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USDA emphasizes transparency in improved farm data and research

The USDA says it is working with farmers and ranchers to improve its data collection process.

Dr. Scott Hutchins, Undersecretary for Research, Education, and Economics, says increased producer participation is critical to providing a more accurate data set.

“What they provide us with allows us to provide them with better programs and better insights,” he says. “We know we have to earn that trust. We know we have to use the data in a way that is actually reflective of what is happening in agriculture. We think we can always improve and be more transparent.”

He tells Brownfield the agency’s reorganization effort could help strengthen face-to-face interactions with farmers and researchers.

“I want to have my scientists in those rooms,” he says. “I want them to hear, understand, and feel what we need to do. Moving into the regions like Purdue, it gives us the opportunity to amplify that further.”

Hutchins says the USDA remains committed to strengthening and modernizing federal data collection to reflect the conditions farmers face on the ground.

Brownfield interviewed Hutchins during the 2026 Indiana Ag Policy Summit.