, an RSS news feed and XML technology. To complete the redesign effort, the site also received a new look and feel to mirror the official USDA Web site.

Features such as the "Quick Stats" Agricultural Statistics Database provide the most up-to-date state and county agricultural statistics. Data users can search for state and county level data by commodity and easily download information for use in a database or spreadsheet.

Data users of South Dakota agricultural statistics are encouraged to bookmark the site and visit it often, as it will be frequently updated with new information. USDA reports, such as the monthly Crop Production publication, will continue to be available online just minutes after release. Additionally, up-to-date information on surveys currently being conducted in South Dakota, as well as upcoming initiatives such as the 2007 Census of Agriculture, is just a click away.