Every five years, the National Agricultural Statistic Service (NASS) mails out U.S. Census of Agriculture Survey forms to every landowner on FSA records.
These surveys provide the only source of uniform, comprehensive and impartial agriculture data from every county in the nation.
NASS provides the data they accumulate to all USDA agencies to help identify concerns, develop programs, allocate resources and plan for future programs. The forms can be completed and mailed back, or an online survey code is provided to complete the survey online
The surveys went out in December with a Feb. 6 deadline to respond. Letters are going out now to remind producers to respond by the deadline, and many producers that have already responded are also receiving the reminders.
If you receive a reminder letter to respond and you have already completed the survey online or on paper and mailed it back, just ignore the reminder. Letters mailed out nationally tend to remind everyone and not just the ones that have not responded.
Also, on the other side, if you have not completed the survey and sent it back, you will at some point continue to get reminders and phone calls until you do send it back.
NASS handles all of the Census of Ag Survey. However, FSA can assist with the completion of the surveys. Just keep in mind that many people receiving the surveys will have no row crop farming or livestock interest.
Those that are just landowners have to complete only a few pages of the long survey form. The forms are extensive because it’s designed to capture all kinds of agricultural activities that might occur across the nation.
Contact Tallahatchie County FSA at 662-647-8857, ext. 2, or bring the forms by the office located at 360 W. Cypress St. in Charleston, and we can help you complete it.
