Source: USDA NASS, 10/1/19

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) today released 2017 Census of Agriculture data tabulated by race, ethnicity, and gender. Located on the NASS website, these national, state, and county-level data profiles highlight number of farms, land in farms, land use, value of sales, and producer characteristics, such as years of experience, average age, and more. Redesigned and containing more information than in previous years, the producer profiles provide insights on: women; Hispanic, Latino or Spanish; American Indian or Alaska Native; Asian; Black or African American; Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; and white producers. Data are available for geographies with 30 farms or more operated by a specified group.

“The Census of Agriculture is the only time NASS produces detailed demographic information,” said NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer. “These important data show the diversity that exists within U.S. agriculture, and the significant contributions made by all groups. Data such as these are often vital to community-based organizations, policy and other decision makers to ensure that all producers are represented when important decisions are made about agricultural programs and grant funding – to name just a few.”

NASS also released 2017 Ag Census Web Maps this week. The interactive maps show key Census data in five broad categories down to the county-level: crops and plants, economics, farms, livestock and animals, and producers. The maps give spatial overviews of various aspects of U.S. agriculture, showing the relationships and patterns across regions and topics. Census data summaries are also available at the congressional district, watershed, zip code, and American Indian reservation levels.

Additional products to expect this fall include a 2017 Census of Agriculture specialty crop publication, state-specific Census blogs showcased on www.usda.gov, additional Census Highlights publications on the NASS website, and data release for the 2019 Irrigation and Water Management Survey and the 2019 Census of Aquaculture. Notifications of release for these products will be made @USDA_NASS on Twitter. In addition to these products, special tabulations of data may be requested via the NASS website, if needed.

Data collection begins for two Census of Agriculture Special Studies this December, the 2019 Census of Horticulture and the 2019 Organic Survey. Already preparing for the 2022 Census of Agriculture, NASS is asking for content change suggestions and for new producers who did not receive a Census of Agriculture form in 2017 to sign up to be counted in future censuses and surveys. Both forms can be found at www.nass.usda.gov.

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