United States Department of Agriculture
Frequently Asked Questions - General
- Survey Codes
- Responding Online
- Who Must Respond
- Incorrect Information on the Address Label
- Help Completing Your Census Form
- About the Census
- Census Results
Survey Codes
- 1. Why won’t the survey code on the Census postcard I received in the mail work?
If you are trying to complete the Census online, you need your unique Census ID code from the mailing label of the Census form that was mailed to you. It is a series of 17 numbers and letters that appear on the first line of the label, immediately above the bars.
- 2. When I go online, why does it say the survey code from my Census form is invalid?
First, be sure you are entering the 17-digit ID code from the mailing label of the Census form you received in the mail; this is your unique Census ID code. This code is alphanumeric, and we are discovering that some of the letters and numbers may be difficult to distinguish.
Here is a helpful tip to try – the 8th digit should be a letter. If it appears to be the number eight (8) try entering the letter ‘B’, likewise, if it looks like the number zero (0), try entering the letter ‘D’. If you still receive the same error message, please call the Census Hotline at (888) 424-7828 so a Census representative may assist you with your Census ID code.
Responding Online
- 3. Can I respond to the Census online?
Yes, you can respond to the Census online using a convenient and secure system. Responding online saves you time, and saves taxpayer dollars for return postage.
To complete the Census online, you need your unique Census ID code. This code is on the mailing label of the Census form we mailed to you. The code is a series of 17 numbers and letters that appear on the first line of the label, immediately above the bars.
- 4. I am trying to complete my Census online but the system is freezing? Why?
We are experiencing intermittent connection issues and are working to resolve them as soon as possible. We understand that some respondents have lost their connection or received an error screen that does not allow them to return to the information they already entered. We greatly apologize for this inconvenience and we hope to have the problems resolved very soon.
We recommend that you try to submit your Census online later or return your form in the mail.
- 5. How do I print a copy of my Census form after I complete it online?
If you would like a copy of the Census form you completed and submitted online, please email your request to nass@nass.usda.gov. Your request must include your name, address, and Census ID code. A NASS representative will mail you a copy of your completed form.
Who Must Respond
- 6. Must I respond to the Census?
Yes. United States law (Title 7, U.S. Code) requires all those who receive a Census report form to respond even if they did not operate a farm or ranch in 2012.
- 7. What if I only have a small operation or do not participate in government farm programs, do I have to fill out a Census form?
The Census of Agriculture is the responsibility of every farmer and rancher, regardless of the size or type of operation. For Census purposes, a farm is any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the Census year. If you do not meet this criterion, please write this information on the front of the survey form and return it in the envelope provided. If you do not respond, we will continue to contact you by mail, phone or in person to obtain a response.
- 8. Why do I need to provide USDA and the federal government this information again? Isn’t there a way you can pull the data from other government sources since I already provide the information to other USDA agencies such as FSA?
There are many benefits that come to farmers by filling out the Census of Agriculture. The Census is only conducted once every five years, and it is the only program conducted by NASS for which response is required by federal law. It is also the only program that is a complete count of EVERY farmer and rancher in the United States at the same point in time.
Not every producer participates in USDA programs. The Census counts all producers so that it provides comprehensive, consistent data that together provide a snapshot of agriculture at the national, state and county levels every five years. This information is used to shape the future of your operation, your community and your industry.
- 9. I am not a farmer, how can I be removed from the list? What do I do with this Census form?
Everyone who receives a Census form in the mail must fill it out and return it – even if you do not believe you qualify as a farmer. You may be surprised to learn that a farm is defined as any place that produced and sold, or normally would have sold, $1,000 or more of agricultural products during the Census year. Many people who do not think of themselves as farmer actually meet the definition according to the Census. If you own horses, backyard chickens, large urban gardens, etc., you may qualify as a farmer.
If you do not qualify as a farmer, NASS will remove your name and address from the list once we receive your form in the mail or submitted online.
Incorrect Information on the Address Label
- 10. What do I do if the name or address is incorrect on the form?
Make any necessary corrections to the name, address, and ZIP code directly on the front page of the Census form in the mailing label area. This will ensure NASS updates your information when we receive your form. You may also call toll-free (888) 424-7828 and ask a NASS representative to update your name and/or address.
- 11. What do I do if the person on the address label is deceased and no one is farming now?
Please write this information on the front of the Census form and return it in the envelope provided. If you do not respond, we will continue to contact you by mail, phone or in person to obtain a response.
- 12. What do I do if the person on the address label is deceased and a different person has taken over the operation?
Please ask the person operating the farm or ranch to complete the Census form. Make any necessary updates to the name and/or address directly on the front page of the Census form in the mailing label area. This will ensure NASS updates the information when we receive the completed form. You may also call toll-free (888) 424-7828 and ask a NASS representative to update the operator information for you.
- 13. What if I received a form and another person in my family received a form but we farm the same land?
If you received duplicate Census report forms for the same farming operation, you only need to complete one form. However, you need to return all of the Census report forms you received in the same envelope with the completed form. Please write “Duplicate” on the additional forms near the mail label information on the front page.
Help Completing Your Census Form
- 14. What if I lost my Census of Agriculture form?
If you received a Census form in the mail and lost it, need to request a replacement, need help completing your form, or need more information, call toll-free (888) 424-7828.
- 15. What if I did not receive a Census of Agriculture form, can I still receive one?
If you did not receive a Census form in the mail and want to be counted, it’s not too late. You can still sign up on the Census website to receive a form in the mail. When you receive your form in the mail, even if it’s after the February 4 deadline, NASS will allow you time to complete and return the form. All new recipients of the Census of Agriculture must complete and mail back their forms; a Census ID code will not be included with your form to respond online. If you need help completing your form, or need more information, call toll-free (888) 424-7828.
- 16. How do I complete the Census of Agriculture prior to filling out my taxes – I could better answer many of these questions at a later time?
We recognize that the timing is never perfect, however in order to provide the summarized results to the American public as quickly as possible, we ask farmers to make their best estimates, even if they have not had a chance to do their taxes. If you need some additional time, there will be a second mailing starting around February 14th and a third mailing that initiates around March 20th. The information that we collect is strictly confidential and is not shared with or compared to information submitted to the IRS.
- 17. Do the USDA and IRS share information?
No, neither the USDA nor the IRS shares any information that is reported by respondents. The Census of Agriculture and Schedule F have no relation. The guide below is an attempt to show which questions on the Schedule F correspond with 2012 Census of Agriculture questions. The 2012 Census of Agriculture accepts estimates and it does not have to be identical to the Schedule F form.
- 18. Why is “don’t know” not an optional answer to questions on the Census?
NASS does not provide an option for respondents to select “don’t know” because your best estimate is always better than “don’t know.”
About the Census
- 19. What is the Census of Agriculture?
The Census of Agriculture, taken every five years, is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. The Census looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures. For America’s farmers and ranchers, the Census of Agriculture is their voice, their future and their responsibility.
- 20. Why is the Census of Agriculture important?
The Census provides the only source of uniform, comprehensive and impartial agricultural data for every county in the nation. Through the Census, producers can show the nation the value and importance of agriculture and they can help influence the decisions that will shape the future of American agriculture for years to come. By responding to the Census, producers are helping themselves, their communities and all of U.S. agriculture.
- 21. Who uses Census of Agriculture data?
Census data are used by all those who serve farmers and rural communities – federal, state and local governments, agribusinesses, trade associations and many others.
—Farmers and ranchers can use Census data to help make informed decisions about the future of their own operations.
—Companies and cooperatives use the facts and figures to determine the locations of facilities that will serve agricultural producers.
—Community planners use the information to target needed services to rural residents.
—Legislators use the numbers from the Census when shaping farm policies and programs. - 22. How is the Census conducted?
Report forms for the 2012 Census of Agriculture were mailed to farm and ranch operators in late December 2012 to collect data for the 2012 calendar year. Completed forms are due by February 4, 2013. Producers can return their forms by mail or can fill out the Census online via a secure website at www.agcensus.usda.gov.
- 23. Is the information on individual operations kept confidential?
Yes. Respondents are guaranteed by law (Title 7, U.S. Code, and CIPSEA, Public Law 107-347) that their individual information will be kept confidential. NASS uses the information only for statistical purposes and publishes data only in tabulated totals. The report cannot be used for purposes of taxation, investigation or regulation. The privacy of individual Census records is also protected from disclosure through Freedom of Information Act requests.
- 24. How do I know this form is legitimate and not from a fraudulent enterprise?
The 2012 Census of Agriculture form and all correspondences from NASS are officially identified as from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Additionally, any telephone or in-person follow-up you receive regarding the Census will be made from a NASS representative who properly identifies himself or herself as working for USDA.
Once you fill out the Census, your personal information is protected by federal law. These laws require USDA to keep your identity and your answers completely confidential. No individual information is shared with any other federal, state or local agency. Employees are prohibited from releasing any individual farmers reported data, subject to a $250,000 fine and/or five-year imprisonment.
Census Results
- 25. When will 2012 Census results be released?
NASS will release Census data, in both electronic and print formats, beginning in February 2014. Detailed reports will be published for all counties, states and the nation.
- 26. The results of the Census are already outdated by the time you release them a year later – what’s the point of even conducting the Census?
As with any census, it’s impossible to have real-time data, but the Census of Agriculture shows trends over time and captures a very clear picture of U.S. agriculture at a point in time every five years. The data guide the funding of programs and decisions that impact farmers for years.
Conducted since 1840, the Census of Agriculture is the only source of comprehensive data providing valuable insight into the current situation, historical changes in U.S. agriculture and long-term trends. The Census also collects information on the agricultural industry that is not gathered elsewhere in NASS’s annual survey programs – data on areas such as agritourism, organic production, farmer demographics, specialized agricultural production, Internet access and more.
- 27. Where can I find Census of Agriculture data?
Census of Agriculture data are available through the NASS office in your state, many depository libraries, universities and other state government offices. They are also available online at www.nass.usda.gov or www.agcensus.usda.gov.For additional information on the Census of Agriculture or other NASS surveys, call the Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540.
Last Modified: 01/17/2013