YOUR TEXAS AGRICULTURE MINUTE

Rural Texas adds to important Census count

By Gary Joiner
Publisher

Counting every person living in the United States is a huge undertaking.

The U.S. Census recently finished its data collection.

In Texas, the final response rate was 99.9 percent.

Almost 63 percent of folks in our state self-responded to the Census. The other 37 percent were counted with follow-ups and records.

Rural Texans knew how important it was to be counted in the Census.

It’s about representation. The Texas Demographic Center says since the last census, Texas has added over 3.5 million people and is well positioned to gain at least two additional congressional seats after 2020.

It’s also about federal dollars.

The distribution of more than $675 billion in federal funds, grants and support to states, counties and communities are based on census data. This money is spent on schools, hospitals, roads and public works. Census data are also factored into allocation of money through various farm bill and USDA programs.

An undercount of the Texas population translates into a sizable loss in federal funding for the state and for Texans.

The Census Bureau is tabulating all of the data, with apportionment counts sent to the president by Dec. 31.

The goal of the 2020 Census is to get a complete and accurate count. Rural Texas did its part to stand up and be counted.

The preceding commentary is brought to you by Texas Farm Bureau, the “Voice of Texas Agriculture.” Called “Your Texas Agriculture Minute,” TFB will issue thought-provoking editorials each week—via print and audio—to spark understanding of agriculture in the Lone Star State and its impact on each and every Texan.

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