Time to respond to the 2022 Census of Agriculture is running out, and Virginia farmers are being encouraged to return their questionnaires before the Feb. 6 deadline.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service mailed online access codes for the census to every known American farmer in November, followed by hard copies in December.

The Census of Agriculture provides “the only source of uniform, comprehensive and impartial agricultural data for every state and county in the nation,” said Herman Ellison, NASS state statistician for Virginia.

“Through the ag census, producers can show the nation the value of U.S. agriculture and influence decisions that will shape the future of the industry,” Ellison continued. Data from the census, he said, works for producers by improving decision- and policy-making regarding jobs, transportation, production practices, new technologies, marketing opportunities, farm services and programs, and local, state and federal policy.

The census has...