People are asked to return surveys

A survey intended to help identify people engaged in agricultural activity in the United States has been mailed to 350,000 potential farmers and ranchers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the National Agricultural Classification Survey will help ensure people will be included in the upcoming 2022 Census of Agriculture. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service has asked people receiving the survey to respond by May 4.

To protect the health and safety of the public and its employees, NASS said it has suspended in-person data collection and limited other in-person processes until further notice. It encouraged survey recipients to respond online at www.agcounts.usda.gov with a 17-digit survey code that was mailed to them. Completed forms may also be mailed back in a prepaid envelope provided.

NASS described the Census of Agriculture, conducted every five years, as "the only source of uniform, comprehensive and impartial agricultural data for every state and county in the nation."

For more information, see www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus.