By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Reporter
The opportunity for Texas farmers, ranchers and dairymen to be counted is running out. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is asking everyone involved in agriculture to have their Census of Agriculture forms turned in by June 22.
As the number of people directly involved in agriculture declines, the importance of having every farm and ranch counted rises because that data is used to determine how and where state and national resources are spent.
“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,” Hubert Hamer, administrator for USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), said.
NASS is currently calling farmers and ranchers who have not yet turned in their questionnaires.
“If you produced and sold $1,000 or more of agricultural products in 2017, or normally would have produced and sold that much, we need to hear from you,” Hamer said. “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.”
In Texas, the southeast coastal counties, Willacy and Cameron counties and Far West Texas to Midland are 10 to 12 percent behind other Texas counties in terms of census return rates.
“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,” Hamer said. “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 agricultural data for every county and state in the nation.
The data collected helps trade associations, policy makers, researchers, agribusinesses, educators and others make decisions on farm policy, rural development and more.
The census can be completed online at www.agcounts.usda.gov.
People with questions regarding the census are encouraged to call the number on the front of the form or visit www.agcensus.usda.gov.