The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is wrapping up data collection for the 2017 Census of Agriculture.

To stay on track for data release in February 2019, the deadline for submitting the paper questionnaire is June 15.

Farmers and ranchers who have not responded by June 15 still have until the end of July to complete the census online through the secure website found on the cover of their census form.

Phone follow-up and personal interviews will also continue through July.

“The Census of Agriculture provides the only source of comprehensive agricultural data for every state and county in the nation,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “These data are used to make important local, state and national decisions that will have a very real impact on farmers, ranchers, ag operations and rural communities. I encourage producers to respond online or to send in their paper form today.”

The questionnaire needs to be completed by everyone who received a form—including landowners who lease land to farmers and ranchers, those involved in conservation programs and those who may have received the census and do not farm. Every response matters, the agency said.

“Our mission at NASS is to provide data in service to U.S. agriculture,” NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer said. “We extended the original census deadline because many producers weren’t counted, and if they aren’t represented in these critical data, they risk being underserved in farm programs, disaster assistance, agricultural research, education, local policies and business. It is imperative that we hear from everyone.”

Federal law 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.

For more information about the 2017 Census of Agriculture or to respond online, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov.

For questions about or assistance with filling out the census, call toll-free (888) 424-7828.