Two census ag meets set in ET

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts a survey of all agricultural producers every five years called the Census of Agriculture.

These surveys were mailed out to all producers who were on the NASS register last year.

The information gathered in the survey is intended to assist with the allocation of funds for disaster relief, start up funding, co-op opportunities, product marketing, and resource allocation.

It is important that all producers be counted in the census, and is especially important that minority producers be fully represented in the statistics.

NASS has determined African American producers have been particularly under-represented in the census data.

The Landowner's Association of Texas (LAT) has partnered with NASS to ensure that all African American producers are fully represented in the current 2007 Census of Agriculture.

Two Census Field Days are planned for this month in Northeast Texas to assist producers in Smith, Henderson, Van Zandt, Wood, Upshur, Gregg, Rusk, Panola, and Shelby Counties.

The first field day will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Smith County AgriLife Extension office in Tyler.

Call 903-590-2980 for directions.

The second field day will be held from 6-8 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Rusk County AgriLife Extension office (113 East Fordall Street) in Henderson. Call 903-657-0376 for directions.

LAT and NASS representatives will be present at these sessions to assist producers with completing the survey forms.

For more information about either field day, please contact Joe Radford at 903- 858-2247.

For more information about the LAT, please visit their web site located at www.latx.org.