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CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE
General Information

PURPOSE

To provide periodic and comprehensive statistics about agricultural operations, production, operators and land use. The United States Code, Title 13, requires this census and provides for mandatory responses.

COVERAGE

All operators of U.S. farms or ranches (Division A, SIC 01-02) that sold or normally would have sold $1000 worth of agricultural products during the census year. In 1992, some 1.9 million operators produced $162 billion in crops and livestock.

CONTENT

All operators provide crop acreage and quantities harvested, inventories of livestock and poultry, value of products sold, land use and ownership, irrigation activities, amount of commodity credit loans, number of hired laborers,federal program payments, and operator characteristics.

Selected operators provide additional information on production expenses (including interest), fertilizer and chemical use, machinery and equipment, market value of land and buildings, and income from farm-related sources.

FREQUENCY

Every 5 years since 1982, for years ending in "2" and "7." There was a census for 1978, between 1974 and 1954 censuses were taken for years ending in "4" and "9." Agriculture inquiries were first asked on the 1840 decennial census. Data collection begins in December of the census year and responses are due the following February 1. Reported data are for activities taking place during the census calendar year.

METHODS

A mail-out/mail-back census of operators using 3 types of forms; a sample form; a non-sample form; and a non-sample form with a screener question. To assure adequate county- level census coverage and minimize reporting burden, a stratified random sample procedure is used to select recipients of the sample form. Operators are selected using strata that reflect product type, value of sales and total acreage.

For 1992, nearly 30 percent of all operators received a sample form, which contained all questions from the non-sample form plus additional questions. The remaining 70 percent of operators received a non-sample form, of which about one sixth contained a screener question to confirm that the operator meets the farm definition. The screener question format replaced the 1987 short form.

PRODUCTS

Geographic Area Series reports, released beginning 12 months after the census year, provide the most detailed census statistics for each state and county. Geographic data are cross-tabulated by various farm classifications, such as size, tenure of operator, type of organization, type and market value of products sold, operator characteristics, and government payments.

Subject Series reports, released beginning 18 months after the census year, feature topics of special interest. The 1992 series includes, Census coverage evaluation, Census history, ranking of counties and states, ZIP code tabulation of selected data, and an atlas.

The Public Use Files provide disclosure-protected data for individual farm operations. First available for 1987, the files contain limited data for a 5 percent sample of farms from each state.

USES

The Department of Agriculture uses census data to prepare estimates of farm income and production costs, evaluate agricultural programs and policies, to administer farm programs, and plan for operations during disease or pest emergencies. The Farm Credit Administration uses the data to evaluate farmer loan programs. The U.S. Congress uses census data to oversee farm programs and assess legislative proposals.

State and local governments and farm organizations use census data to analyze and develop policies on land use, water use and irrigation, rural development, and farmland assessments. Agribusinesses use census statistics to develop sales territories, and determine the best locations for wholesale and retail outlets. Rural electric companies use statistics to forecast future energy needs.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Provides the only source of consistent, county-level statistics on agricultural operations throughout the United States.

RELATED PROGRAMS

Agricultural Economics and Land Ownership Survey

Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey

Census of Horticultural Specialties

Agriculture Census of Guam

Agriculture Census of the Northern Mariana Islands

Agriculture Census of Puerto Rico

Agriculture Census of the Virgin Islands

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE

WHY THE CHANGE?

Planning, collection, and release of census results will be more efficient by consolidating the experience and resources of NASS and the Census Bureau.

The consolidation will reduce response burden. Previously NASS and the Census Bureau were required to maintain separate lists of farms and ranches. Now, with the census responsibility NASS can develop one master list that can be used both for the census and ongoing sample surveys.

CONFIDENTIALITY