WASHINGTON — This fall, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to mail out the 2022 Census of Agriculture to millions of producers across the 50 states and Puerto Rico. Operations of any size that produce at least $1,000 of agricultural product in 2022 are included in the census.

Mailing will take place in phases. Recipients will first receive an invitation to respond online in November, followed by paper surveys in December.

“Census of Agriculture data are widely used by federal and local governments, agribusinesses, trade associations, extension educators and many others to inform decisions about policy and farm programs and services that aid producers and rural communities,” said Hubert Hamer, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) administrator. “By responding to the Census of Agriculture — by being represented in these important data — producers are literally helping to shape their futures.”

Originally executed in 1840, the census is now conducted every five years by USDA’s NASS.

The 2022 Census of Agriculture will have slight changes to previous years, including questions about the use of precision agriculture, hemp production, hair sheep and updates to internet access questions.