USDA Transitions to new Data Source to Improve Market News Reporting Accuracy

Date
January 06, 2020

On Jan. 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) transitioned to a different system to more accurately capture specialty crops movement activity data along the U.S. northern border. The transition will help USDA more accurately capture the volume of truck crossings of various specialty crops through points of entry on the border between the United States and Canada.

AMS’ Specialty Crops Market News (SCMN) service is now using the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) International Trade Data System (ITDS).

The market news service began showing ACE data as its primary source in its database and movement reports on Jan. 1. The first weekly report reflecting the ACE data was released Jan. 6.

The data collected through the ACE includes actual volumes of fruits, vegetables, onions and potatoes crossing the border into the United States instead of percentages of the volume shown in the previous source data. The ACE also provides data for a greater number of specialty crops commodities.

Specialty Crops Market News is the lead reporting group for USDA for market prices and movement, including domestic shipments, imports and crossings from Mexico and Canada.

The reports and data are available on the SCMN Portal at www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/fv-home. For more information about the transition, contact Supply Reports Branch Chief Patty Willkie at (202) 365-6701 or Patty.Willkie@usda.gov.

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