[Blackbelly] NASS Mails Ag Census Today

[Carol Elkins]

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.

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