The 2012 Census for Agriculture is going out soon, and farmers across the country are urged to sign up for the survey by the July 1 deadline, if they haven't done so already.
Much like the regular Census, the Census for Agriculture collects data on people from across the U.S., providing the government with valuable data on crops, income levels, and agricultural equipment used by farmers. The data is used in many political discussions regarding agriculture, such as the Farm Bill currently being debated in Congress, reports Western Farm Press. The Census is devised and distributed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
"The census is the leading source of facts about American agriculture," Renee Picanso, Census and Survey Division Director for the USDA, told the news source. "The wealth of data available from the census includes statistics on small, family farms to large, corporate farms; information on young, beginning farmers to older, experienced farmers; and insight into traditional, rural farming versus trends in areas such as lifestyle and urban farming."
A farm is defined by the USDA as any place that produced or sold more than $1,000 worth of agricultural products in 2012. Farmers that have suffered a disaster to their crops also qualify, as the rules say the farmer can also qualify by saying they "normally would have sold" $1,000 worth.
Since the Census data is so important when it comes to USDA policies and political decisions, the agency encourages all farmers who qualify to sign up for the survey. Those who are mailed the Census are required by law to complete it.
Farmers who fill out the Census will likely be asked about their expenses, which provides them with a prime opportunity to consider their annual budget. Those who have some cash on hand may want to invest in new agricultural equipment for their farm, which can help improve efficiency. The online auction site IronPlanet offers agricultural equipment backed by IronClad Assurance inspection reports, so buyers know exactly what they're getting.
