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January 21, 2007

Git Off'n My Property

I got one of these stupid things in the mail the other day.

The 2006 Agricultural Identification Survey seeks to update the National Agricultural Statistics Service's records in advance of next year's national agricultural census, which is done every five years, according to the agency.

Lots of people with rural land, regardless of the size of their spread or what they use it for, will receive the questionnaires. There were a variety of ways to get on the list, including county records, having children in 4-H, Grange membership or filling something out at the county fair.

I got it because of the family farm we own down in Searcy County, and they got my name from the county records. How do I know that? By the name the survey was addressed to. Since we'd had that mixup over property taxes, I told the county office to just list my name in whatever way was easiest for them to remember me.....so the listing is a little um, unique. But it makes sense to me & them, which is all that matters.

Anyway I answered their stupid questions even though I got really tired of writing '0' and 'n/a' over & over because the land's not been farmed in 10 yrs. or better....but YOUR RESPONSE IS REQUIRED BY LAW. Otherwise you get a followup call from a census worker, which I bet I get anyway because OMFG a female farm owner in a poverty-stricken county who isn't getting any federal assistance? They'll be falling all over themselves to 'help' me out.

Thanks, but no thanks. I need that kind of help like a hen needs a flag.

Posted by Rita at January 21, 2007 06:02 AM

Comments

My grandfather used to joke that it was the ultimate paradox when the Government formed the Agriculture Department

A bunch of people who never grew anything telling 30 year farmers how to grow things.

Posted by: BloodSpite at January 21, 2007 09:52 AM

Not to mention paying farmers to NOT grow things. They're just like fleas. Once you let 'em in the house, you'll never get rid of them.

No thanks.

Posted by: Rita [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 25, 2007 07:29 AM