USDA Plans 2027 Farm Census Revival to Map American Agriculture
Published Date: 1/14/2026
Notice
Summary
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service plans to bring back the 2027 Census of Agriculture, a big survey that collects important info about farms across the U.S. and its territories. Farmers and farm operators who produce $1,000 or more in products will be part of this. Comments on this plan are open until March 16, 2026, and this survey helps keep farming data fresh and useful without extra costs to participants.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Which farms must respond
If you run a farm that produced (or normally would produce) $1,000 or more in agricultural products in the 50 states, Guam, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), you are included in the 2027 Census of Agriculture. For Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands the threshold is $500, and American Samoa is included without any production/sales threshold and includes items grown for home consumption. Responding to the screening form, the Census of Agriculture, and related mandatory surveys is required by law.
Estimated time burden on respondents
NASS estimates about 4,050,000 respondents for the 2027 Census of Agriculture and a total annual respondent burden of 2,900,000 hours. Individual response time may range from a few minutes for brief responses to nearly an hour for more detailed forms, and that time is part of the mandatory response requirement.
Census data guide funding and programs
Congress, federal and state programs, and private industry use Census of Agriculture data to design programs and allocate funds for things like soil conservation projects, cooperative extension programs, and research funding. The information collected can influence what programs and resources your area receives.
Legal confidentiality protections
If you provide information to the Census of Agriculture, your individual answers are protected by law under Section 1770 of the Food Security Act and by the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (CIPSEA). NASS says it will use the data only for statistical purposes and will publish only aggregated totals, keeping personally identifiable data confidential.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-18618, Notice of Intent To Request Revision and Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection.
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) plans to update and extend its Agricultural Prices Surveys for three more years. This affects farmers and businesses who provide price info, as the survey might change in size and questions, possibly changing how long it takes to complete. If you want to share your thoughts, make sure to comment by November 10, 2026!
2026-18624, Notice of Intent To Request Revision and Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service plans to update and extend its water use survey for North Carolina farms using 10,000 to 1,000,000 gallons daily. They’re shrinking the sample size, so fewer farmers will be asked to share info, which means less time spent on the survey. Comments are open until November 10, 2026, so now’s the time to speak up!
2026-06122, Notice of Intent To Request Revision and Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service plans to update and extend its Livestock Slaughter Survey for three more years. This means some questions might change, and the number of people surveyed could shift, affecting how much time it takes to respond. Farmers, meat producers, and others in the livestock industry should know this helps keep meat supply info fresh and accurate, with comments due by May 29, 2026.
2025-01962, Notice of Intent To Request To Reinstate an Information Collection
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service wants to bring back a survey that collects info on how farmers sell food directly to customers and stores. This helps group farms and share useful results. If you’re involved in farming or local food sales, your input matters! Comments are open until March 31, 2025, and there’s no cost to participate.
2025-01963, Notice of Intent To Request Revision and Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service plans to update and extend its Annual Organic Survey, which helps track organic farming practices. This affects organic farmers who will see some changes in questions and reporting rules starting with a big special study in 2025 and voluntary surveys in 2026 and 2027. They’re also asking for public feedback by March 31, 2025, to make sure the survey runs smoothly without adding too much extra work.
2026-15754, Notice of Intent To Request Revision and Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to request feedback from the general public on the "Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Programs". This collection was developed as part of a Federal Government-wide effort to streamline the process for seeking feedback from the public on service delivery. This notice announces our intent to submit this collection to OMB for approval and solicits comments on specific aspects for the proposed information collection.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-00539, 30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) Photographic Identification Card Application
The Department of State wants your thoughts on a form used by current and former Diplomatic Security special agents to apply for their Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) ID card. This notice asks for comments within 30 days to make sure the form is clear and not too time-consuming. It affects about 90 agents who spend about an hour filling it out, with no new fees involved.
Next: 2026-00541, Notice of Intent To Request Revision and Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection
The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) plans to update and extend its Cotton Ginning Survey for three more years. This survey collects important info from cotton producers about how much cotton and cottonseed they process, helping farmers and businesses plan better. If you’re involved in cotton farming or ginning, your input matters—comments are due by March 16, 2026, and no extra costs are expected.