NRIReporting

NRI data release procedures have been impacted by the implementation of annual data collection because the scale of NRI estimates is affected by the reduced sample sizes.  Estimates for a particular level of geography are only released when they meet NRI statistical standards and are scientifically credible in accordance with NRCS policy and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Quality of Information Guidelines.

SUB-STATE LEVEL REPORTING – The 1997 five-year database remains the best available nationally consistent, statistically reliable source of estimates on resource conditions at the sub-state level.  Updating the 1997 sub-state level trending data base around annually collected data is a complex and challenging task.  NRCS's Resource Inventory and Assessment Division is working with the Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology at Iowa State University to develop the statistical methods to update the 1997 trending database. 

NATIONAL, REGIONAL and STATE LEVEL REPORTING – The annual estimates are accumulated and incorporated into interim national, regional and state reports.  Annual reports replace preceding annual reports for analysis purposes.  With each new inventory, the estimates for the previous inventory years are recalculated to reflect changes in inventory technologies and protocols.  This ensures consistency for trend analysis when a sufficient amount of data has been collected through the annual inventory process.  For example, the 2003 annual NRI statistically updates the 1997 state-level results with data collected from 2000-2003 and is suitable for national, regional and state-level analyses but only for 2003 conditions.  Additional estimates will be required to compare net change and land cover/use dynamics with previous inventory years.  A release of national, regional and selected state-level 2003 estimates (including developed land) based on supplemental data is anticipated in the second half of calendar year 2007.
 

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