USDA BEGINS COLLECTION OF THE 1997 CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE
                                                               
                                            Release No. 0437.97


                                                               
                                  Laura Trivers (202) 720-4623,
                                         laura.trivers@usda.gov
                                  Maria Bynum   (202) 720-5192,
                                           maria.bynum@usda.gov


USDA BEGINS COLLECTION OF THE 1997 CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE

     WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 1997-- Tis the season for farmers and ranchers to
Make It Known--America Counts on Agriculture! Over 2 million farms and
ranches nationwide will receive a 1997 Census of Agriculture report form
within the next few days.  And there is something different about this
census.

     "We are about to undertake a process that touches every farmer and
rancher in the Nation, and for the first time in history, USDA is
responsible for this task," said Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman.  

     Previous censuses of agriculture were conducted by the U.S. Bureau of
the Census.  The transfer of the census to USDA represents the consolidation
of the entire Federal agricultural statistics program into one agency.  Now
there will be one source for all important information on agriculture. 

      "By combining the resources of the former Bureau of the Census with
the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) staff, we expect to make
the results available more than 6 months earlier than in the past," Glickman
added. "Not only does the census reach everyone during mailout, but perhaps
more importantly, the results published in the census of agriculture reports
impact farmers and ranchers both directly and indirectly."

     Although there are many studies about large-scale farming, the census
is unique because it is the only source of local county-level information
about small, family farms.  Completed report forms are due by February 2,
1998.

     "I want farmers and ranchers to know we are there to help them
complete their report forms and they can take advantage of our toll-free
number," said Glickman.  

     The toll-free number, 1-888-4AG-STAT, will be answered by local staff
from USDA's 45 NASS field offices.  In addition, other local USDA offices
will be available to help.

     Another "first" for the census of agriculture will be the collection
of information about Christmas trees, maple trees tapped, and farms with all
land under the Conservation Reserve Program.  NASS has also fortified
efforts to improve the coverage of minority-owned farms.  Also for the first
time, all farm operators on American Indian Reservations will be counted.

     Response to the census is required by law.  That same law protects the
privacy of the reports; information about individual operations is strictly
confidential, and census responses are immune from legal processes.  
                                

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