The USDA has mailed survey codes to all known agriculture producers across the 50 states with an invitation to respond online to the 2022 Census of Agriculture at agcounts.usda.gov.
The ag census is the nation’s only comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every state, county and territory, according to a news release.
The 2022 Census of Agriculture will be mailed in phases, with paper questionnaires following in December, the release said. Producers need only respond once, whether securely online or by mail. The online option offers timesaving features ideal for busy producers. All responses are due Feb. 6, 2023, according to the release. Farm operations of all sizes, urban and rural, that produced and sold, or normally would have sold, $1,000 or more of agricultural products in 2022 are included in the ag census.
“The 2022 Census of Agriculture is a powerful voice for American agriculture,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the release. “The information gathered through the ag census influences policy decisions that will have a tremendous impact on ag producers and their communities for years to come. I strongly encourage all farmers, no matter how large or small their operation, to promptly complete and return their ag census. This is your opportunity to share your voice, uplift the value and showcase the uniqueness of American agriculture.”
Collected in service to American agriculture since 1840 and now conducted every five years by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the Census of Agriculture is a complete picture of American agriculture today, the release said.
Changes to the 2022 questionnaire include new questions about the use of precision agriculture, hemp production, hair sheep and updates to internet access questions, the release said.
Responding to the Census of Agriculture is required by law under Title 7 USC 2204(g) Public Law 105-113. The same law requires NASS to keep all information confidential, to use the data only for statistical purposes, and only to publish in aggregate form to prevent disclosing the identity of any individual producer or farm operation, according to the release. NASS will release the results of the ag census in early 2024.
To learn more about the Census of Agriculture, visit www.nass.usda.gov/agcensus.
