WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2007 – As farm families gather throughout the United States this Thanksgiving to count their many blessings and give thanks for another successful harvest, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) urges them to ensure their farm or ranch is counted in the 2007 Census of Agriculture. The Census is a crucial tool that provides farmers with a voice in the future of their community and all of agriculture.

Conducted every five years by the USDA, the Census is a complete count of the nation’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them. The Census looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures and other topics. It provides the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every county in the nation.

“Thanksgiving is the perfect time to remind farmers how important they are and how much the nation appreciates their hard work,” said NASS Administrator Ron Bosecker. “It’s also a good time to remind them that they have a voice and a responsibility to use that voice to make a better future. Tools like the Census enable farmers to help shape the future of agriculture and their local communities. To do this, we urge them to speak out and let their voices be heard by participating in the 2007 Census of Agriculture.”

NASS will mail out Census forms on December 28, 2007 to collect data for the 2007 calendar year. Completed forms are due by February 4, 2008. Producers can return their forms by mail or, for the first time, they have the convenient option of filling out the Census online. For more information about the Census, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov or call toll-free (888) 4AG-STAT or (888) 424-7828.