Be Counted: USDA Agriculture Census is Due
Farmers and ranchers, don’t miss the opportunity to be counted and show the importance of agriculture in the U.S. by responding to the 2022 Census of Agriculture by February 6, 2023. Producers can respond online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail.
In December, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) mailed the Census of Agriculture questionnaires to every known ag producer in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The ag census is conducted just once every five years and provides a complete account of the nation’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them.
“By participating in the 2022 Census of Agriculture, producers show the value and importance of American agriculture,” NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer said in a press release. “This nation owes a lot to our farmers and ranchers for providing safe and abundant food, feed, fiber, and more. To tell this story, we need to hear from all of our farmers and ranchers, no matter how big or small their part of agriculture. If you have already responded, thank you. If not, I encourage you to respond today.”
The Census of Agriculture is the only source of uniform, comprehensive, and impartial agriculture data for every state, county, and U.S. territory. U.S. farm operations of all sizes, urban and rural, are included.
“It is important that every producer respond to the 2022 Census of Agriculture so that they are represented and reflected in these influential data,” said Hamer. “These statistics will directly impact producers for years. Without their input, our hardworking ag producers risk being underserved.”
Whether producers responded online or by mail, they can verify their reports were received by going to agcounts.usda.gov, entering their survey codes, and checking the submitted date under the status column of the My Surveys tab. The status update is not always immediate. The update can take a few minutes up to several days, especially if the questionnaire was returned by mail.
NASS will release the results of the ag census in 2024. Visit www.nass.usda.gov/agcensus, for more information.
Why is the Census of Agriculture important?
The Census of Agriculture provides the only source of uniform, comprehensive, and impartial agriculture data for every county in the nation. Through the Census of Agriculture, producers can show the nation the value and importance of agriculture and can influence decisions that will shape the future of U.S. agriculture.
Who uses Census of Agriculture data?
Census of Agriculture data are used by all those who serve farmers and rural communities — federal, state and local governments, agribusinesses, trade associations, and many others.
- Farmers and ranchers can use Census of Agriculture data to make informed decisions about the future of their own operations.
- Companies and cooperatives use the data to determine where to locate facilities that will serve agricultural producers.
- Community planners use the information to target needed services to rural residents.
- Legislators use census data when shaping farm policies and programs.
Does NASS keep the information provided by individual respondents private?
NASS is bound by law (Title 7, U.S. Code, and the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act or CIPSEA, Public Law 107-347) – and pledges to every data provider – to use the information for statistical purposes only. NASS publishes only aggregated data, not individual or farm-specific data.
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