The 2018 Irrigation and Water Management Survey (formerly called the Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey) is a follow-on to the 2017 Census of Agriculture by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This survey provides the only comprehensive information on irrigation activities and water use across American farms, ranches, and horticultural operations. In responding to the survey, producers provide information on topics such as water sources and amount of water used, acres irrigated by type of system, irrigation and yield by crop, and system investments and energy costs. The full reports for the 2003, 2008, 2017, and 2018 surveys are provided in this submission. By following the link to the USDA Census of Irrigation, a specific year can be selected, in which the tables and figures of each report are provided.

Quick Stats is the National Agricultural Statistics Service's (NASS) online, self-service tool to access complete results from the 1997, 2002, 2007, and 2012 Censuses of Agriculture as well as the best source of NASS survey published estimates. The census collects data on all commodities produced on U.S. farms and ranches, as well as detailed information on expenses, income, and operator characteristics. The surveys that NASS conducts collect information on virtually every facet of U.S. agricultural production.

The Census of Agriculture is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. Even small plots of land - whether rural or urban - growing fruit, vegetables or some food animals count if $1,000 or more of such products were raised and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the Census year. The Census of Agriculture, taken only once every five years, looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures. For America's farmers and ranchers, the Census of Agriculture is their voice, their future, and their opportunity. The Census Data Query Tool (CDQT) is a web-based tool that is available to access and download table level data from the Census of Agriculture Volume 1 publication. The data found via the CDQT may also be accessed in the NASS Quick Stats database. The CDQT is unique in that it automatically displays data from the past five Census of Agriculture publications. The CDQT is presented as a "2017 centric" view of the Census of Agriculture data. All data series that are present in the 2017 dataset are available within the CDQT, and any matching data series from prior Census years will also display (back to 1997). If a data series is not included in the 2017 dataset, then data cells will remain blank in the tool. For example, one of the data series had a label change from "Operator" to "Producer." This means that data from prior Census years labelled "Operator" will not show up where the label has changed to “Producer” for 2017. The new Census Data Query Tool application can be used to query Census data from 1997 through 2017. Data are searchable by Census table and are downloadable as CSV or PDF files. 2017 Census Ag Atlas Maps are also available for download. Resources in this dataset:Resource Title: 2017 Census of Agriculture - Census Data Query Tool (CDQT). File Name: Web Page, url: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Quick_Stats/CDQT/chapter/1/table/1 The Census Data Query Tool (CDQT) is a web based tool that is available to access and download table level data from the Census of Agriculture Volume 1 publication. The data found via the CDQT may also be accessed in the NASS Quick Stats database. The CDQT is unique in that it automatically displays data from the past five Census of Agriculture publications. The CDQT is presented as a "2017 centric" view of the Census of Agriculture data. All data series that are present in the 2017 dataset are available within the CDQT, and any matching data series from prior Census years will also display (back to 1997). If a data series is not included in the 2017 dataset, then data cells will remain blank in the tool. For example, one of the data series had a label change from "Operator" to "Producer." This means that data from prior Census years labelled "Operator" will not show up where the label has changed to "Producer" for 2017. Using CDQT:

Upon entering the CDQT, a data table is present. Changing the parameters at the top of the data table will retrieve different combinations of Census Chapter, Table, State, or County (when selecting Chapter 2). For the U.S., Volume 1, US/State Chapter 1 will include only U.S. data; Chapter 2 will include U.S. and State level data. For a State, Volume 1 US/State Level Data Chapter 1 will include only the State level data; Chapter 2 will include the State and county level data. Once a selection is made, press the “Update Grid” button to retrieve the new data table. Comma-separated values (CSV) download, compatible with most spreadsheet and database applications: to download a CSV file of the data as it is currently presented in the data grid, press the "CSV" button in the "Export Data" section of the toolbar. When CSV is chosen, data will be downloaded as numeric. To view the source PDF file for the data table, press the "View PDF" button in the toolbar.

Abstract

For more than 150 years, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, conducted the census of agriculture. However, the 2002 Appropriations Act transferred the responsibility from the Bureau of the Census to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The 2007 Census of Agriculture for the U.S. Virgin Islands is the second census in the U.S. Virgin Islands conducted by NASS. The census of agriculture is taken to obtain agricultural statistics for each county, State (including territories and protectorates), and the Nation. The first U.S. agricultural census data were collected in 1840 as a part of the sixth decennial census. From 1840 to 1920, an agricultural census was taken as a part of each decennial census. Since 1920, a separate national agricultural census has been taken every 5 years. The 2007 census is the 14th census of agriculture of the U.S. Virgin Islands. The first, taken in 1920, was a special census authorized by the Secretary of Commerce. The next agriculture census was taken in 1930 in conjunction with the decennial census, a practice that continued every 10 years through 1960. The 1964 Census of Agriculture was the first quinquennial (5-year) census to be taken in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In 1976, Congress authorized the census of agriculture to be taken for 1978 and 1982 to adjust the data-reference year to coincide with the 1982 Economic Censuses covering manufacturing, mining, construction, retail trade, wholesale trade, service industries, and selected transportation activities. After 1982, the agriculture census reverted to a 5-year cycle. Data in this publication are for the calendar year 2007, and inventory data reflect what was on hand on December 31, 2007. This is the same reference period used in the 2002 census. Prior to the 2002 census, data was collected in the summer for the previous 12 months, with inventory items counted as what was on hand as of July 1 of the year the data collection was done.

Objectives: The census of agriculture is the leading source of statistics about the U.S. Virgin Islands’s agricultural production and the only source of consistent, comparable data at the island level. Census statistics are used to measure agricultural production and to identify trends in an ever changing agricultural sector. Many local programs use census data as a benchmark for designing and evaluating surveys. Private industry uses census statistics to provide a more effective production and distribution system for the agricultural community.

Geographic coverage

National coverage

Analysis unit

Households

Universe

The statistical unit was a farm, defined as "any place from which USD 500 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would had been sold, during the calendar year 2007". According to the census definition, a farm is essentially an operating unit, not an ownership tract. All land operated or managed by one person or partnership represents one farm. In the case of tenants, the land assigned to each tenant is considered a separate farm, even though the landlord may consider the entire landholding to be one unit rather than several separate units.

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Sampling procedure

(a) Method of Enumeration As in the previous censuses of the U.S. Virgin Islands, a direct enumeration procedure was used in the 2007 Census of Agriculture. Enumeration was based on a list of farm operators compiled by the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture. This list was compiled with the help of the USDA Farm Services Agency located in St. Croix. The statistics in this report were collected from farm operators beginning in January of 2003. Each enumerator was assigned a list of individuals or farm operations from a master enumeration list. The enumerators contacted persons or operations on their list and completed a census report form for all farm operations. If the person on the list was not operating a farm, the enumerator recorded whether the land had been sold or rented to someone else and was still being used for agriculture. If land was sold or rented out, the enumerator got the name of the new operator and contacted that person to ensure that he or she was included in the census.

(b) Frame The census frame consisted of a list of farm operators compiled by the U.S. Virgin Islands DA. This list was compiled with the help of the USDA Farm Services Agency, located in St. Croix.

(c) Complete and/or sample enumeration methods The census was a complete enumeration of all farm operators registered in the list compiled by the United States of America in the CA 2007.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The questionnaire (report form) for the CA 2007 was prepared by NASS, in cooperation with the DA of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Only one questionnaire was used for data collection covering topics on:

• Land owned
• Land use
• Irrigation
• Conservation programs and crop insurance
• Field crops
• Bananas, coffee, pineapples and plantain crops
• Hay and forage crops
• Nursery, Greenhouse, Floriculture, Sod and tree seedlings
• Vegetables and melons
• Hydroponic crops
• Fruit
• Root crops
• Cattle and calves
• Poultry
• Hogs and pigs
• Aquaculture
• Other animals and livestock products
• Value of sales
• Organic agriculture
• Federal and commonwealth agricultural program payments
• Income from farm-related sources
• Production expenses
• Farm labour
• Fertilizer and chemicals applied
• Market value of land and buildings
• Machinery, equipment and buildings
• Practices
• Type of organization
• Operator characteristics

The questionnaire of the 2007 CA covered 12 of the 16 core items' recommended for the WCA 2010 round.

Cleaning operations

DATA PROCESSING The processing of the 2007 Census of Agriculture for the U.S. Virgin Islands was done in St. Croix. Each report form was reviewed and coded prior to data keying. Report forms not meeting the census farm definition were voided. The remaining report forms were examined for clarity and completeness. Reporting errors in units of measures, illegible entries, and misplaced entries were corrected. After all the report forms had been reviewed and coded, the data were keyed and subjected to a thorough computer edit. The edit performed comprehensive checks for consistency and reasonableness, corrected erroneous or inconsistent data, supplied missing data based on similar farms, and assigned farm classification codes necessary for tabulating the data. All substantial changes to the data generated by the computer edits were reviewed and verified by analysts. Inconsistencies identified, but not corrected by the computer, were reviewed, corrected, and keyed to a correction file. The corrected data were then tabulated by the computer and reviewed by analysts. Prior to publication, tabulated totals were reviewed by analysts to identify inconsistencies and potential coverage problems. Comparisons were made with previous census data, as well as other available data. The computer system provided the capability to review up-to-date tallies of all selected data items for various sets of criteria which included, but were not limited to, geographic levels, farm types, and sales levels. Data were examined for each set of criteria and any inconsistencies or potential problems were then researched by examining individual data records contributing to the tabulated total. W hen necessary, data inconsistencies were resolved by making corrections to individual data records.

Sampling error estimates

The accuracy of these tabulated data is determined by the joint effects of the various nonsampling errors. No direct measures of these effects have been obtained; however, precautionary steps were taken in all phases of data collection, processing, and tabulation of the data in an effort to minimize the effects of nonsampling errors.

The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts hundreds of surveys every year and prepares reports covering virtually every aspect of U.S. agriculture. Production and supplies of food and fiber, prices paid and received by farmers, farm labor and wages, farm finances, chemical use, and changes in the demographics of U.S. producers are only a few examples.

State fact sheets provide information on population, income, education, employment, federal funds, organic agriculture, farm characteristics, farm financial indicators, top commodities, and exports, for each State in the United States. Links to county-level data are included when available.This record was taken from the USDA Enterprise Data Inventory that feeds into the https://data.gov catalog. Data for this record includes the following resources: Query tool For complete information, please visit https://data.gov.

The NASS Census of Agriculture is a comprehensive dataset produced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Conducted every five years, the census gathers detailed data on America’s farming and ranching operations. It covers a wide range of topics, including land use and ownership, farm and operator characteristics, production practices, income, expenditures, and the types and quantities of crops and livestock produced. The primary purpose of the Census of Agriculture is to provide accurate, objective, and meaningful statistical information that supports agricultural policy-making, business decisions, research, and rural development. It serves as a key resource for government agencies, policymakers, researchers, agribusinesses, and farmers themselves, helping to track trends and inform decisions at national, state, and county levels. Key features of the dataset include its breadth and depth—data are collected from all U.S. farms and ranches, regardless of size—and its granularity, offering insights down to the county level. The census uniquely gives voice to all agricultural producers, ensuring even small and specialized operations are represented, making it an essential tool for understanding the evolving landscape of American agriculture.

description: This feature class depicts the boundaries of Land Survey features called sections, defined by the Public Lands Survey System Grid. Normally, 36 sections make up a township. The entire extent of each of these units should be collected, not just the portion on National Forest System lands. This dataset is derived from the USFS Southwestern Region ALP (Automated Lands Program) data Project. This is one of six layers derived from ALP for the purpose of supplying data layers for recourse GIS analysis and data needs within the Forest Service. The six layers are Surface Ownership, Administrative Forest Boundary, District Boundary, Townships, Sections, and Wilderness. There were some gapes in the ALP data so a small portion of this dataset comes from CCF (Cartographic Feature Files) datasets and the USFS Southwestern Region Core Data Project. ALP data is developed from data sources of differing accuracy, scales, and reliability. Where available it is developed from GCDB (Geographic Coordinate Data Base) data. GCDB data is maintained by the Bureau of Land Management in their State Offices. GCDB data is mostly corner data. Not all corners and not all boundaries are available in GCDB so ALP also utilizes many other data sources like CFF data to derive its boundaries. GCDB data is in a constant state of change because land corners are always getting resurveyed. The GCDB data used in this dataset represents a snapshot in time at the time the GCDB dataset was published by the BLM and may not reflect the most current GCDB dataset available. The Forest Service makes no expressed or implied warranty with respect to the character, function, or capabilities of these data. These data are intended to be used for planning and analyses purposes only and are not legally binding with regards to title or location of National Forest System lands.; abstract: This feature class depicts the boundaries of Land Survey features called sections, defined by the Public Lands Survey System Grid. Normally, 36 sections make up a township. The entire extent of each of these units should be collected, not just the portion on National Forest System lands. This dataset is derived from the USFS Southwestern Region ALP (Automated Lands Program) data Project. This is one of six layers derived from ALP for the purpose of supplying data layers for recourse GIS analysis and data needs within the Forest Service. The six layers are Surface Ownership, Administrative Forest Boundary, District Boundary, Townships, Sections, and Wilderness. There were some gapes in the ALP data so a small portion of this dataset comes from CCF (Cartographic Feature Files) datasets and the USFS Southwestern Region Core Data Project. ALP data is developed from data sources of differing accuracy, scales, and reliability. Where available it is developed from GCDB (Geographic Coordinate Data Base) data. GCDB data is maintained by the Bureau of Land Management in their State Offices. GCDB data is mostly corner data. Not all corners and not all boundaries are available in GCDB so ALP also utilizes many other data sources like CFF data to derive its boundaries. GCDB data is in a constant state of change because land corners are always getting resurveyed. The GCDB data used in this dataset represents a snapshot in time at the time the GCDB dataset was published by the BLM and may not reflect the most current GCDB dataset available. The Forest Service makes no expressed or implied warranty with respect to the character, function, or capabilities of these data. These data are intended to be used for planning and analyses purposes only and are not legally binding with regards to title or location of National Forest System lands.

The Quick Stats Database is the most comprehensive tool for accessing agricultural data published by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). It allows you to customize your query by commodity, location, or time period. You can then visualize the data on a map, manipulate and export the results as an output file compatible for updating databases and spreadsheets, or save a link for future use. Quick Stats contains official published aggregate estimates related to U.S. agricultural production. County level data are also available via Quick Stats. The data include the total crops and cropping practices for each county, and breakouts for irrigated and non-irrigated practices for many crops, for selected States. The database allows custom extracts based on commodity, year, and selected counties within a State, or all counties in one or more States. The county data includes totals for the Agricultural Statistics Districts (county groupings) and the State. The download data files contain planted and harvested area, yield per acre and production. NASS develops these estimates from data collected through:

hundreds of sample surveys conducted each year covering virtually every aspect of U.S. agriculture

the Census of Agriculture conducted every five years providing state- and county-level aggregates Resources in this dataset:Resource Title: Quick Stats database. File Name: Web Page, url: https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov/ Dynamic drill-down filtered search by Commodity, Location, and Date range, beginning with Census or Survey data. Filter lists are refreshed based upon user choice allowing the user to fine-tune the search.

The dataset, Survey-SR, provides the nutrient data for assessing dietary intakes from the national survey What We Eat In America, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (WWEIA, NHANES). Historically, USDA databases have been used for national nutrition monitoring (1). Currently, the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies (FNDDS) (2), is used by Food Surveys Research Group, ARS, to process dietary intake data from WWEIA, NHANES. Nutrient values for FNDDS are based on Survey-SR. Survey-SR was referred to as the "Primary Data Set" in older publications. Early versions of the dataset were composed mainly of commodity-type items such as wheat flour, sugar, milk, etc. However, with increased consumption of commercial processed and restaurant foods and changes in how national nutrition monitoring data are used (1), many commercial processed and restaurant items have been added to Survey-SR. The current version, Survey-SR 2013-2014, is mainly based on the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (SR) 28 (2) and contains sixty-six nutrientseach for 3,404 foods. These nutrient data will be used for assessing intake data from WWEIA, NHANES 2013-2014. Nutrient profiles were added for 265 new foods and updated for about 500 foods from the version used for the previous survey (WWEIA, NHANES 2011-12). New foods added include mainly commercially processed foods such as several gluten-free products, milk substitutes, sauces and condiments such as sriracha, pesto and wasabi, Greek yogurt, breakfast cereals, low-sodium meat products, whole grain pastas and baked products, and several beverages including bottled tea and coffee, coconut water, malt beverages, hard cider, fruit-flavored drinks, fortified fruit juices and fruit and/or vegetable smoothies. Several school lunch pizzas and chicken products, fast-food sandwiches, and new beef cuts were also added, as they are now reported more frequently by survey respondents. Nutrient profiles were updated for several commonly consumed foods such as cheddar, mozzarella and American cheese, ground beef, butter, and catsup. The changes in nutrient values may be due to reformulations in products, changes in the market shares of brands, or more accurate data. Examples of more accurate data include analytical data, market share data, and data from a nationally representative sample. Resources in this dataset:Resource Title: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Dataset for What We Eat In America, NHANES 2013-14 (Survey SR 2013-14). File Name: SurveySR_2013_14 (1).zipResource Description: Access database downloaded on November 16, 2017. US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Nutrient Data Laboratory. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Dataset for What We Eat In America, NHANES (Survey-SR), October 2015. Resource Title: Data Dictionary. File Name: SurveySR_DD.pdf

This Quarter Section feature class depicts PLSS Second Divisions . PLSS townships are subdivided in a spatial hierarchy of first, second, and third division. These divisions are typically aliquot parts ranging in size from 640 acres to 160 to 40 acres, and subsequently all the way down to 2.5 acres. The data in this feature class was translated from the PLSSSecondDiv feature class in the original production data model, which defined the second division for a specific parcel of land. Metadata

The Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) is a dataset created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), jointly administered by the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). It serves as the primary source of information on farm production practices, resource use, financial conditions, and the economic well-being of U.S. farm households. The dataset collects detailed, farm-level data through annual surveys, covering topics such as crop production, input costs, income, and sustainability practices. Its purpose is to inform USDA, Congress, and industry stakeholders about agricultural trends, enabling evidence-based policy and program decisions. For example, ARMS data supports evaluations of farm subsidies, environmental programs, and market dynamics. Key features include its comprehensive scope, combining financial and operational metrics, and its representative sampling of U.S. farms and ranches. Unique aspects include the use of advanced statistical methods like the delete-a-group jackknife for variance estimation and the availability of data via an API and bulk files for researchers. ARMS is also critical for developing models like unit process data for crop production, enhancing agricultural research and sustainability studies. (Word count: 198)

The Census of Agriculture, produced by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA), provides a complete count of America's farms, ranches and the people who grow our food. The census is conducted every five years, most recently in 2017, and provides an in-depth look at the agricultural industry.This layer summarizes rice production from the 2017 Census of Agriculture at the county level.This layer was produced from data downloaded using the USDA's QuickStats Application. The data was transformed using the Pivot Table tool in ArcGIS Pro and joined to the county boundary file provided by the USDA. The layer was published as feature layer in ArcGIS Online. Dataset SummaryPhenomenon Mapped: 2017 Rice ProductionCoordinate System: Web Mercator Auxiliary SphereExtent: 48 Contiguous United StatesVisible Scale: All ScalesSource: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service QuickStats ApplicationPublication Date: 2017AttributesThis layer provides values for the following attributes. Note that some values are not disclosed (coded as -1 in the layer) to protect the privacy of producers in areas with limited production.Operations with SalesOperations with Area HarvestedSales in US DollarsArea Harvested in AcresProduction in HundredweightAdditionally attributes of State Name, State Code, County Name and County Code are included to facilitate cartography and use with other layers.What can you do with this layer?This layer can be used throughout the ArcGIS system. Feature layers can be used just like any other vector layer. You can use feature layers as an input to geoprocessing tools in ArcGIS Pro or in Analysis in ArcGIS Online. Combine the layer with others in a map and set custom symbology or create a pop-up tailored for your users.For the details of working with feature layers the help documentation for ArcGIS Pro or the help documentation for ArcGIS Online are great places to start. The ArcGIS Blog is a great source of ideas for things you can do with feature layers.This layer is part of ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World that provides an easy way to find and explore many other beautiful and authoritative layers, maps, and applications on hundreds of topics.

This layer is a component of 2007_NAIP_COVERAGE_3.mxd.

The Tenure, Ownership, and Transition of Agricultural Land (TOTAL) dataset is a comprehensive survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and Economic Research Service (ERS). It examines agricultural landowners, including non-operator landlords, to analyze land tenure, ownership structures, and transition plans. The dataset includes detailed information on land income, expenses, debt, assets, landlord demographics, and intentions for land succession or sale. Created as a follow-up to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, the TOTAL survey aims to track shifts in farmland ownership and inform policies affecting agricultural sustainability. Its key features include granular data on rental arrangements, intergenerational transitions, and the financial dynamics of landholding. Notably, it distinguishes between operator-owned and rented lands, offering insights into challenges like land fragmentation and access for beginning farmers. The 2014 iteration highlighted trends such as increasing non-family rental arrangements and the role of trusts in land succession. Unique aspects of TOTAL include its focus on non-operator stakeholders and integration with surveys like the Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) to enhance data depth. It serves as a critical resource for researchers, policymakers, and agricultural groups addressing land-use changes, rural economic development, and food system resilience. By quantifying transitions from agricultural to developed land uses, TOTAL supports efforts to preserve farmland and sustain agricultural economies.

This product provides tabular data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Census of Agriculture for selected items for the period 1950-2017 for counties in the conterminous United States. Data from 1950-2012 are taken from LaMotte (2015) and 2017 data are retrieved from the USDA QuickStats online tool. Data which are withheld in the Census of Agriculture are filled with estimates. The data include crop production values for 12 commodities (for example, corn in bushels), land use values for 7 land use types (for example, acres of total cropland), and 9 values for livestock types (for example, number of hogs and pigs). The data are largely intended as a 2017 update to the LaMotte dataset for items of research interest. LaMotte, A.E., 2015, Selected items from the Census of Agriculture at the county level for the conterminous United States, 1950-2012: U.S. Geological Survey data release, http://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F7H13016.

Abstract

This dataset includes data from the 2012 and 2017 USDA Census of Agriculture for American Indian Reservations combined into a single flatfile spreadsheet. The 2012 data was obtained through a special tabulation request from the USDA NASS and the 2017 data was tabulated by hand and double-checked for errors. The 2012 Census included data for only 76 reservations and the 2017 census includes data for only 75.

The Census for American Indian Reservations includes all farms and ranches within the boundaries of the Reservation but does not not distinguish between farmers and ranchers operating on Trust land with those operating in fee or deeded lands within Reservation boundaries. Furthermore, the published Census reports only quantified each variable for “Native” and “Reservation Total” and failed to report statistics for “Non-native” which conceals the extreme disparity that exists on Native American Reservations. While we have submitted a special tabulation request to the USDA NASS for the data on non-native operators, in the mean time, we have included a provisional calculation for “Non-native” producers, making it possible to analyze the racial disparity in agriculture on Native Lands. Additionally, the way the data is presented by the USDA it makes it difficult to aggregate the data for one or all reservations (e.g. the big picture). This data and dashboard, while only representing a fraction of tribal lands, represents the most complete source of data for agriculture on native lands. Additionally, we have added a GEOID column so each reservation's data can be joined with US Census Tiger spatial boundary for American Indian Areas.

Abstract

For 156 years (1840 - 1996), the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census was responsible for collecting census of agriculture data. The 1997 Appropriations Act contained a provision that transferred the responsibility for the census of agriculture from the Bureau of the Census to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The 2007 Census of Agriculture is the 27th Federal census of agriculture and the third conducted by NASS. The first agriculture census was taken in 1840 as part of the sixth decennial census of population. The agriculture census continued to be taken as part of the decennial census through 1950. A separate middecade census of agriculture was conducted in 1925, 1935, and 1945. From 1954 to 1974, the census was taken for the years ending in 4 and 9. In 1976, Congress authorized the census of agriculture to be taken for 1978 and 1982 to adjust the data reference year so that it coincided with other economic censuses. This adjustment in timing established the agriculture census on a 5-year cycle collecting data for years ending in 2 and 7. Agriculture census data are used to:

• Evaluate, change, promote, and formulate farm and rural policies and programs that help agricultural producers; • Study historical trends, assess current conditions, and plan for the future; • Formulate market strategies, provide more efficient production and distribution systems, and locate facilities for agricultural communities; • Make energy projections and forecast needs for agricultural producers and their communities; • Develop new and improved methods to increase agricultural production and profitability; • Allocate local and national funds for farm programs, e.g. extension service projects, agricultural research, soil conservation programs, and land-grant colleges and universities; • Plan for operations during drought and emergency outbreaks of diseases or infestations of pests. • Analyze and report on the current state of food, fuel, feed, and fiber production in the United States.

American Samoa is one of the territories collectively referred as the "US Outlying areas". The 2008 American Samoa Census of Agriculture was conducted by personal interviews of all farm operations on the list of commercial farms, and supplemented by an area sample of the remaining households. The purpose of the area sample was to efficiently accountfor farms not on the commercialfarmlist and provide an accurate measure of the agricultural activity in American Samoa.

Geographic coverage

National coverage

Analysis unit

Households

Universe

The statistical unit for the CA 2008 was the farm, an operating unit defined as any place from which USD 1 000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the census year.

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Sampling procedure

i. Methodological modality for conducting the census The classical approach was used in the CA 2008.

ii. sample design The design of the sample for the 2008 Census of Agriculture made use of materials and information available from the American Samoa Department of Commerce. These included detailed maps of all the islands in the territory, up-to-date map-spotting (location on a map) of all households in the territory, a system of numbering each household to provide it a unique identifier, and identification of householdswhich were on the list of commercial farms. The households that were on the list of commercial farms were excluded from the universe used to select the area sample. A random sample of the remaining households was selected, using the available maps with the household identification information. It was determined that a 20 percent sample would be optimal. A serpentine selection methodology, starting at a point determined by the generation of a random number, was used to select the area sample.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face paper [f2f]

Research instrument

One questionnaire was used which collected information on:

• Land owned
• Field crops
• Fruit
• Root crops
• Cattle and calves
• Poultry
• Aquaculture
• Expenditure
• Production expenses
• Machinery, equipment and buildings
• Household characteristics

Cleaning operations

1. DATA PROCESSING AND ARCHIVING The completed forms were scanned and Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) was used to retrieve categorical responses and to identify the other answer zones in which some type of mark was present. The edit system determined the best value to impute for reported responses that were deemed unreasonable and for required responses that were absent. The complex edit ensured the full internal consistency of the record. After tabulation and review of the aggregates, a comprehensive disclosure review was conducted. Cell suppression was used to protect the cells that were determined to be sensitive to a disclosure of information.

2. CENSUS DATA QUALITY NASS conducted an extensive program to follow-up all non-response. NASS also used capture-recapture methodology to adjust for under-coverage, non-response, and misclassification. To implement capture-recapture methods, two independent surveys were required --the 2012 Census of Agriculture (based on the Census Mail List) and the 2012 June Agricultural Survey (based on the area frame). Historically, NASS has been careful to maintain the independence of these two surveys.

Data appraisal

The complete data series from the 2008 Census of Agriculture is available from the NASS website free of charge in multiple formats, including Quick Stats 2.0 - an online database to retrieve customized tables with Census data at the national, state and county levels. The 2012 Census of Agriculture provides information on a range of topics, including agricultural practices, conservation, organic production, as well as traditional and specialty crops.

The Census of Agriculture provides a detailed picture every five years of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. Conducted by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, the 2012 Census of Agriculture collected more than six million data items directly from farmers. The Ag Census Web Maps application makes this information available at the county level through a few clicks. The maps and accompanying data help users visualize, download, and analyze Census of Agriculture data in a geospatial context. Resources in this dataset:Resource Title: Ag Census Web Maps. File Name: Web Page, url: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2012/Online_Resources/Ag_Census_Web_Maps/Overview/index.php/ The interactive map application assembles maps and statistics from the 2012 Census of Agriculture in five broad categories:

Crops and Plants – Data on harvested acreage for major field crops, hay, and other forage crops, as well as acreage data for vegetables, fruits, tree nuts, and berries. Economics – Data on agriculture sales, farm income, government payments from conservation and farm programs, amounts received from loans, a broad range of production expenses, and value of buildings and equipment. Farms – Information on farm size, ownership, and Internet access, as well as data on total land in farms, land use, irrigation, fertilized cropland, and enrollment in crop insurance programs. Livestock and Animals – Statistics on cattle and calves, cows and heifers, milk cows, and other cattle, as well as hogs, sheep, goats, horses, and broilers. Operators – Statistics on hired farm labor, tenure, land rented or leased, primary occupation of farm operator, and demographic characteristics such as age, sex, race/ethnicity, and residence location.

The Ag Census Web Maps application allows you to:

Select a map to display from a the above five general categories and associated subcategories. Zoom and pan to a specific area; use the inset buttons to center the map on the continental United States; zoom to a specific state; and show the state mask to fade areas surrounding the state. Create and print maps showing the variation in a single data item across the United States (for example, average value of agricultural products sold per farm). Select a county and view and download the county’s data for a general category. Download the U.S. county-level dataset of mapped values for all categories in Microsoft ® Excel format.

This site provides interactive access to data from NASS, as part of a cooperative effort among USDA, the USDA Regional Pest Management Centers and the NSF Center for Integrated Pest Management (CIPM). All data available have been previously published by NASS and have been consolidated at the state level. Commodity acreages and active ingredient agricultural chemical use (% acres treated, ai/acre/treatment, average number of treatments, ai/acre, total ai used) data are available. All data can be searched by commodity, year, state and active ingredient. For more details on methodology, please see NASS website. Search results can be obtained in web format and as downloadable Excel files. For each individual active ingredient, commodity, year and statistic, dynamic U.S. maps of each use statistic can be generated. Agricultural chemical usage statistic data can also be seen in a graphical format. Currently, this site contains the data from 1990. We will continue to update the database annually. As this site is enhanced, we will also provide means and totals of the statistics over years, states, and commodities. This project is funded by USDA, The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), project award No. 2001-34366-10324. Resources in this dataset:Resource Title: Agricultural Chemical Use Program Data. File Name: Web Page, url: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Chemical_Use/#data Since 2009, the release of chemical use surveys is available through Quick Stats. The following materials are available for each survey: highlights fact sheet, a methodology paper, and a set of data tables featuring commonly requested information.