USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) starts mailing the 2017 Census of Agriculture to producers this week and throughout December. Conducted once every five years, the census aims to get a complete and accurate picture of American agriculture. The resulting data are used by farmers, ranchers, trade associations, researchers, policymakers, and many others to help make decisions in community planning, farm assistance programs, technology development, farm advocacy, agribusiness setup, rural development, and more. "The Census of Agriculture is USDA's largest data collection endeavor, providing some of the most widely used statistics in the industry," said Secretary Sonny Perdue. "Collected in service to American agriculture since 1840, the census gives every producer the opportunity to be represented so that informed decisions can support their efforts to provide the world with food, fuel, feed, and fiber. Every response matters." Farm operations of all sizes which produced and sold, or normally would have sold, $1,000 or more of agricultural product in 2017 are included in the census. The census response deadline is February 5, 2018. For more information, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov or call (800) 727-9540.

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