2022 Census of Agriculture Now Underway in Louisiana
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mailed an invitation to all known agriculture producers across Louisiana and the nation to respond online to the 2022 Census of Agriculture at agcounts.usda.gov. The ag census is the nation’s only comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every state, county, and territory. By completing the survey, Louisiana producers can tell their story and help generate opportunities that better serve current and future generations of producers.
The 2022 Census of Agriculture will be mailed in phases, with paper questionnaires following in December. Producers need only respond once, whether securely online or by mail. The online option offers timesaving features ideal for busy producers. All responses are due Feb. 6, 2023. Farm operations of all sizes, urban and rural, which produced and sold, or normally would have sold, $1,000 or more of agricultural products in 2022, are included in the ag census.
“Agriculture is one of the top five leading industries in Louisiana; farming and ranching has a vital economic impact for the state and local communities,” said NASS Louisiana State Statistician, Kathy Broussard. The Census of Agriculture is our complete accounting for all agriculture ventures in the state; our chance to show our diversity in the goods we produce locally.”
Conducted every five years by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the Census of Agriculture helps provide a complete picture of American agriculture. It highlights land use and ownership, producer characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures, among other topics.
For 2022, new questions about the use of precision agriculture, hemp production, hair sheep and updates to
internet access questions are included.
“The Census of Agriculture illustrates the true mosaic of the State’s farming and ranching community,” stated Broussard. “For many agricultural goods, the Census data is the only source of information on what we grow or raise and is the only source of demographic data on the men and women that produce our food, feed, and fiber. It is critical that we have a complete count from our farmers and ranchers across the state.”
Responding to the Census of Agriculture is required by law under Title 7 USC 2204(g) Public Law 105-113. The same law requires NASS to keep all information confidential, to use the data only for statistical purposes, and only publish in aggregate form to prevent disclosing the identity of any individual producer or farm operation. NASS will release the results of the ag census in early 2024. To learn more about the Census of Agriculture, visit nass.usda.gov/AgCensus. Follow @usda_nass for the latest information or call the NASS Delta Regional Field Office at (800) 327-2970.