Census of Ag paints portrait of changing industry

Benjamin Herrold
Oct 20, 2023
Oct 20, 2023

USDA Map - 2017 Number of Farms — Maps display information collected in the 2017 Census of Agriculture, like Number of Farms.
Map courtesy USDA NASS

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For more than 200 years now, the United States has counted its farmers. What started as a question on the regular population census — asking how many members of each household were involved in agricultural pursuits — has grown into its own census, the Census of Agriculture, taken every five years by the USDA.

farm-scene-windmill-2 — The Census of Agriculture, taken every five years, provides a snapshot of the changes and nuances in American agriculture.
Photo by Benjamin Herrold

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