The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin a National Agricultural Classification Survey (NACS) this month in preparation for the upcoming 2022 Census of Agriculture.
The NACS, an effort to identify potential U.S. Agriculture operations, will be mailed to more than 1 million potential U.S. agricultural producers, a USDA press release said.
“The definition of a farm is not based on size, type, or location," Census and Survey Division Director Barbara Rater said in the release. “A farm can be an urban rooftop or a backyard greenhouse. It can be large pastures of cattle or fields of corn, as well as blooms, honey, vegetables, or eggs sold to neighbors, friends, and family. Our mission is to give every U.S. producer the opportunity to share their voice in the ag census.”
The survey will ask recipients if they are involved in agricultural activity and for basic farm information. Response to the NACS is required by law for all who receive it, even if the recipient is not an active farmer or rancher, the release said. Questionnaires can be completed online or by mail. The response deadline is January 24.
“NACS plays an integral role in getting a complete count of U.S. agriculture,” Rater said in the release. “It is one of the most important early steps to determine who should receive next year’s Census of Agriculture questionnaire. Every response to NACS is vital.”
The information in the dataset will be used by local and federal governments, educators, researchers, agribusinesses and media, the release said.
