Purdue News

February 13, 1998

Ag census is key to industry, communities, statistician says

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Although Feb. 2 was the official deadline for farmers to return their Census of Agriculture forms, there's still time for outstanding forms to be mailed in, according to Ralph Gann, state statistician for the Indiana Agricultural Statistics Service based at Purdue University.

"We're convinced that agricultural statistics have tremendous value," Gann said. "If farmers don't report and aren't included, it dilutes accuracy."

The ag census combines detailed information about every farming and ranching operation in the nation, organized by state, county and ZIP code. Data include number of farms, farm size, production expenses, value of production, land values, land use, crop information, livestock production and demographic information on farm operators.

Gann said the information is used to assess current conditions and provide historical records that can be used to speculate about future trends.

"For instance, land use is a hot issue, and there has been some concern about loss of farmland," he said. "This census is the best vehicle we have to track land-use activity. We can step back and look at records to see what's happened and where trends are headed."

The Bureau of Census conducted the first Census of Agriculture in 1840, and the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) issued its first crop report in 1842. Since then, farmers have had to report various data to both federal agencies. A recent consolidation moved the ag census from the U.S. Department of Commerce to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, so now farmers need only report to USDA, which is the parent organization of the ag statistics service. The move will improve efficiency and save money as mailing lists are merged. An additional benefit, Gann said, is the expertise provided by analysts in state ag statistics offices and the resources to which they have access.

"There are 45 NASS offices to deal with analysis efficiently," he said. "They add expertise and value to the process."

Involvement of the state ag statistics offices in the census will speed the release of data, and users can expect to have it six to eight months earlier than usual, according to Gann. Reports should be available in print, on CD-ROMs and on the Internet (https://www.usda.gov/nass/) by spring of 1999.

Farm operators can expect a follow-up mailing from the ag statistics service if they failed to return their original Census of Agriculture materials.

Currently, Indiana has the fourth-highest rate of returns, behind Ohio, Iowa and West Virginia. Within the Hoosier state, Vermillion County has the highest response rate, at 67.3 percent; Union County has the lowest, at 50 percent.

Source: Ralph Gann, (765) 494-8371; e-mail, nass-in@nass.usda.gov
Writer: Andrea McCann, (765) 494-8406; e-mail, mccann@aes.purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu

To the Purdue News and Photos Page