This past year, NASS provided assistance to Argentina, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, and Ukraine. The Agency has made many adjustments to its agricultural statistics program, published reports, and electronic access capabilities as a result of these activities to better meet the statistical needs of customers and stakeholders. Fiscal year 1999 is the fifth and final year of the census of agriculture cycle. Activities in this year include final review of the census data, preparation of results for publication, and conduct of the horticultural specialties and irrigation special follow-on studies. This would provide, for the first time, detailed State and national data about aquaculture production.
Aquaculture is a fast emerging domestic industry responding to the expanding demand for seafood.
The aquaculture census would collect data on type of production systems, type of products sold, species being raised such as food fish, shell fish, bait fish, oysters, clams, salmon, catfish, trout, fish eggs, fingerlings, and ornamental fish. This special survey was begun following the 1959 Census of Agriculture and has been repeated at about 10-year intervals. It provides the only State-level comprehensive data on agricultural land ownership, financing, and inputs by both farm operators and landlords. NASS has successfully implemented comprehensive pesticide-use surveys that cover the major field crops, fruits, and vegetables grown in the United States. However, such data are lacking for the fast growing nursery and greenhouse industry.