Important: USDA census?????UPDATE!

[silkiechicken]

If it is real, you should be able to contact them and have it verified. Don't contact them though anything in the e-mail, rather others sources and give your email to them directly. Chances are it is a spoof used to get your personal info.

Edit: Paper mail? Verify and then respond.

 

[ole-crone]

OK Folks - don't get upset. Here is what I found out about it -

Will my information be kept confidential?
Absolutely. Respondents are guaranteed by law (Title 7, U.S. Code) that their individual information will be kept confidential. NASS uses the information only for statistical purposes and publishes data only in tabulated totals. The report cannot be used for purposes of taxation, investigation, or regulation. The privacy of individual Census records is also protected from disclosure through the Freedom of Information Act.

Must I respond to the Census?
Yes. United States law (Title 7, U.S. Code) requires all those who receive a Census report form to respond even if they did not operate a farm or ranch in 2007.

What if I only have a small operation or do not participate in government farm programs?
The Census of Agriculture is the responsibility of every farmer and rancher, regardless of the size or type of operation. For Census purposes, a farm is any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the Census year.

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That means if you don't sell that much then you state that it doesn't apply when you send back the paperwork.

Here is the website where I found the information.

For more information about the 2007 Census of Agriculture, please call (800) 727-9540 or visit www.agcensus.usda.gov.

 

[Scrambled Egg]

If it were me, I would throw it away...if it's real and they want info or money from you...rest assured you will get another one!!!! Then you can make some calls and see if it's legit.

 

[ole-crone]

I forgot to add - If you still have concerns contact your local extension agent or USDA office.

 

[speckledhen]

The USDA recently lost how many farmers' records? Hundreds of thousands? Dont put much faith in that. And if you make $1000, you're a farm? C'mon.

 

[ole-crone]

Actually, they state that unless you make or had the potential to make $1000 - that is what they consider a farm for the sake of this census.

Think Farmers' Market. Some of our vendors don't sell $1000 a year but they are very serious about what they do produce. Lowering the value of income to $1000 might allow the USDA to start tracking the growth of the Farmers' Market industry - which is good news for small, single family farms who were being replaced by agri-business.

If you made under $1000 you just write in 'not applicable' and mail it in blank.

 

[seminolewind]

That info is the same on their website. HOWEVER, the real USDA website has FORMS, and this one is NOT one of their forms.
Anyway, I never received this 24 page form.

 

[silkiechicken]

Good good, too bad I bet everyone else on your street got one too.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

The census is real. We received one and it has been on our local radio farm show about them. If you choose to ignore it they will come knocking on your door to get the info. They won't care what you are doing or about to go to when they come knocking. They will detain you until they get their answers. Yes, they can and will do that. We fill one of these out every few years- I believe it is 5 years. Do yourself a favor and fill it out then your done.

 

[gritsar]

We get them every year. Got one just a few days ago. It's real. My SO fills it out the same way every year for the past twelve years by telling them that his father (the family farmer) passed away 12 years ago and we no longer farm. They send a new one every year, just in case. Just our tax dollars at work!