Christmas present from USDA

[BCSnob]

USDA sent us a Christmas present this year; 2017 Census of Agriculture. It is mandatory by law for any farm that grosses >$1000. The survey collects info collected in the normal censuses (demographics) plus info on IRS tax returns (salary, farm income, expenses) plus detailed info on farming practices (who makes day to day decisions, fertilizer used and amounts, pesticides, equipment owned including trucks, etc). We are even required to tell them the value of equipment our neighbor stores on our farm.

What a PIA

[Charlie_D_]

Mn Redneck wrote:
It says required by law!! DO you think they will put me in jail or will they just get willow switch and beat the h--- out of me???

Depends on where they place you. Some of the minimum security ones have AC, cots,cable TV and 3 squares a day. Former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards said his was quite nice. If you are as lucky as he you could have conjugal visits.:E

[Mn_Redneck]

It says required by law!! DO you think they will put me in jail or will they just get willow switch and beat the h--- out of me???

[Lwiddis]

Interesting even for a city boy.

[BCSnob]

For those interested in the info gathered you can review the 24 page survey here:
https://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Help/Report_Form_and_Instructions/2017_Report_Form/17a100_121316_general_final.pdf

[dturm]

We need to avoid political comments here.

That being said, there are good reasons for some regulations, others seem to generate more and more regulations and reporting. The reporting is often a PITA. It kind of sounds like they are trying to get you to be the investigative and enforcement arms of the EPA and IRS.

I found the OSHA reports of workplace injury/incidents for a business with 13 employees was a little excessive considering the type of business I ran, I guess understandable but documentation was pretty time consuming.

[BizmarksMom]

I filled one of those out every year for 25 years before selling the farm. It's pretty routine, especially when wrapping up the year end bookwork anyway.

[stickdog]

ksg5000 wrote:
I wonder why they need that info and what they do with it? When I was in business we had enormous overhead just to fill out govt paperwork, had large tax dept, environmental engineers, attorneys and host of other expensive people who did nothing but deal with govt rules.

So they can hire an additional 1000 employees to shuffle those forms around. The more employees the bigger the budget and justification for being.

[ksg5000]

I wonder why they need that info and what they do with it? When I was in business we had enormous overhead just to fill out govt paperwork, had large tax dept, environmental engineers, attorneys and host of other expensive people who did nothing but deal with govt rules.

[Old-Biscuit]

BCSnob wrote:
Except when estimating the value of equipment that is not yours (4 tractors, haybine, rake, and roughcut mower).

Inform owner/neighbor that THEY need to provide a 'value' OR you will have to put down what you think it is worth.
Your estimate might be way HIGH

[BCSnob]

Except when estimating the value of equipment that is not yours (4 tractors, haybine, rake, and roughcut mower).

[SidecarFlip]

Been filing that form for 25 years now. No biggie. Least they provide a paid return packet.

[BCSnob]

Depends upon if the USDA is aware of your family farm. The usda knows about us because we are required by law to submit money to the us lamb board (think the sheep version of the us dairy board, aka “got milk”) after the direct sale of any sheep.

[magnusfide]

Good luck. Hope it goes quickly. Won't tell you what my brother says 'USDA' stands for because the mods might delete it.

[wannavolunteerF]

BC Snob, does this include all farms. Just wondering if my mom should be getting a survey. Ours is small family owned and timber is only source of income (and hasn't been cut in enough years that it will likely need cutting in the next couple years)