Georgia farmers and ranchers: time is running out to complete the 2017 Census of Agriculture

Athens, Georgia, May 3, 2018 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural  Statistics Service (NASS) is reminding Georgia farmers and ranchers that the window is closing on the opportunity to participate in the 2017 Census of Agriculture.

“NASS is grateful for the response from producers to date, but it is important that others who received a Census questionnaire join their neighbors, colleagues, friends, and family in being part of the Census count,” said NASS Southern Regional Director Jim Ewing.

“If you produced and sold $1,000 or more of agricultural product in 2017, or normally would have produced and sold that much, we need to hear from you,” said Ewing. “If you’re a landowner who leases your land to a producer, we need to hear from you. If you received a census but do not fit this definition of a farm, please write your status on the form and send it back.” Ewing noted that NASS has already begun to follow up with producers who have not yet completed the questionnaire.
“We sent the questionnaire to many potential farmers and ranchers who may not be familiar with it,” said Ewing.

The Census of Agriculture is the only comprehensive source of Georgia county level data. Georgia agriculture has changed since 2012 and this is the opportunity to quantify that change.

Georgia producers can respond to the 2017 Census of Agriculture online at http://www.agcounts.usda.gov or by mail.  The same law, Title 7 USC 2204(g) Public Law 105-113, that requires response also requires NASS to keep all information confidential, to use the data only for statistical purposes, and to only publish in aggregate form to prevent disclosing the identity of any individual producer or farm
operation. NASS will release Census results in February 2019.

For more information about the 2017 Census of Agriculture or for assistance with the questionnaire, visit http://www.agcensus.usd.gov or call toll-free (888) 424-7828.