Watch for Ag Census Form by Mail in Late December - UNL CropWatch, December 13, 2012

Watch for Ag Census Form by Mail in Late December - UNL CropWatch, December 13, 2012

December 13, 2012

With hectic schedules and all the rush of the holidays, don't forget to watch for the 2012 Census of Agriculture.  Conducted every five years by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the Census aims to take a complete count of all U.S. farms, ranches, and the people who operate them.

"The Census is the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every county in the nation," said Dean Groskurth, director of USDA NASS, Nebraska Field Office.  "It's a critical tool that gives farmers a voice to influence decisions shaping the future of their community, industry, and operation."

The Census looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income, expenditures, and other topics.  This information is used by all who serve farmers and rural communities from federal, state, and local governments to agribusinesses and trade associations.

"Your answers to the Census impact farm programs and rural services that support your community," Groskurth said.  "So do your part and be counted when you receive your form because there's strength in numbers that only the Census can reveal."

NASS plans to mail out census forms in late December. Completed forms are due by Feb. 4, 2013. Producers can complete the forms online using a secure website or return theirs by mail. Completing the survey online, using an access code provided on the mailed survey, saves time by allowing you to skip over questions that don’t apply, by calculating totals automatically, and by providing drop-down menus for common answers. It also saves taxpayer dollars that would otherwise be spent on return postage and data entry.

Federal law requires all agricultural producers to participate in the Census and requires NASS to keep all individual information confidential.

For more information visit www.agcensus.usda.gov.

News Release
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Nebraska Field Office

 

 

 

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