Maine farmers and ranchers: time is running
out to complete the 2017 Census of Agriculture – NASS conducting phone
and in-person follow-up
Concord, NH May 1,
2018 – The U.S. Department
of Agriculture's (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is
reminding Maine farmers that the window is closing on the opportunity to
participate in the 2017 Census of Agriculture. To date, NASS has received just
over 5,800 completed questionnaires from Maine farmers. NASS is encouraging
U.S. producers who have not returned their completed Census questionnaires to
do so as soon as possible to avoid phone and in-person follow-up.
The Census differs from other NASS surveys. It
provides information about Maine agriculture that would not otherwise be
available. Without it, information on the agriculture’s economic impact, demographics,
and data on certain commodities, such as nursery/greenhouse, aquaculture, and equine
would not be available. Revisions to the questionnaire in 2017 include new
queries about military veteran status, decision-making on the farm, and food
marketing practices.
"NASS is grateful for the response from
producers to date, but it is important that the others who received a Census
questionnaire join their neighbors, colleagues, friends, and family in being
part of the Census count," said Gary Keough, NASS State Statistician for
the six New England States
"If you produced and sold $1,000 or more
of agricultural product in 2017, or normally would have produced and sold that
much, we need to hear from you," said Keough. "If you're a landowner
who leases your land to a producer, we need to hear from you. If you received a
census but do not fit this definition of a farm, please write your status on
the form and send it back."
Keough noted that NASS has already begun to
follow up with producers who have not yet completed the questionnaire.
"We sent the questionnaire to many
potential farmers and ranchers who may not be familiar with it. The follow-up
will give them and other producers the opportunity to ask questions," said
Keough. "Some farmers and ranchers were waiting until they gathered their
tax documents before completing the Census; having that information handy will
certainly make filling out the questionnaire faster and easier."
The Census of Agriculture is the only
comprehensive source of agriculture data for every state and county in the
nation. Census data are used by policymakers, trade associations, researchers,
agribusinesses, educators, and many others. The information helps inform
decisions on farm policy, rural development, and new farm technologies. It also
aids in the creation and funding of loans and insurance programs and other
forms of assistance, as well as in the cultivation of the next generation of
farmers and ranchers.
Producers can respond to the 2017 Census of
Agriculture online at www.agcounts.usda.gov or by mail. The same law, Title 7 USC
2204(g) Public Law 105-113, that requires response also requires NASS to keep
all information confidential, to use the data only for statistical purposes,
and to only publish in aggregate form to prevent disclosing the identity of any
individual producer or farm operation. NASS will release Census results in
February 2019.
For more information about the 2017 Census of
Agriculture or for assistance with the questionnaire, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov or call toll-free (888) 424-7828.
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NASS is the federal
statistical agency responsible for producing official data about U.S.
agriculture and is committed to providing timely, accurate and useful
statistics in service to U.S. agriculture.
We invite you to
provide occasional feedback on our products and services. Sign up at http://bit.ly/NASS_Subscriptions and look for the “NASS Data User
Community.”
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opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of
discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of
the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop
9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English)
or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800)
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