USDA to conduct special census studies on aquaculture, irrigation

Special aquaculture and irrigation studies are part of 2017 "Census of Agriculture."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct two special studies as part of the 2017 "Census of Agriculture" to collect more detailed information on aquaculture and irrigation practices in U.S. agriculture.

On Dec. 17, NASS mailed the 2018 "Census of Aquaculture" to all farmers who indicated on their 2017 ag census forms that they produce and sell aquaculture products. Results from this survey will help provide current and comprehensive, industry-specific data at the state and national levels, including production volume and methods, surface water acres and sources, sales and more, NASS said. Federal, state and local governments, agribusinesses, trade associations and producers use the information to make informed decisions that can affect the sustainability and growth of the U.S. aquaculture industry. The deadline for producers to respond is Jan. 14, 2019.

On Jan. 3, 2019, NASS will mail the 2018 "Irrigation & Water Management Survey," formerly called the "Farm & Ranch Irrigation Survey," to a sample of producers who reported irrigation practices on their 2017 "Census of Agriculture" forms. The survey provides the only comprehensive information on irrigation activities and water use across U.S. farms, ranches and horticultural operations.

When responding to this survey, producers will be asked to provide information on topics such as water sources and the amount of water used, acres irrigated by type of system, irrigation and yield by crop, system investments and energy costs, NASS said. The results of this survey will aid efforts to develop and promote efficient irrigation practices and long-term sustainability of water resources. The deadline to complete the survey is Feb. 15, 2019.

Producers can respond to these questionnaires online, by mail or by phone. The online questionnaire has time-saving features such as automatic calculations and the convenience of being accessible on mobile and desktop devices, NASS said.

As part of the Census of Agriculture Program, NASS said these special studies are conducted once every five years, with federal law (Title 7 USC 2204(g) Public Law 105-113) requiring all of those who receive a form to participate. The information collected is completely confidential and will be used for statistical purposes only. To prevent disclosing the identity of any individual producer or farm operation, NASS will only publish tabulated totals.