The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) was established by Secretary's Memorandum No. 1446, Supplement 1, of April 3, 1961, under Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1953 and other authorities. The mission of the agency is to provide timely, accurate, and useful statistics in service to U.S. agriculture.
The statistical data provided by NASS are essential to the public and private sectors for making effective policy, production, and marketing decisions on a wide range of agricultural commodities. Every 5 years the Census of Agriculture provides comprehensive national, State, and county data as well as selected data for Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S., Virgin Islands, and Northern Mariana Islands. The USDA published its first crop report in 1863. NASS’ responsibilities are authorized under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) and the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997, Public Law 105-113 (7 U.S.C. 2204g).
• Agricultural Estimates Program – NASS field offices regularly survey thousands of operators of farms, ranches, and agribusinesses who provide information on a confidential basis. These scientifically-designed surveys provide the basis for developing estimates of production, supply, price, and other aspects of the agricultural economy. Official USDA national, State, and county estimates and reports are issued relating to the number of farms and land in farms; acreage, types, and production of farm crops; number of livestock on farms and of livestock products; stocks of agricultural commodities; value and utilization of farm products; farm labor; prices received and paid by farmers; agricultural chemical use; and on other subjects as needed. The field offices forward the estimates to NASS headquarters where they are combined and released at scheduled times to the press and public through the Agricultural Statistics Board. Annually, NASS publishes approximately 500 national reports and thousands of additional state reports, covering more than 120 crops and 45 livestock items. These basic and unbiased data are necessary to maintain an orderly association between the consumption, supply, marketing, and input sectors of agriculture.
• Census of Agriculture – The Census of Agriculture is taken every 5 years and provides comprehensive data on the agricultural economy, including data on the number of farms, land use, production expenses, value of land and buildings, farm size and characteristics of farm operators, market value of agricultural production sold, acreage of major crops, inventory of livestock and poultry, and farm irrigation practices. Final preparations are underway for the 2012 Census of Agriculture, scheduled to be mailed to the Nation’s farmers and ranchers in December 2013.
My neighbor thinks we got this because we have tractors and and the DMV or DOL ratted us out. When I got my form, yesterday, I called my ‘bleeding heart liberal US Representative and told them I considered it an unconstitutional violation of my right to privacy. I guess I should wait by the door for the Ag Police to come get me and send me to the Big House. Anyone wanna volunteer to send me a cake in a file after they take me away in handcuffs?