USDA NASS Announces Ag Census Release Date

USDA NASS Announces Ag Census Release DateUSDA’s National Ag Statistics Service this week announced data from the 2017 Census of Agriculture is scheduled to be released starting on February 21, 2019, in conjunction with the 2019 Agricultural Outlook Forum. More than 70 percent of farmers responded to the Department of Agriculture’s 2017 Census of Agriculture, down from the previous response rate of 74.5 percent. The Census, conducted once every five years, was mailed to more than three million known and potential farms and ranches across the United States late last year. A USDA official noted that the agency made it easier to fill out questionnaires this time around, but conceded “it is unrealistic to think that everyone will respond to any survey. Data collection ended this July. Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories will receive their Census of Agriculture questionnaires in January 2019.  All Census data products will be available on NASS’ recently merged NASS/Ag Census website at www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus.