Texas County farmers will soon have the opportunity to make their voices heard and help shape the future of agriculture for years to come.
This opportunity will come to their mailboxes in the form of the 2007 Census of Agriculture. _Conducted every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the census is a complete count of the nation’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them. The census looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures and other topics. It provides the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every county in the nation.
“The Census of Agriculture provides information that is not available anywhere else – information that benefits agricultural producers and their communities in myriad ways,” said Gene Danekas, director of the Missouri Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
“For instance, policy-makers factor census data into decisions concerning agricultural and rural programs. Community planners use census to document needs and target services to rural residents. Companies rely on census data when determining where to locate their operations. And farmers themselves can use Census data to help make critical decisions about their businesses,” he explained.
NASS will mail out census forms on Dec. 28 to collect data for the 2007 calendar year. Completed forms are due by Feb. 4. Producers can return their forms by mail or, for the first time, they have the convenient option of completing it online.
“We’re committed to making this census the best count ever. It’s about the future of agriculture and rural communities in our state,” Danekas said. “Regardless of how large or small their operation is or what kinds of products they produce, Missouri farmers and ranchers will help themselves and their communities by completing the Census of Agriculture and returning it promptly,” he added.
“We want farmers and ranchers to know: the Census of Agriculture is their voice, their future and their responsibility.”
For more information about the 2007 Census of Agriculture, contact the NASS Missouri Field Office at 800-551-1014 or visit www.agcensus.usda.gov online.