For more than 150 years, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, conducted the census of agriculture. However, the 1997 Appropriations Act transferred the responsibility from the Bureau of the Census to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The 1998 Census of Agriculture for Guam is the first census in Guam conducted by NASS.
The census of agriculture is taken to obtain agricultural statistics for each county, State (including territories and protectorates), and the Nation. The first U.S. agricultural census data were collected in 1840 as a part of the sixth decennial census. From 1840 to 1920, an agricultural census was taken as a part of each decennial census. Since 1920, a separate national agricultural census has been taken every 5 years.
The 1998 census is the 13th census of agriculture of Guam. The first, taken in 1920, was a special census authorized by the Secretary of Commerce. The next agriculture census was taken in 1930 in conjunction with the decennial census, a practice that continued every 10 years through 1960. The 1964 Census of Agriculture was the first quinquennial (5-year) census to be taken in Guam. In 1976, Congress authorized the census of agriculture to be taken for 1978 and 1982 to adjust the data-reference year to coincide with other economic censuses. After 1982, the agriculture census reverted to a 5-year cycle for the years ending in 2 and 7.
Data in this publication are referred to as 1998 data, and historical data are referenced as 1993 data. This is a change from the past practice of using the years 2 and 7 in the publication title. The reference year of 1998 reflects the year the data were gathered. Inventory data reflect numbers on hand as of July 1, 1998. The data are for the 12- month period of July 1, 1997 through June 30, 1998. This is the same reference period used in the past, and 1993 data shown in this publication are the same as 1992 data shown in the previous publication. The census cycle remains every five years, and the years referenced in the publication have been changed to more accurately reflect the collection period.
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CENSUS USES
The census of agriculture is the leading source of statistics about Guam's agricultural production and the only source of consistent, comparable data at the election district level. Census statistics are used to measure agricultural production and to identify trends in an ever changing agricultural sector. Many local programs use census data as a benchmark for designing and evaluating surveys. Private industry uses census statistics to provide a more effective production and distribution system for the agricultural community.
AUTHORITY AND AREA COVERED
The census of agriculture is required by law under the "Census of Agriculture Act of 1997," Public Law 105-113 (Title 7, United States Code, Section 2204g). The law directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a census of agriculture in 1998 and in every fifth year thereafter, covering the prior year. The census of agriculture includes each State, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.
The census data for Guam were collected in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding approved by the Administrator of NASS and by the Commissioner of Agriculture of Guam. It was conducted with the cooperation and assistance of the Guam Department of Agriculture.
FARM DEFINITION
The statistics collected in the census relate to places with agricultural operations qualifying as farms according to the census definition. In Guam this included all places from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the 12-month period between July 1, 1997, and June 30, 1998. This farm definition differs from that used in 1993 when the minimum value of sales to qualify as a farm was $100.
COMPARABILITY OF DATA
In general, the type of data from the 1998 census are comparable with those of previous censuses. The major difference in the two censuses is the farm definition, with the 1993 data for farms with sales greater than or equal to $100, and the 1998 data for farms with sales greater than or equal to $1000. All dollar values presented in this report are in current dollars, i.e., 1998 data are in 1998 dollars and 1993 data in 1993 dollars. The dollar values have not been adjusted for changes in price levels between census years.
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TABULAR PRESENTATION
Tables 1 through 12 show detailed island data accompanied by historic data from the previous census. Tables 13 through 27 show selected data items presented by election districts. Tables 28 through 31 provide 1998 island data cross-tabulated by tenure of operator, age of operator, size of farm, and market value of agricultural products sold.
RESPONDENT CONFIDENTIALITY
In keeping with the provisions of Title 7, United States Code, no data are published that would disclose the operations of an individual farm. However, the number of farms in a given size category or other classification is not considered a release of confidential information and is provided, even though other information may be withheld.
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REFERENCE PERIODS
Inventories of livestock, poultry, and machinery and equipment are the number on hand as of July 1 at the time of enumeration. Crop production, crop and livestock sales, and expense data are for the 12-month period between July and June.
SPECIAL TABULATIONS
Custom-designed tabulations can be developed to individual user specifications on a programming cost reimbursable basis. Inquiries about special tabulations should be directed to Data Lab Administrator, Marketing and Information Services Office, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20250; by telephone on 1-800-727-9540; or by e-mail at nass@nass.usda.gov.
ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS
The following abbreviations and symbols are used throughout the tables:
- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.
(NA) Not available.
sq. ft. - Square feet
(X) Not applicable.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.
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