2007 Agricultural Census

Dear All,

If you are farming and making part or all of your living by selling farm products, you might want to consider participating in this Census. The more small to medium scale, family-operated, sustainable and/or organic farms that are counted in this Census, the more weight we carry in our farm policy advocacy efforts, not only in this Farm Bill year, but throughout the coming five year cycle of funding and implementation of 2007 Farm Bill programs.

US Farm Policy and USDA programs as a whole have a long history of under-serving sustainable/organic farming, small to medium scale family farms, diversified farms that do not focus primarily on "commodity" crops, women in farming, and especially ethnic minority farmers in the South and across the Nation. Participation in the Census is a way to let the USDA know "Hello, we are here, we are farming, and we have equal rights to the services you provide." Full Census accounting of the women and minority farmers will help the cause of better civil rights and equal access provisions, technical assistance and outreach to minority farmers in the 2007 Farm Bill and will help put teeth into enforcement and implementation. Full Census accounting of organic, sustainable and diversified farms throughout the US will strengthen our case for more proportionate funding for sustainable and organic research and technical assistance programs, and help level the playing field among "commodity" versus "non-commodity" crops.

Following is more information on the upcoming Census, and an 800 number and web site at which you can sign up to receive a Census form.

Sincerely,
Mark Schonbeck
540-745-4130

Planning for the 2007 Census is well underway. The National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) is currently collecting a mailing list of agricultural producers. It will send its Census Data Forms to the people on this list in December, and recipients will be asked to complete and return the Data Forms to NASS by early February 2008.

All agricultural operations, large or small, are important to U.S. agriculture but it is often difficult to reach smaller producers. This is unfortunate because census data are used by local communities, businesses, government agencies and others to make critical decisions about the future of farming and rural America.

You can help NASS reach small farmers and ranchers in the upcoming 2007 Census, by putting your name on the Census mailing list to receive a Census Data Form, and by encouraging other producers to do the same.

Information given to NASS is completely confidential.

Sign up for the census. Below is the toll free number and website that you can use to sign up to receive a Census Data Form. 1.800.892.1660: This toll free number is open between 8am and 4:30 pm MT. http://www.nass.usda.gov/counts

Order materials or provide data collection assistance. Individuals interested in ordering post cards for postage-free sign up or information brochures for distribution can contact Cedric Reddick by phone (202.720.3441) or e-mail (cedric_reddick@nass.usda.gov)

Contacts that can provide data collection assistance should also contact Cedric Reddick to obtain more information.

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