Old Mountain Farm
Fri, 28 Dec 2007 10:21:45 -0800
Hi Carol, I feel the same way but the last time I was sent Census questions I ended up opting for the circular file. Rather be safe than sorry. Cheryle Old Mountain Farm http://www.oldmountainfarm.com/ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carol Elkins" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info> Sent: Friday, December 28, 2007 1:19 PM Subject: [Blackbelly] NASS Mails Ag Census Today > The ASI newsletter contained this announcement today regarding the ag > census. I am of two minds about this (never far from being > schizophrenic anyway!). On one hand I think it is really important > for small sheep farmers to make their presence felt if only to > counter the big ag monopoly in American farm policy. But on the other > hand, I would bet that info we provide in this census will be merged > into the NAIS database and other federal databases without our > knowledge or consent. We are damned if we do and damned if we don't. > Do any of you have more info or insight on this ag census? > > Carol > >>NASS Mails Ag Census Today >> America's farmers and ranchers will have the opportunity to >> make their voices heard and help shape the future of agriculture >> for years to come. >> That opportunity will come in your mailbox in the form of the >> 2007 Census of Agriculture. Conducted every five years by the U.S. >> Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics >> Service (NASS), the census is a complete count of the nation's >> farms and ranches 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. >> Policy makers factor census data into decisions concerning >> agricultural and rural program. Community planners use the census >> to target needed services to rural residents. Companies rely on >> census data when determining where to locate their operations. >> Farmers themselves can use census data to help make critical >> decisions about their businesses. >> "The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) also utilizes >> this data as it prepares briefs and comments about the industry," >> commended Peter Orwick, executive director for ASI. "As we answer >> questions from the media, members of Congress and state and federal >> agencies, the census is the main source of information that we rely >> on, so I encourage all operations, regardless of size, to respond." >> NASS will mail out census forms today, Dec. 28, 2007, to >> collect data for the 2007 calendar year. Completed forms are due >> back by Feb. 4, 2008. Producers can return their forms by mail or, >> for the first time, they have the convenient option of filling out >> the census online via a secure Web site at >> <http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001x0L2FHWFw3H4sGemPHy7jtoJYh43Z4zfwoLFbWIdIhxnvf4z8rQg4MW0xV3y1G62SuhEbQESXoM6ircbggcZH7sL6uta3pAztvK0irVm9Irmt8mrqHqvoQ==>www.agcensus.usda.gov. >> >> The Census of Agriculture is the voice of all farmers and ranchers. > > _______________________________________________ > This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list > Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info _______________________________________________ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info