The USDA is preparing to conduct its 2012 USDA Census of Agriculture, which is conduced every five years to determine the number of U.S. farms and ranches and gather vital information about U.S agriculture, including the horse community. The census is a valuable tool to help the USDA determine land use and ownership, livestock populations, operator characteristics, production practices, farm income, and other important information. 

"It is very important that the American horse community is properly accounted for in the upcoming census," said American Horse Council president Jay Hickey. "The information collected by the census will influence agricultural policy for the next five years. It’s vital all farms and ranches with horses participate in the census so the USDA has accurate information regarding the size and scope of the horse community."

Farm or ranch owners who participated in the last census in 2007 will automatically be mailed a survey that can be filled in and mailed back. If a farm or ranch was not part of the 2007 census and has not received a form in the mail, the owner can go to the USDA’s census website to register. Once this form is submitted online, a survey will be mailed. Once they have received their form in the mail owners will have the option to fill out the census online or mail back the form