Agricultural Census begins this month

Taken every five years, the Agricultural Census is a complete count of America’s farms and ranches. The Census provides extremely valuable information used at the local, state, and national levels to plan for the future. Information submitted to the Census is used for statistical purposes only in accordance with federal law as responses are kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form.

The Census provides comprehensive agricultural data for every county and state in the nation. Census results will play a role in determining future decisions about agricultural research, beginning farmers programs, conservation programs, new agricultural technologies, production practices, rural economic development, broadband expansion needs, and future federal farm bills.

The United States Department of Agriculture will begin collecting information in November of 2022. Responses can be mailed (questionnaires will be mailed to all farm entities) in a prepaid envelope provided or can be filled out online at www. agcounts.usda.gov. Reporting will provide an opportunity for agriculture to tell how American agriculture provides food, fuel, feed, and fiber to city cousins who may not know anything about agricultural production.