USDA Census of Agriculture- do I have to report?

Billho

Billho

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I'm hoping that the group here can help me with some questions: I keep getting notifications from the USDA about the 2022 Census. I probably get something in the mail every few weeks with "everyone is required by law to report". Now, I am not a farm, nor do I intend to have a farm. I am in the city where I have 5 backyard chickens so our family can have eggs. We don't sell them and really don't want to be on some list as a farm. I'm not selling meat or doing anything that would cause my chickens to interact with anyone outside of my immediate family. I've always wondered how they even knew we have chickens (maybe Tractor Supply or the farm we bought the chicks from?). My question is:
1. do I have to report?
2. or is it no big deal if we report anyway?
3. what happens if I don't? Are there any legal ramifications, or will they just keep mailing me the surveys?
4. How do I get off this mailing list?

Thanks for your advice.
 
I'm not lawyer and this isn't legal advice but if I remember correctly the max fine for not filling it out is only about $100. I've also received these and ignored them and as far as I can tell they don't have the resources to enforce anything which is why they try to make it sound scary. As far as why you're receiving them, im not sure. I was getting mine because I was listed as a member of a farm and had a seperate llc selling products.
 
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The bad news is that they will never go away. The good news is that if you comply they’ll go away in 2 or 3 years. You’re already on the list, so staying off the list isn’t really an option.
 
beamernc said:
Was it delivered as certified mail? If not, how do they know you received it? USPS is not very reliable any more.
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^I agree, so do not do anything to try to get off their mailing list...because that would show that you know you are on their mailing list.
 
If you are a bonified farm, you are required to fill it out. However, it sounds like you're not.

I'd respond to them with a letter asking why you're receiving the survey since you don't farm....
 
As a thought… Check your current property tax codes, before doing anything. If your property is listed as farm land (even though you stated you are in the city), you would want it to stay that way, as taxes would go up considerably. Then decide to ignore or answer.
 
Chdamn said:
Send them a letter saying that you’re only growing ligma. And then wait with glorious anticipation for them to ask you what ligma is.
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We got out of ligma after the blight, now we're growing sugma.
 
Did you apply or register for any kind of farm exemption? Do you get any kind of farm benefits like tax exemptions on feed or supplies? Did you have to do any paperwork for your chickens, since you are in the city. I Charlotte, for example, you can only have 4 chickens and that's if you go through the proper paperwork. We legally had 6, but that's another story.
If any of these actions caused you to be recognized as a farm or created an exemption, then you could lose those exemptions by not filing.
 
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georgel said:
Did you apply or register for any kind of farm exemption? Do you get any kind of farm benefits like tax exemptions on feed or supplies? Did you have to do any paperwork for your chickens, since you are in the city. ...If any of these actions caused you to be recognized as a farm or created an exemption, then you could lose those exemptions by not filing.
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No, I have never claimed to be a farm or signed up for any lists. I wonder if maybe it was reported by the company (one of the mail-order services) that I bought chicks from several years ago. Who knows? This does bring up a concern, since I am within the city limits and my HOA prohibits chicken ownership. We have skirted under the radar because they aren't loud or visible from the road. My daughter sees a therapist and she got a letter declaring them to be emotional support animals- which I will bring out if our HOA has an issue. If the USDA decides we are a farm (which we are not), I wonder if we can continue to be invisible.
 
Billho said:
No, I have never claimed to be a farm or signed up for any lists. I wonder if maybe it was reported by the company (one of the mail-order services) that I bought chicks from several years ago. Who knows? This does bring up a concern, since I am within the city limits and my HOA prohibits chicken ownership. We have skirted under the radar because they aren't loud or visible from the road. My daughter sees a therapist and she got a letter declaring them to be emotional support animals- which I will bring out if our HOA has an issue. If the USDA decides we are a farm (which we are not), I wonder if we can continue to be invisible.
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You're probably OK concerning the USDA, it's the HOA nazi patrols that I'd worry about. You might want to research what the city requires for chickens. In Charlotte, it was getting signed waiver letters from all adjoining properties. That's probably not going to happen for you. Is your daughter still in school? We were certified as a home school and were exempted, despite the pseudo HOA complaints. the agent rather enjoyed the fact. He was apologetic, telling us of the complaint, how I had to get the neighbors to sign waivers, filing the paperwork with the city, etc. when I asked about being a home-school. He stopped in his tracks and asked of I had a school number. When I said we did, he smiled and started packing up. He said, "'We're done. Just email me your school number and I'll write up the report. You're exempted from the regulation, although the limit is still 6 for a home school."

🙂
 
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