DES MOINES, IA – January 7, 2025 — Starting in December, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) began contacting producers to
gather data about land ownership, income, expenses, debt, assets, demographic, and landlord
characteristics to provide detailed information from all agricultural landowners in Wisconsin, as
the agency conducts the Tenure, Ownership, and Transition of Agricultural Land (TOTAL)
survey.
“Results from TOTAL will provide a single source of comprehensive, up-to-date information to
measure financial impacts and challenges of land ownership. The data will help paint an accurate
picture of farm costs, land ownership, land transfer plans for the next five years, six to 10 years,
and beyond, demographics about farm landlords, and improvements made to farmland buildings
and other characteristics.” said Greg Bussler, Wisconsin State Statistician. “This information will
shape federal, state and local farm policies, and give producers a collective voice to show the
costs involved in producing commodities.”
“In February, our interviewers will begin reaching out to those who have not yet responded,”
said Bussler. “Our enumerators and statisticians will gladly help you fill out the forms to help
make reporting as easy as possible. It is important that producers complete the survey so the
highly anticipated results of TOTAL will accurately define the economic status of U.S. farm
operations and households for all 50 states including Wisconsin.” This complete financial picture
not only impacts major decisions and policies but also underpins USDA’s estimates of net farm
income and demonstrate agriculture’s contribution to the U.S. gross domestic product.
The TOTAL survey is part of the Census of Agriculture program. Participation in all Census of
Agriculture surveys is both required and protected by law (Title 7, U.S. Code). NASS safeguards
the privacy of all respondents, ensuring that no individual respondent or operation can be
identified. Be assured that your responses will be kept completely confidential, as required by
federal law.
Summarized results from TOTAL will be published on October 31, 2025. That report and others
are available at nass.usda.gov/publications. Additional data analysis and reports will also be
available later at ers.usda.gov/arms.
