This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mailed the Puerto Rico 2022 Census of Agriculture to all known agriculture producers in every municipio. The deadline for response is Feb. 6, 2023. Ag producers can respond online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail. The ag census is the only comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories as well as for every state and county in the nation. By completing the ag census, producers can tell their story and help generate impactful opportunities that better serve them and future generations of producers.
Producers are encouraged to respond online. The online questionnaire offers timesaving features ideal for busy producers. Farm operations of all sizes, urban and rural, which produced and sold, or normally would have sold, $500 or more of agricultural products in 2022, are included in the Puerto Rico ag census. The Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture, University of Puerto Rico, and Extension Service are partnering with USDA to collect the data.
"I want to sincerely thank our partners in Puerto Rico for their commitment to helping provide a complete and accurate ag census," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "The Puerto Rico 2022 Census of Agriculture is an opportunity for producers to share their voice and showcase their unique contributions to agriculture. Ag census data inform policy and business decisions that help grow communities and expand opportunities. All farmers, no matter the size or type of their operation, are encouraged to complete and return their ag census."
Between ag census years, NASS considers revisions to the questionnaire to document changes and emerging trends in the industry. Changes to the 2022 questionnaire include new questions about the use of precision agriculture, hemp production, and updates to internet access questions. The question about fighting cocks was removed.
“Farmers and ranchers have a tremendous impact on their communities. I want to thank them in advance for taking the time to respond to the ag census,” said NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer. “We know that time is valuable, so we have made responding more convenient than ever before.”
Collected in service to American agriculture since 1840 and now conducted every five years by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the Census of Agriculture is a complete picture of Puerto Rican agriculture today. It highlights land use and ownership, producer characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures, among other topics.
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 2024.
Source : usda.gov