USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service is gearing up for 2017 Census of Agriculture, which will be mailed to all known farmers and ranchers in the nation at the end of this year.
The census is conducted every five years by and is a complete count of all U.S. farms, ranches and those who operate them. “The Census of Agriculture remains the only source of uniform, comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every county in the nation,” said NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer. “As such, census results are relied upon heavily by those who serve farmers and rural communities, including federal, state and local governments, agribusinesses, trade associations, extension educators, researchers, and farmers and ranchers themselves.”
Producers who are new to farming or did not receive a Census of Agriculture in 2012 can sign up to receive the 2017 Census of Agriculture report form by visiting www.agcensus.usda.gov and clicking on the ‘Make Sure You Are Counted’ button through June. NASS defines a farm as any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the census year (2017).