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American Horse Council
Press Release
September 21, 2007
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American Horse Council Encourages Horse Industry
Participation in the 2007 USDA Census of Agriculture
WASHINGTON, DC September 21, 2007 - The American Horse Council (AHC) is
calling on all members of the horse owning community to participate in the
2007 Census of Agriculture to be conducted by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA). The USDA census, taken every five years, is a count of
U.S. farms, ranches and the people who operate them. A link to the Census
can be found on the American Horse Council's web site: www.horsecouncil.org.
The USDA reports that the 2007 Census of Agriculture will help to measure
land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices,
income and expenditures and many other areas. The AHC wants to ensure that
the American horse industry is properly accounted for in the upcoming
Census. There are three ways in which horse owners can participate in the
USDA's 2007 Census of Agriculture:
1. If your farm received a survey for census participation in the past (the
last census was taken in 2002), your farm will be mailed a survey that you
can fill in and mail back.
2. If your farm was not part of the 2002 Census, or you are not sure if you
participated, you can fill out a basic USDA census registration form online
by following the link from the AHC's web site: www.horsecouncil.org.
Once this form is submitted online, a survey will be mailed to you.
3. Finally, beginning in late December 2007, the Census survey will be
available to all farm owners and operators to fill out online even if they
have not pre-registered.
According to an AHC report, the American horse industry has a $102 billion
dollar impact on the U.S. economy and supports 1.4 million U.S. jobs. There
are more than 9.2 million horses in the United States, making the U.S.
horse-owning population the largest in the world.
AHC President, Jay Hickey, stated, "The Census of Agriculture is our chance
to stand and be counted." Hickey further stated, "It is everyone's
responsibility to make sure that the equine community is accounted for in
the 2007 Census of Agriculture."
Additionally, information on the 2007 Census of Agriculture can be found on
the USDA's web site: www.agcesnus.usda.gov.
Census forms will be mailed on December 28, 2007. The mailing will include
further instructions about how to log in and respond to the Census via a
secure web connection. All Census forms must be completed by February 2,
2008.
For more information about the American Horse Council, please visit: www.horsecouncil.org
or call 202-296-4031.
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As the national association representing all segments of the horse industry
in Washington, D.C., the American Horse Council works daily to represent
equine interests and opportunities. Organized in 1969, the AHC promotes and
protects the industry by communicating with Congress, federal agencies, the
media and the industry on behalf of all horse related interests each and
every day.
The AHC is member supported by individuals and organizations representing
virtually every facet of the horse world from owners, breeders,
veterinarians, farriers, breed registries and horsemen's associations to
horse shows, race tracks, rodeos, commercial suppliers and state horse
councils. Visit the AHC online: www.horsecouncil.org. |
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