By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH

Indiana Correspondent

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Four Congressional districts in Iowa and Illinois ranked in the top 20 nationwide for value of agricultural products sold, based on a report compiled from 2017 Census of Agriculture data.

In June, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the report that also ranked various farm and producer characteristics, harvested acres, and livestock and poultry inventories by district. There are 435 Congressional districts in the country.

For value of ag products sold, Iowa’s Fourth District (northwest and north-central) ranked second at nearly $16 billion. Iowa’s First (northeast and parts of central) was 12th with $6.1 billion. Eighteenth was Iowa’s Second (most of the southeast) with $4.29 billion.

Illinois’ 15th District (east and southeast) ranked 19th with $4.26 billion. The Nebraska Third (most of the state except east-central) was first, with more than $16 billion.

Organizations such as the Indiana Farm Bureau use the report to keep legislators informed about farming in the areas they represent.

“We utilize the information from the Congressional districts when we put together key messages for our legislative delegation in Washington, D.C.,” explained Bob White, director of national government relations. “I depend on that information in putting those packets together.”

The top Congressional district for agriculture in the state is the Fourth, which is mostly in western Indiana. It ranked No. 37 nationwide. The area is represented by U.S. Rep. Jim Baird, a Republican who serves on the House Agriculture Committee.

“(Serving on the committee) makes him a key target,” White noted. “Indiana Farm Bureau feeds him as much agricultural information as we can.”

The state’s Seventh District covers most of Marion County, including Indianapolis. The district’s representative – André Carson, a Democrat – is interested in the number of urban farms in the area, White said.

“He’s utilizing the data, but in a little different way. Other districts with a very high agricultural composition, those legislators are looking at how agriculture is impacting the people in their districts.”

Once the data are compiled for the census, it’s released in a variety of ways, said David Knopf, regional director of the NASS Eastern Mountain region.

“This is just another way of presenting the data,” he noted. “When talking about farm policy in particular, but not exclusively, a way to impact it is through senators and members of the House of Representatives. This is a great way to inform legislators and producers.

“It’s a way to measure geographically how agriculture has an impact. Legislators want to be informed, especially in districts that have a large contribution to agriculture.”

It may be difficult for some legislators to know about agricultural activity in all parts of their districts, said Mark Schleusener, Illinois state statistician for NASS.

“This gives them the opportunity to learn about agriculture within their district,” he noted. “Some legislators, like most U.S. citizens, are not very familiar with agriculture. This will help them to understand the impact of agriculture in their district. If they’re scheduled to vote on a new rule, they can learn how many farmers could be impacted.”

The primary economic force in the state’s 102 counties is, with few exceptions, agriculture, Schleusener said. “The report can provide information and perspective to legislators. In many rural districts, agriculture is the primary economic engine. NASS is measuring expenses, such as fuel, feed, and seed. The money farmers spend becomes salaries for these people.”

To view the report and others related to the 2017 Census, visit www.nass.usda.gov/publications/agcensus/2017/index.php

The site also includes a link to make suggestions for the 2022 Census of Agriculture.