[Sc-aquaponics] [Aqua-ohio] Census of Aquaculture

Fri Nov 30 10:53:42 EST 2018

Matt:

Thank you for emphasizing the importance of participating in the Census of
Aquaculture.  This effort is viewed as a special project by the National
Agricultural Statistics Service and has been proposed for elimination which
the NAA has strongly and successfully opposed.  We also believe the US
aquaculture is under reported but that only occurs because farms do not
participate. For all farmers, please make the time to complete the survey or
request a survey if you haven't rec'd one.  Your data is held confidential
and USDA employees are subject to criminal penalties if they misuse the
data.  

Your information is protected in several ways including.if you review the
2013 data you will see a lot of "D" notations.  These occur when within any
particular category of information there are 3 or fewer farms reporting or
within a small group of respondents there is one large, dominant farm.  NASS
does not report the data because knowledgeable people might then guess the
production for that dominant farm.  However, the information is not lost or
ignored and is included in the overall reporting for states or the nation.
For an example, please see the state-by-state food fish production numbers:
https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2012/Online_Resources/Aquacu
lture/aqua_1_013_013.pdf.  For Florida 58 farms reported food fish
production but there is a D in the data because one farm must much larger
than all the others.

If anyone has questions or concerns, please contact me and Matt commented
that for all the farms in Ohio that complete the survey he will stop by and
wash and wax your pickup.

All the best,

Paul

Paul W. Zajicek, Executive Director

National Aquaculture Association (USA)

Office: 850-216-2400

Cell: 850-443-3456

 <http://thenaa.net/> http://thenaa.net/ 

From: Aqua-ohio <aqua-ohio-bounces at lists.osu.edu> On Behalf Of Smith,
Matthew A. via Aqua-ohio
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2018 10:00 AM
To: aqua-ohio at lists.osu.edu; sc-aquaponics at lists.osu.edu
Subject: [Aqua-ohio] Census of Aquaculture

All,

in reviewing again the Ohio Aquaculture Association's Fall 2018 Newsletter,
I'm really taking in the information provided by the National Aquaculture
Association's Executive Director, Paul Zajicek. As Paul mentions in his
article "Contribute to the 2018 Census of Aquaculture" aquatic farmers who
DID complete this year's Census of Agriculture survey will be mailed a hard
copy of the Census of Aquaculture survey on December 17, 2018. I trust that
if you completed the first survey and indicated you grow aquatic crops that
you will receive the follow-up aquaculture-specific survey.

If you didn't complete/weren't contacted about the Ag Census survey then
please contact the USDA National Aquaculture Statistics Service at
1.800.727.9540 now to make sure your operation is counted. Don't expect for
a survey to be mailed to you if you have never received a Ag/Aqua Census
before. With a VERY short turnaround all responses for the Census of
Aquaculture survey will be due to USDA NASS by January 14, 2019. That is
BEFORE the Ohio Aquaculture Conference.

I'm reminded of approximately a year and a half ago when the NAA wrote a
letter (to whom, I can't remember at this point since they have been so
active) discussing the 3,093 aquaculture operations in the United States. I
was contacted after that letter was sent around stating that surely 3,100
farmers is a bit of a bad estimate/guess and the number is probably much
higher - I agree. Which is why whether it is an Ohio aquaculture permit or
the Census of Aquaculture, I encourage all to participate. I, along with
others, can only report the data. Even within OSU and OSU Extension I have
colleagues who do not know aquaculture even exists in Ohio or that OSU even
had an Aquaculture Specialist. Every time I get the same type questions -
how many farmers? what types/how many of fish/shrimp are grown? and what are
the sales like in Ohio? All questions I answer based on Census data. Whether
it's a presentation to ABC students, OAA conferences attendees, OSU workshop
attendees, invited guest lectures on campus, student-led organizations or
others, the presented information will remain the same until the
2024-2025ish Census comes out. 

Once the next Census of Aquaculture comes out (2019) I will do what should
be done each time one is released... I'll write up an article and give a
presentation in Ohio and other Midwest states on the Census of Aquaculture
and what it means for our state. The Census results includes the entire
United States, each individual state, several of the majorly produced
species, most types of production systems (probably including aquaponics
again this year!). Being in Ohio it's always good to read and write about
positive growth in Ohio despite much of the rest of the Midwest being in
decline or stagnant.

A very recent survey of the Midwest aquaculture industry indicated that one
of the major reasons why a farmer never joined their state/trade
associations is because they were NEVER ASKED. For those that have been in
the aquaculture industry only a few years, I'm sure this pertains to the
NASS survey as well since it only happens about every 5 years. Therefore,
I'm asking. 

Frequently asked Census of Aquaculture questions can be found here:
https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Census_of_Aquacultur
e/. Much more information is provided in Paul's newsletter along with other
links. 

Not in Ohio? No problem. Your information is pooled into your state and the
entire United States. 

I hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Regards,

<https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Census_of_Aquacultu
re/> 2018 Census of Aquaculture | 2017 Census of Agriculture | USDA/NASS

www.nass.usda.gov <http://www.nass.usda.gov> 

For the 2018 Census of Aquaculture, an aquaculture farm is defined as any
place from which $1,000 or more of aquaculture products were produced and
sold or distributed for conservation, enhancement, or recreation during the
Census year.

Please note my new office address and phone/fax numbers below

  <http://osu.edu/assets/site/images/logos/osu-emailsig.png> 

Matthew A. Smith
Extension Aquaculture Specialist

Madison County Extension Office

College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences 
217 Elm Street, London, Ohio 43140
740.852.0975 Office / 740.852.0744 Fax
 <mailto:smith.11460 at osu.edu> smith.11460 at osu.edu  <http://osu.edu/> osu.edu

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