To provide periodic and comprehensive data about Guam's agricultural operations, operators, and land. The United States Code, Title 13, requires this survey and provides for mandatory responses. The Government of Guam assists with the census.
All operators of farms from which $100 or more of agricultural products were sold or normally would have been sold during the census year. In 1982 coverage was different and not based on sales. There were 199 farms counted in 1992.
Operators provide data on acres farmed, acreage and quantity harvested by crop type, sales by crop type, land use, number of livestock, value of livestock sold, equipment used in operations, wages and salaries, and operator characteristics.
Every 5 years since 1964, coinciding with the Census of Agriculture which is currently taken in years ending in "2" and "7." The first agriculture census was taken in 1920 as part of the decennial census, a practice that continued every 10 years through 1960. The data collected are for activity that occurred during the calendar year of the agricultural census.
Census was conducted by personal enumeration. Guam has been divided into enumeration districts, each one assigned an enumerator. For 1992, contact was based on a list of farm operations developed from the 1987 agricultural census along with information from the Guam Department of Agriculture and the University of Guam College of Agriculture. Enumerators were required to visit all dwelling units in rural areas, list the name of the head of household, and ask a series of screening questions on livestock holdings and crop sales by type. An agricultural census questionnaire was completed when a "yes" answer was received to any one screening question. For urban and other heavily populated areas, enumerators were given a list of prior census farm operations and enumerated those still being operated as a farm. Rules were set up to avoid double counting of operators not residing at their farms, each enumerator was responsible for completing the form for all operators that lived in the district.
A memorandum of understanding outlines the responsibilities of the Census Bureau and the Government of Guam in conducting the census. The Bureau provides the necessary funding, procedures, forms, manuals, and training. The census is conducted by the Guam Department of Commerce with enumerators hired by the department. In addition, the government provides input to the content of the questionnaire and helps with publicity.
The Geographic Area Series, Part 53 Guam, provides statistics at the island and election district level. Statistics are presented for establishment operations by total value of sales, tenure of operators, crop type and farm size. Summary data are provided on operator characteristics.
The Department of Interior uses data to evaluate policy and legislation for Guam. The Federal Emergency Management Agency uses data to assist in damage assessment in cases of natural disasters.
The Guam Departments of Commerce and Agriculture use data for input in decisions regarding government planning and legislation. Agricultural producers use the information to determine markets and research areas for product expansion.
Provides the only source of consistent and comparable data on agricultural activity at the district level.
For further information on Census of Agriculture of Guam statistics contact Roger Beinhart at 1-800-523-3215, fax 301/763-8499,
Internet address
rbeinhart@nass.usda.gov
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