How do I get a USDA NASS API key?

Visit [**nass.usda.gov/developer**](https://www.nass.usda.gov/developer/index.php) and register for a free API key. The key is delivered instantly via the web form. It's completely free with no usage cost.

What crops and commodities are available?

The NASS Quick Stats database covers all major US agricultural commodities: CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT, COTTON, RICE, SORGHUM, OATS, BARLEY, HAY, PEANUTS, POTATOES for crops; CATTLE, HOGS, CHICKENS, TURKEYS, MILK, EGGS, HONEY for livestock; plus fruit, vegetables, nursery products and many more. Use `get_param_values` with param 'commodity' to see the complete list.

Can I filter data by state and year?

Yes! All query tools support optional state and year parameters. State can be the full name (e.g. 'IOWA') or abbreviation (e.g. 'IA'). Year accepts specific years (e.g. '2024') or ranges. The data returned includes the state, year, commodity, value and unit for each record.

What kind of economic data is available?

The ECONOMICS sector includes: prices received by farmers for crops and livestock, prices paid by farmers (inputs, feed, fuel), farm production expenses, farm real estate values, cash rent for cropland and pasture, and agricultural income data. Use `get_economics_data` to query by commodity, state and year.

USDA NASS MCP Server for Cursor 8 tools — connect in under 2 minutes

Name: USDA NASS
Availability: InStock
Author: Vinkius

docs.cursor.com/context/model-context-protocol

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Classic Setup·json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "usda-nass": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

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About USDA NASS MCP Server

Connect to USDA NASS (National Agricultural Statistics Service) APIs through any AI agent and explore American agriculture data through natural conversation.

Cursor's Agent mode turns USDA NASS into an in-editor superpower. Ask Cursor to generate code using live data from USDA NASS and it fetches, processes, and writes. all in a single agentic loop. 8 tools appear alongside file editing and terminal access, creating a unified development environment grounded in real-time information.

What you can do

Crop Production — Query yield, production, harvested acres and price data for all major crops (corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, rice)
Livestock Data — Retrieve cattle inventory, hog production, poultry statistics, milk and egg production data
Agricultural Economics — Access prices received/paid by farmers, farm income, production expenses and land values
Farm Demographics — Explore Census of Agriculture data including operator age, experience, occupation and veteran status
Parameter Discovery — Discover valid values for any filter parameter (commodities, states, years, units)
Survey Metadata — Review information about all NASS surveys including frequencies and methodologies

The USDA NASS MCP Server exposes 8 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to Cursor in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.

How to Connect USDA NASS to Cursor via MCP

Follow these steps to integrate the USDA NASS MCP Server with Cursor.

Open MCP Settings

Press Cmd+Shift+P (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) → search "MCP Settings"

Add the server config

Paste the JSON configuration above into the mcp.json file that opens

Save the file

Cursor will automatically detect the new MCP server

Start using USDA NASS

Open Agent mode in chat and ask: "Using USDA NASS, help me...". 8 tools available

Why Use Cursor with the USDA NASS MCP Server

Cursor AI Code Editor provides unique advantages when paired with USDA NASS through the Model Context Protocol.

Agent mode turns Cursor into an autonomous coding assistant that can read files, run commands, and call MCP tools without switching context

Cursor's Composer feature can generate entire files using real-time data fetched through MCP. no copy-pasting from external dashboards

MCP tools appear alongside built-in tools like file reading and terminal access, creating a unified agentic environment

VS Code extension compatibility means your existing workflow, keybindings, and extensions all work alongside MCP tools

USDA NASS + Cursor Use Cases

Practical scenarios where Cursor combined with the USDA NASS MCP Server delivers measurable value.

Code generation with live data: ask Cursor to generate a security report module using live DNS and subdomain data fetched through MCP

Automated documentation: have Cursor query your API's tool schemas and generate TypeScript interfaces or OpenAPI specs automatically

Infrastructure-as-code: Cursor can fetch domain configurations and generate corresponding Terraform or CloudFormation templates

Test scaffolding: ask Cursor to pull real API responses via MCP and generate unit test fixtures from actual data

USDA NASS MCP Tools for Cursor (8)

These 8 tools become available when you connect USDA NASS to Cursor via MCP:

get_crop_summary

Requires a commodity name (e.g. CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT, COTTON). Optionally filter by state and year. Returns detailed statistics with units, geographic scope and time period. Get crop production summary from USDA NASS

get_demographics_data

Optionally filter by state and year. Sector is automatically set to DEMOGRAPHICS. Get farm demographics data from USDA NASS

get_economics_data

Optionally filter by commodity, state and year. Sector is automatically set to ECONOMICS. Get agricultural economics data from USDA NASS

get_livestock_summary

Requires a commodity name (e.g. CATTLE, HOGS, CHICKENS, MILK, EGGS). Optionally filter by state and year. Get livestock production summary from USDA NASS

get_param_values

Parameters include: sector, group, commodity, commodity_desc, short_desc, source_desc, util_desc, unit_desc, freq_desc, domain_desc, state, county. Use this to discover what values you can filter by before making queries. Get valid values for a Quick Stats parameter

get_quick_stats

Accepts parameters: sector (CROPS, ANIMALS & PRODUCTS, ECONOMICS, DEMOGRAPHICS), commodity, group, commodity_desc, state, year, freq (ANNUAL, MONTHLY), unit_desc, source_desc. Returns statistical data with value, unit, state, year and commodity information. Use get_param_values to discover valid parameter values before querying. Query USDA NASS Quick Stats database

get_survey_info

This is useful for understanding what data is available and how frequently it is collected. Get information about USDA NASS surveys

search_by_commodity

Optionally filter by state, year and sector. This is a broad search that returns all available data for the commodity, including production, price, inventory and acreage statistics. Search Quick Stats by commodity name

Example Prompts for USDA NASS in Cursor

Ready-to-use prompts you can give your Cursor agent to start working with USDA NASS immediately.

"Show me the corn production summary for Iowa in 2024."

"What are the current cattle inventory numbers for Texas?"

"Show me what commodity values are available for filtering."

Troubleshooting USDA NASS MCP Server with Cursor

Common issues when connecting USDA NASS to Cursor through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.

Tools not appearing in Cursor

Ensure you are in Agent mode (not Ask mode). MCP tools only work in Agent mode.

Server shows as disconnected

Check Settings → Features → MCP and verify the server status. Try clicking the refresh button.

USDA NASS + Cursor FAQ

Common questions about integrating USDA NASS MCP Server with Cursor.

What is Agent mode and why does it matter for MCP?

Agent mode is Cursor's autonomous execution mode where the AI can perform multi-step tasks: reading files, editing code, running terminal commands, and calling MCP tools. Without Agent mode, Cursor operates in a simpler ask-and-answer mode that doesn't support tool calling. Always ensure you're in Agent mode when working with MCP servers.

Where does Cursor store MCP configuration?

Cursor looks for MCP server configurations in a mcp.json file. You can configure servers at the project level (.cursor/mcp.json in your project root) or globally (~/.cursor/mcp.json). Project-level configs take precedence.

Can Cursor use MCP tools in inline edits?

No. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode through the chat panel. Inline completions and Tab suggestions do not trigger MCP tool calls. This is by design. tool calls require user visibility and approval.

How do I verify MCP tools are loaded?

Open Settings → Features → MCP and look for your server name. A green indicator means the server is connected. You can also check Agent mode's available tools by clicking the tools dropdown in the chat panel.