Statistics vital to policymakers, business
11/19/02
A comprehensive measurement of Maryland agriculture gets under way next month as the USDA’s Maryland Agricultural Statistics Service (MASS) conducts the 26th Census of Agriculture.
Every five years, the census counts everything agricultural, from crop production to livestock, to farm equipment. The 2002 Census of Agriculture will be mailed out Dec. 16, with responses from farmers due back by Feb. 3, 2003.
“Everyone, including farmers, policymakers, farm lenders and agricultural organizations, needs accurate, unbiased information to make sound decisions,” said Secretary of Agriculture Hagner R. Mister. “Agriculture is Maryland’s No. 1 industry by employment and economic impact and these numbers prove its importance. Farmers and others involved with the agriculture industry can look at the trends and make the most informed policy, farming, and financial decisions possible.”
Staff from MASS are meeting with agricultural leaders around the state including the Maryland Farm Bureau, the Farm Service Agency, Cooperative Extension, Maryland Agricultural Commission as well as organizations representing specific sectors of the industry to inform them about the census and generate momentum for a complete response.
MASS also is mailing promotional materials to farmers, farm organizations and farm publications with messages like “Take a Stand for American Agriculture,” “You Make it Known — Agriculture Counts” and “The Census is Counting an You,” alerting them to the upcoming census and encouraging their response.
“Every year, we track major commodities at a statewide level, but the five-year census is the only time we get county-by-county data on smaller agricultural sectors as well,” said State Statistician Norman Bennett. “It is important that we get as complete a response as possible, as even a slight shift from the last census could result in changes in legislation, crop decisions or equipment investments.
“We respect the producer’s right to confidentiality, and that is why information on individual operations is protected by law,” Bennett said. “MASS safeguards the confidentiality of all responses and publishes county and state data only, ensuring that no individual operation or grower can be identified.”
Steve Weber, president of Maryland Farm Bureau, said, “I encourage Maryland farmers to respond to the census. The reports are indispensable to our efforts on behalf of Maryland farmers.”