The Census of Agriculture on CD-ROM What is the Census of Agriculture? The Census of Agriculture is a comprehensive source of statistics on U.S. agriculture. The survey is conducted every 5 years, for years ending in "2" and "7". The U.S. Bureau of the Census collects data at national, state and county levels. Census statistics are used by Congress in developing and changing farm programs and for determining the effects of these programs. Many national and state programs are designed or allocated on the basis of census data, such as funds for extension services, research, and soil conservation projects. The Geographic Area Series collects data for the United States, States, counties, Puerto Rico and outlying areas. The Zip Codes Tabulations File provides selected data by five-digit ZIP Code. What Subjects are Covered by the Census of Agriculture? The Census of Agriculture provides data on: Historical highlights * Market value of products sold * Farm production expenses * Net cash returns from agricultural sales * Government payments and other farm-related income * Commodity credit corporation loans * Land use and acres diverted * Land in farms * Harvested cropland *Irrigated land * Farm size *Value of land and buildings * Value of machinery and equipment on place * Selected machinery and equipment on place * Petroleum products expenses * Agricultural chemicals used * Tenure and characteristics of operator * Type of organization * Characteristics of abnormal farms *Livestock-inventory and sales * Poultry-inventory and sales * Cattle and calves-inventory and sales * Hogs and pigs-inventory and sales, and litters farrowed * Sheep and lambs-inventory and sales * Other livestock and livestock products-inventory and sales * Crops harvested-yield per acre irrigated and non-irrigated, acres harvested * Fruits and nuts * Nursery and greenhouse crops, mushrooms, and sod grown for sale NOTE: Reports have statistics for specific products (pineapples, oranges, coffee, fish, mink, etc.) for States within a region. How to Search the Census of Agriculture You may search both the State and County CD-ROMs using either basic menu searching or Extract software. Please note: This guide covers menu searching only. For more information on how to search using Extract, please ask at the Documents Desk. 1. Begin your search by choosing either State, County or Zip Code Data from the menu. (National data is included on both the State and County CD-ROMs.) 2. Then select the menu searching option. 3. Use the arrow keys and press Enter to move through the menus. Documentation A variety of documentation for the Census of Agriculture is available at the Documents Desk. Please ask at the Desk if you would like assistance. How to Print Search Results Once a table is displayed, you may print the selected data item. To print: 1. Press P to display the print options menu. 2. Choose the option to print to a printer and press Enter. How to Download Search Results Once a table is displayed, you may copy the selected data item to a floppy diskette. To download: 1. Press C to display the copy file options menu. 2. Choose one of the options listed by using the arrow keys to highlight an option and press Enter. 3. Four file format options will appear on the screen. Choose one of the four options listed: 1) ASCII (flat/SDF), 2) ASCII (delimited), 3) WKI (spreadsheet), 4) dBase III. 4. The select items menu will appear on the screen. You may choose up to 10 items within a table for all county totals for a state or all state totals. You can only select one item if you select all county and state totals. Contributed by Mary Ellen Spencer, North Carolina State University