Farmers and ranchers, don’t forget to respond to the 2017 Census of Agriculture. The first deadline of Feb. 5 has passed, but the USDA is encouraging all farmers and ranchers who haven’t yet done so to respond. Every response matters. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, or NASS, will soon send another questionnaire to those who haven’t responded and start making follow-up phone calls later this month. There are two ways to respond: online at www.agcounts.usda.gov or by mail. The census, conducted just once every five years, provides a complete account of the industry, its changes and emerging trends. Census data are widely used, often relied on when developing the Farm Bill and other farm policy, and when making decisions about disaster relief, community planning, technology development, and more. It is important that every producer be reflected in the data so that no operation or community is underserved in the years to come. The better the data, the more accurate the reports; the more accurate the reports, the more informed decisions will be, said USDA officials.
For more information about the 2017 Census of Agriculture, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov. For questions or assistance with the census, call toll-free (888) 424-7828.
