The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) puts out a ton of information weekly, monthly and annually for the good folks who make their living in agriculture and people like us who report on such things.

But, the information isn’t super secret. It’s there for almost anyone to sort through, read and digest. (No pun intended.)

For its Florida statistics, the USDA often works hand-in-hand with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and the state and county farm bureaus.

Through its National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the USDA publishes a significant amount of information online at http://www.nass.usda.gov/index.asp. The statistics (often aided by charts and maps) range from county livestock estimates to commodity prices, with often-interesting information including research and science reports and education outreach services.

If you have the time and inclination, hop on over to the NASS website and take a look around. It’s almost guaranteed that before you leave the site, you’ll discover something you didn’t already know – something you can use later in conversation to astound and amaze your family and friends.