Farm operators in St. Lawrence County are encouraged to make sure they receive a 2017 Agricultural Census report form before the end of this year.

The USDA conducts the Agricultural Census every five years, which is the only source of uniform, comprehensive, and impartial agriculture data for every county in the nation.

“When the County prepared its Agricultural Development Plan this past year, the most extensive data available at the county level came from the Agricultural Census. This information helped service agencies and project stakeholders develop a better understanding of the trends facing the farming community, and helped inform us on the best way to respond to those issues,” said Matilda M. Larson, a St. Lawrence County planner.

Moreover, Larson explained, the data is also used by local agencies when applying for state and federal funding to deliver services to the farming community.

Larson said the preparation of the county’s ag plan revealed the quality of services received from local lending institutions and organizations such as Cooperative Extension and the Soil and Water Conservation District was rated excellent by area farmers.

“To continue receiving this high quality of service, farmers are encouraged to visit www.agcensus.usda.gov to make sure they receive a census form before the end of the year,” said Larson.

Producers who are new to farming or did not receive a Census of Agriculture report form in 2012 still have time to sign up to receive the 2017 form by visiting www.agcensus.usda.gov and clicking on the ‘Make Sure You Are Counted’ button on the webpage.

To participate in the census, farms are defined as any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would have been sold, in 2017.