The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will soon ask farmers and ranchers across Kansas to complete the 2022 Census of Agriculture. The Census of Agriculture is the nation's only comprehensive and impartial compilation of agricultural data for every state and county across the country. The USDA will mail the Ag Census to producers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, including about 80,000 in Kansas.
The 2022 Census of Agriculture will be mailed in phases. An invitation to respond online will be mailed in November, followed by a paper questionnaire in December. Farm operations of all sizes, including urban and rural, will be included in the Census.
Conducted every five years by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the Census of Agriculture tells the story, and shows the value, of U.S. agriculture. Census data highlights include land use and ownership, production practices, income and expenditures, and characteristics of the people who operate American farms and ranches. Since the most recent Ag Census in 2017, NASS has added new questions about the use of precision agriculture, hemp production, and hair sheep, as well as making updates to the internet access questions.
"Ag Census data inform decisions that impact our communities and businesses," said Doug Bounds, NASS Kansas state statistician. "The data cover categories important to our industry, and make it possible to compare national, state, and county level statistics. By responding, Kansas ag producers ensure the best data are available to make better decisions."
To learn more about the Census of Agriculture, visit www.nass.usda.gov/agcensus or call (800) 727-9540. On the website, both data providers and data users can access frequently asked questions, past ag census data, special study information, and partner tools to help spread the word about the upcoming Census of Agriculture.
Categories: Kansas, Government & Policy