NASS Ag Census Map Service Documentation
In collaboration with NASS, ERS developed, and is hosting, the map services for the 2012 Ag Census Web Maps application. As with other ERS map services (documentation available here), these map services are open and available for use outside of ERS or NASS applications.
The table below describes the map services created for the 2012 Ag Census Web Maps application
| Map service | Description |
|---|---|
| Crops and Plants | This map service contains maps and data relevant to various field crops, hay and forage crops, vegetables, fruits, and other plants |
| Economics | This map service contains maps and data relevant to farms by value of sales, market value of agricultural products sold, farm-related income and direct sales, farm production expenses, buildings, machinery and equipment on operation |
| Farms | This map service contains maps and data relevant to number of farms, land in farms and land use, agricultural chemicals used, farms by type of organization |
| Livestock and Animals | This map service contains maps and data relevant to livestock, poultry, and other animals |
| Operators | This map service contains maps and data relevant to hired farm labor, tenure of farm operators and farm operations, principal occupation of operator, characteristics of farm operators |
Desktop User Instructions
To use the NASS map services in a desktop application, such as ArcMap or ArcGIS Online:
- Browse the NASS folder in the ERS service description and REST directory to determine which services and maps meet your needs, and
- Follow the instructions here to add the maps to your document. Use ‘gis.ers.usda.gov’ as the server specification.
Developer API Instructions
The services can be accessed through ArcGIS Server REST API. JSON and SOAP interfaces are also available. See the detailed documentation, including general usage instructions, service properties, and methods.