By: Rebecca Konopka
Carter County Extension Agent
The Census of Agriculture, taken every five years, is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. The census looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures, and many more areas.
Census forms were mailed in mid-December and should now be in the hands of farm owners and operators. All producers received the mailing, even if they had already reported online. Those individuals who have reported on the web do not need to fill out the paper questionnaire. If you have not already completed the census, please do not delay in filling out the data. Federal law requires all who receive a census report form to respond even if you did not operate a farm in 2022.
For census purposes, a farm is any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would have been sold, during 2022. Completed forms are due by February 6th. Producers can return their forms by mail or via a secure Web site at www.agcounts.usda.gov.
The Census of Agriculture provides information that is not available anywhere else – information that benefits agricultural producers and their communities. New data topics in the ag census reflect trends and changes in U.S. agriculture and ensure that the census continues to provide relevant agricultural data. Several notable changes for 2022 include new questions about the use of precision agriculture, hemp production, hair sheep and updates to internet access questions.
Another important piece of information compiled and published from the 2022 Census of Agriculture will be the count of farms by different categories: size, type, operator characteristics and value of sales. This count is made for each county in Kentucky. Many of the extension programs administered in Kentucky receive funds for these projects based on the census farm counts by county.
Individual information is confidential. The National Agricultural Statistics Service uses the information only for statistical purposes and publishes data only in tabulated totals. The report cannot be used for purposes of taxation, investigation, or regulation. The privacy of individual census records is also protected from disclosure through the Freedom of Information Act.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service will release census data in 2024. Detailed reports will be published for all counties, states, and the nation.
For additional information on the Census of Agriculture or any NASS survey, call the Agricultural Statistics Hotline at 1-888-424-7828 or the Kentucky Office at 502-907-3250.
Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.