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St. Lawrence County urging farmers to fill out Ag Census forms coming in the mail

Posted 12/4/17

CANTON -- Farmers in St. Lawrence County are being encouraged by the St. Lawrence County Planning Office and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fill out the Census of Agriculture forms they will …

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St. Lawrence County urging farmers to fill out Ag Census forms coming in the mail

Posted

CANTON -- Farmers in St. Lawrence County are being encouraged by the St. Lawrence County Planning Office and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fill out the Census of Agriculture forms they will receive in the mail this month or go online to fill them out there.

Farmers and ranchers across the US will get the 2017 Ag Census questionnaire and are asked to return the completed forms to the USDA or complete the questionnaire online at https://www.agcounts.usda.gov/cawi.

Matilda M. Larson, a Planner II in the St. Lawrence County Planning Office, said local farmers recently rated the quality of services from Soil and Water, Cooperative Extension and Farm Service Agency as excellent.

Larson explained the programs and services provided by these agencies rely on Ag Census data when applying for state and federal funding.

“To continue receiving a high quality of service from organizations like these, farmers are encouraged to complete the ag census form before the end of the year” said Larson.

The Ag Census is conducted once every five years for a complete count of all US farms, ranches, and those who operate them. The Ag Census is the only source of uniform, comprehensive, and impartial agriculture data for every state and county in the nation, the USDA says.

Farmers and ranchers, trade associations, elected officials, service agencies, extension educators, researchers, and many others rely on Ag Census data when developing and funding programs and services for the ag community.

Producers who are new to farming or did not receive the Ag Census form in the mail can make sure they’re counted by visiting https://www.agcounts.usda.gov/legacy0/cgi-bin/counts or by calling (866) 294-8560.

The Ag Census defines farms as any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold in 2017.