Farm Census Survey

[Texasmark]

I know this was discussed recently but I can"t find it so I will start a new comment.

I just completed mine and other than a few boxes, I don"t find the questions intimidating. On the few boxes where specific numbers are requested, if you have your 1040 Sch F info handy, you can make your survey and your Sch F say the same thing........in case they should ACCIDENTALY cross paths. Grin

But for the most part there is still a large margin for error in your "Total Depreciation" (Can use 2006 data if you need to), your household annual income has a wide margin, and your farm "income" is not defined which leaves one open for speculation as to what income they are referring to. I assumed money that came in my direction without regard for my expenses nor whether it was "taxable" or not income.

Basically it looks to me like a survey of the ag. situation here in the US and includes possible procurement information for forcasting supply and demand. Like how old are your trucks and tractors?

I found one line funny. They asked if I had any barns standing and in use, which were built before 1960. Don"t know where they are going with that data.

Additionally, there are some questions that may help to shape USDA farmer assistance in the future.

One thing I realized was that my particular type of farming was just a small part of the various types of farming in the overall picture.

Good luck with yours.

Mark

 

[dhermesc]

Filled mine out on Sunday. Would have went ito the trash until my wife caught the line about "Responce required under legal penalty".

 

[JMS MN]

It"s a survey that they send out every five years. About 20 years ago they got to the point, after sending copies multiple times, that I was subject to arrest. Didn"t fill that one out either- nor any since. Did return the current one yesterday, (I responded, as required), but just wrote on it that "I don"t do unpaid survey"s". State of MN has an annual one, not required, so I just tell them the same thing. Interesting how the ag secretaries publish articles about the value of the bs survey.

 

[paul]

Huh. I only have one building on the place built after 1960.... That is - to this day - refered to as the "new machine shed". Was built in 1964.

--->Paul

 

[IH2444]

this has been talk at the local country store lately as well.
The general concensus seems to be to trash the surveys.

 

[Finn Md]

Yep - I guess I'd better get mine done too. Since I have not done my taxes yet and don't know all my costs & income this year I worry about any inconsistencies between this and upcoming Schedule F. Man - they don't allow us much time to get it done.

 

[Redmud]

I never received the survey until I bought the cheap farm tags for one of my trucks two years ago. Sent one in last year, and have one to fill out now. Wish I hadn't bought them stinkin farm tags.

 

[Coloken]

Last time I threw mine away. they sent me another, threw that away too since I still own land but do not farm it. then they called me on the phone. This time I will just go ahead and fill it out and send. A lot simpler that way.

 

[MN Scott]

I was going to chuck mine but I decided to partially fill mine out. I only gave info of acreages and yields as the USDA/FSA has that info anyways. USDA has no right to my personal financial information. IRS is the only federal agency that has the legal ability to collect personal financial information. As I read the info I returned the thing so I'am not subject to the $100 fine and the info I provided was correct so I'am not subject to the $500 fine. I also did not provide my phone number.

 

[Paul from MI]

Did mine the day it came, took about 1/2 hour. Since I was drinking a beer at the time it wasn't a total wasted effort. Wasn't very hard to do, but you do need to have good records or it will take some time.
Hope Uncle Sam is happy with all of the very valuable information I provided.
Paul

 

[35A]

yep, Women get all up tight when they think the cops are coming to take you away. I need a vacation anyway. Lets see, limited visitation, TV, medical care-------------------

 

[Sagebrusher]

Just a question about gov't forms. Do most of you guys throw those nosey census bureau forms in file 13 too? If I remember rightly they have some type of implied punitive threat if not filled out and returned.
Years ago they sent a solicitor that claimed she was a contract employee to knock on our house door in town with a form and a clipboard. I told her that there were two adults living in our household and that was all she was really entitled to ask. Anything else was none of their business. Heard later that she went to a couple of neighbors to try and fill in a few more blanks but they claim she didn't get much info, just shoulder shrugs.
I'm probably on a list somewhere for that but I've thrown them all away since then.

 

[rrlund]

Wanna hear the real b!tch of it? I was filling mine out yesterday. Needed to get on the computer to get the last of the info. My accounting program was GONE. Years of records,NO MORE. I blamed the wife because she had installed a game the nite before and I though she screwed it up. Well...I had my youngest son check it out when he got home. Seems there was a loose cable inside the tower. Blasted government forms caused trouble between me and the wife.

 

[Tx Jim]

rrlund if you backed up your farm records on a cd or floppy disk you shouldn't loose them. I do my farm checking account on Quicken and back it up regularly for that reason. Tx Jim