2012 Census of Ag Verifies Produce Auction Impact

Published: August 1, 2014

Every 5 years the Census of Ag is conducted, which is the most comprehensive view into changes occurring in agriculture (by the numbers). So it is comforting when it documents something everyone working in and around produce auctions ‘feels or knows’. That sales are increasing, and thus, so must be acreage, greenhouses or high tunnels, and farms involved. This article discusses some tables created to specifically look at counties across the state heavily involved with growers selling to produce auctions and the produce facilities nearby Rich Hill.

Of greatest concern was if the data would be severely compromised by the drought of 2012. Upon first glance it didn’t look good. Statewide, Missouri’s harvested acreage in vegetable production plunged, from over 32,000 in 2007 to just over 20,000 in 2012, a 38% decrease. However, most of that reduction was in processing vegetable acres. Still, acres for fresh vegetables declined a bit more than 10%, from 11,000 acres to just under 10,000, which seems logical. Why plant dryland pumpkins in a drought year? Or that last planting of sweet corn? Or harvest a fizzled crop? Let’s look at how vegetable production fared in the main produce auction counties.

The first table is the most detailed presented, and shows 2012 sales was up smartly (123%) over 2007, thanks in part to the surge in Vernon County. But sales were up in 7 of the 8 areas with produce auctions and similar facilities as was also acreage in most counties as well as the number of farms. For the 2012 census, the data used came from County Tables 2 and 29.

The second and fourth tables address the production from greenhouses or high tunnels, which is divided into various market uses in Table 34 in the 2012 census. The most complete information was available in the category ‘Total Greenhouse Vegetables and Fresh Herbs’ of which tomatoes constituted 91% of the sales for Missouri in 2012. One can see that sales were up in all but one county or area. Unfortunately insufficient data existed to include Henry, Pettis and Webster counties. The data is only as good as is reported, so it is a bit odd to see such a small increase in sales in Morgan and Moniteau counties when the square footage tripled. However, the data from counties like Audrain and Daviess matches what I’ve seen, a nice increase in high tunnels or greenhouses.

This is probably a good time to review how the census is conducted, the compliance rate and the efforts it has made to improve responses from small farms and specialty crops. In conducting the Census of Agriculture, USDA-NASS attempts to contact every farming operation in the state. An important part of doing this is having a good list of farms. While the list NASS has is good and well maintained, it is not complete. As farms go in and out business it is often difficult to keep up with all the changes, especially for smaller, specialty farms. For the 2007 and 2012 Censuses, NASS made extensive efforts to make its list as complete as possible and encourage participation through publicity, outreach and promotion.

For the 2012 Census, a census form was mailed to everyone on the list in early 2013. Following that, a postcard reminder was sent shortly after. A second census form was mailed to non-respondents in February. In March, a third form was mailed to those who had still not responded. In some cases, phone calls or personal visits were made in addition.

When data collection ended, using various statistical methods, NASS estimated that about 69% of farms in the state received a census form, completed it and returned it to NASS. Of the 31% of farms that did not, about 9% were not on the mail list and did not receive a census form. Another 17% received a census form but did not return it. Finally, about 6% returned a form but, for various reasons, the farm was incorrectly classified as a non farm (this was typically a small farm close to not meeting the criteria necessary to be considered a farm). For vegetable farms the percentages were nearly the same. NASS used statistical means to account for farms that did not return a completed census form.

To provide a picture of total vegetable production, Table 3 was created, but since 3 counties were not in Table 2, they could not be included here. The increase in sales is predictable, as two tables are combined where sales increased, but there are a couple items noteworthy. First, how significant the sales from vegetables under cover are. Statewide they ranged from 11 to 12% of total, but for these combined counties ranged from 30 to 39%. For Daviess they nearly equaled field vegetables. For Morgan and Moniteau they may surpass the value of field vegetables in some years. Secondly, how important are these counties to the supply of fresh vegetables in the state. In 2007 this estimate would be calculated as 13% and in 2012 increased to 21%. And this percentage is low, not only because 3 counties are left off, but also because many other counties sell produce to auctions, but their acreage may not be ‘most’ of the vegetables produced in that county. Examples would be some counties nearby the North Missouri Produce Auction, Cooper (Prairie Home community), or counties sending their produce into Iowa auctions.

The final table presented here considers sales of floriculture crops, which is an important component of auction sales in the spring and a bit with mums in the fall. These crops in the census table include all bedding and garden plants (including hanging baskets), foliage plants, cut flowers, potted flowering crops and ‘other floriculture and bedding crops’. The data available is substantially less, thus an analysis of sales is not provided. [Also, the results are prone to being skewed by large greenhouse operations not selling to auctions. For instance there is a very large bedding plant business based in Moniteau County that delivers statewide.] Most noteworthy is that the number of farms in these counties growing floriculture crops has increased noticeably. By 2012 it appears farms reporting growing ornamentals is 40% of the number of farms growing vegetables. Of course, many, if not most, growing ornamentals also grow vegetables.

‘D’ means not disclosed to prevent individual data from being derived or estimated.

Are you interested in more information from the Ag Census of 2012? Unfortunately there are relatively few books printed anymore, as most people access it on the web. However, a few books will be available in Missouri. The more practical way to get the information is to request the tables you want and then they can be printed and mailed to you, free of charge by NASS. If you don’t know what tables you want you should try to explain what information you’d like. Please send those requests to:

• 601 Business Loop 70 West, Ste. 213E Columbia, MO 65203
• phone: 573-876-0950

The results of the 2012 Census appears to document the rising importance of fresh vegetables coming from produce auctions and like facilities (as a percentage of what is produced in Missouri). This is important as it is the most definitive ‘proof’ in that regard, and we can see that increase coming from multiple counties and both field and covered production. This can have implications to buyers (this supply is better regarded as a stable growing source), regulators, growers (builds confidence), and the general public (who want more local produce but may be disconnected from your farms). The next census of ag will be conducted for calendar year 2017, being mailed shortly after that year ends, in the winter of 2018. Please fill it out carefully and encourage others to do so as well.