USDA Making Ready for Ag Census

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making ready to conduct the 2012 Census of Agriculture. The department has mailed out the National Agricultural Classification Survey which asks landowners whether or not they are farming and for basic farm information. Responses will be used to compile the list of farmers and land owners who will receive the census form. The Census of Agriculture is conducted every five years and is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them.

National Agriculture Statistics Service’s Census and Survey Director Renee Picanso says – we are asking everyone who receives the NACS to respond even if they are not farming so we can build the most accurate and comprehensive mailing list to account for all of U.S. agriculture in the Census.

NACS is required by law as part of the U.S. Census of Agriculture. By this same law, all information reported by individuals is kept confidential. NASS will mail the 2012 Census of Agriculture later this year and data will be collected into early 2013.