Counting Minority and Small Farmers:
Finding Them is the First Step to Serving Them
The next Agriculture Census is coming soon. It will start in December 2007. Every five years the U.S. Department of Agriculture conducts a census of farmers in America. It is from the census that much of our Farm Bill decisions and agriculture policies are developed. Because of this, participation in the census is so important. We at the Federation/LAF encourage all farmers to participate so that better and more appropriate services to minority and small farmers can be offered.
It’s important to realize that if minority and small farmers do not participate in the census then the agriculture community, community-based organizations, land grant universities and Congress are less able to determine and advocate for policies that will benefit them. For example, from the census, policies are developed that demonstrate the effectiveness of land preservation initiatives; the need for programs that will offer information and support of specialty crops, as well as policies to assist farmers with many small, minor crops; the policies also help to determine the dollars to land grant universities and community based organizations.
By minority farmers participating in the census and providing information, farm service providers can better anticipate needs and be more responsive to African American producers. The USDA uses census data to help evaluate participation of African American farmers and ranchers in its programs and services. Elected representatives also use the data to develop farm policies and programs to protect and promote United States agriculture.
FARM BILL implications from the census are also profound. After each Census of Agriculture, the Secretary of Agriculture reports to Congress on the rate of loss or gain in participation by each socially disadvantaged group, by race, ethnicity, and gender since the previous census.
How you can help!
If you are a farmer you can help by participating yourself and spreading the word of the importance of the census. Please tell your friends. We at the Federation/LAF are working toward increasing the response rates of limited resource producers, but we need assistance to do this. Please contact our Atlanta office at 404 765 0991 if you questions or ideas on spreading the word.