Most farmers are familiar with the United States Department of Agriculture?s (USDA) Census of Agriculture that is taken by their National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) every couple of years. Right now, however, NASS is conducting a special survey called the 2020 Local Food Marketing Practices Survey. This special data is collected every five years and helps expand upon the high-level data the agency collects in the basic census.
Adam Cline is the Census Section Head for NASS. He talks about the Local Food Marketing Practices Survey and how it can give them a more detailed look at Ag production compared to the general overview collected by the Census of Agriculture.
It is imperative that farmers take the time to fill out the survey. The more data they can collect, the more accurate their information will be, and the more beneficial loan programs and support for the food system can be.
There are three options for completing the survey. The fastest way is to log on to www.agcounts.usda.gov and follow the instructions. You can also send it back through the mail or give the answers over the phone, by calling 1-866-294-8560. NASS plans to release the results of the survey in November of this year. The deadline to submit your information is February 16th.
