Early this month, Maryland farmers will have the opportunity to help shape agriculture policy by responding to the 2007 Census of Agriculture when the form arrives by mail.
Conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture every five years, the census is an effort to make a complete count of the nation's farms and the people who operate them.
The census looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures, and other topics. It provides the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every county in the nation.
"We're committed to making this census the best count ever. It's about the future of agriculture and rural communities in our state," Maryland Agriculture Secretary Roger Richardson said in a statement.
"Policymakers factor census data into decisions concerning agricultural and rural programs," he said.
Among the policy decisions cited by Richardson were those on services needed by rural residents, businesses determining where to locate operations and farmers using the data to help make choices about all aspects of their operations.
The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service began mailing the census report forms on Dec. 28 to collect data for the 2007 calendar year. Completed forms are due by Feb. 4. Farmers can return the forms by mail or, for the first time, they can fill out a form online over a secure Web site.
"Regardless of how large or small their operations are or what kinds of products they produce, Maryland farmers will help themselves and their communities by filling out the Census of Agriculture and returning it promptly," Barbara Rater, director of the Maryland Field Office of NASS, said in a statement.
For more information about the 2007 Census of Agriculture, visit http://www.mda.state.md.us or call the NASS field office at 410-841-5740.
