The U.S. Department of Agriculture is now inviting suggestions for the 2017 Census of Agriculture. Conducted only once every five years by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the Census provides detailed data covering nearly every facet of U.S. agriculture down to the county level.
“The recent release of the 2012 Census of Agriculture is the end of an ongoing 5 year-cycle that has started anew with the first stage of the 2017 Census – asking what changes to make in the next questionnaire,” said NASS Administrator Joseph T. Reilly. “This is the perfect time to ask for suggestions since the 2012 data are fresh on our minds.”
NASS released the complete 2012 Census of Agriculture results on May 2, 2014. The agency is now planning the content for the 2017 Agriculture Census and is accepting input. Any individual or organization may submit suggestions on questionnaire items to add or delete, as well as any other ideas concerning the Census. There will be another opportunity to provide official comment through the Federal Register process in the coming weeks.
“There are many industries looking for data that we don’t already collect,” said NASS Census and Survey Division Director Renee Picanso. “There are also some items that people may think are no longer relevant with changing trends in agriculture. Now is the time to express those ideas and concerns.”
Content suggestions for the 2017 Census will be accepted until Aug. 4, 2014. Comments can be submitted online at www.agcensus.usda.gov/Contact_Us/Census_Program_Input_Form/. Written suggestions may be mailed to: Census Content Team, Room 6451, 1400 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20250.
“We thank you for helping make the Census of Agriculture program a continued success,” added Reilly.
Source:USDA