Sign Up to Receive the 2022 Ag Census

By Nicole Santangelo Thompson and Adriana Murillo-Williams

The Census of Agriculture (or Ag Census) is the most important source of agricultural data at the state and county level in the United States. The Ag Census is conducted every five years by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and reflects the value and importance of agriculture. The information summarized in the Ag Census includes production practices, producer characteristics, revenue, and expenses. In addition, the 2022 Census of Agriculture has added new questions about the use of precision agriculture, internet access, and hemp production.

The results from the Ag Census are used by ag producers, companies, cooperatives, agribusinesses, researchers, and local, state, and federal agencies, among many other users, to make decisions about production practices, how to better serve the agricultural producers and rural communities, to launch research initiatives, and to develop farms policies and programs.

If you have already signed up to participate in the Ag Census, or have received NASS surveys in the past, no further action is needed to receive the census by mail this fall.

If you have never received the Census of Agriculture and are new to NASS surveys, you are in the right place. Sign up now to be counted in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. The deadline to sign up is June 30th, 2022.

Not sure if your farm counts? Check this definition from NASS:

"Even small plots of land - whether rural or urban - growing fruit, vegetables or some food animals count if $1,000 or more of such products were raised and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the Census year."

Both those receiving in the past and new sign-ups will receive the census notice by mail in November 2022, and it must be completed by February 2023. We look forward to the data release the following year.

Barley field