YOUR TEXAS AGRICULTURE MINUTE

Awaiting release of new Census of Agriculture data

By Gary Joiner
Publisher

The Census of Agriculture is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them.

The calendar is circled for Feb. 13.

That’s the day when data from the 2022 Census of Agriculture will be released.

The census is taken only once every five years.

The survey looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures.

A lot has changed in U.S. agriculture since 2017. The new census hopes to capture some of those trends.

Notable changes for 2022 include new questions about the use of precision agriculture, hemp production, hair sheep and updates to internet access questions.

The snapshot of Texas farms and ranches will be interesting. What has changed in the last five years?

The data is important. Ag census findings inform decisions about policy, farm and conservation programs, infrastructure and rural development, research, education and more.

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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