Herkimer and Oneida Counties Census Data Affiliate: LAST CALL: Census of Agriculture Ends May 31st

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

LAST CALL: Census of Agriculture Ends May 31st

With the window to respond to the 2012 Census of Agriculture officially closing on May 31, 2013 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is urging farmers and ranchers not to miss this opportunity to be counted and help determine the future of farming in America. USDA has already received more than 2 million completed Census forms.If you have not sent in your Census form and are a farmer with an active farm, visit the Census of Agriculture website . For those that have received their forms in the mail you can do your Census of Agriculture form online.

The Census of Agriculture is the leading source of facts and figures about American agriculture. Conducted every five years, the Census provides a detailed picture of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. It is the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every state and county in the United States.

The 2012 Census of Agriculture collects information concerning all areas of farming and ranching operations, including production expenses, market value of products, and operator characteristics. This information is used by everyone who provides services to farmers and rural communities - including federal, state and local governments, agribusinesses, and many others. Census of Agriculture data is used to make decisions about many things that directly impact farmers, including:

community planning
store/company locations
availability of operational loans and other funding
location and staffing of service centers
farm programs and policies

In the meantime, as we wait for these to be tallied and the data released, here are the county profiles from the last Census of Agriculture for Herkimer and Oneida Counties. Each is two pages long, so be sure to look at both pages of the profiles below.