The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will spend the next few months gathering information about land ownership income, expense, debt, asset, demographic and other landlord characteristics to provide detailed information from agricultural landowners. The Tenure, Ownership, and Transition of Agricultural Land (TOTAL) survey will ask producers to provide in-depth information about their operating revenues, production costs, and household characteristics.
“TOTAL will measure the state of farmland ownership,” said Anthony Prillaman, Director of the NASS Southern Regional Field Office “The results of this survey help shape federal, state and local farm policies, and will help farmers and landowners to plan out farmland rental agreements.”
The results of the TOTAL survey are highly anticipated and will help accurately define the economic status of U.S. farm operations and households for the 48 contiguous states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Data you provide will impact major decisions and policies impacting farmland and farm operations in the U.S.
“In February, our interviewers will begin reaching out to those who have not yet responded,” said Prillaman. “Our enumerators and statisticians will gladly help you fill out the forms if you like so that it is as easy as possible for you. It is important that you complete the survey so that data is available to help you make better decisions and ensures local, state or government officials can adapt or create farm policy that works well and is based on accurate information.”
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.
Click here to complete your survey online. Remember, you will need your unique survey code to sign in.
The data gathered will be published in the TOTAL report on October 31, 2025.