The first agriculture Census was taken in 1840 as part of the Sixth Decennial Census of Population. For 156 years the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census was responsible for collecting data for the Census of Agriculture. The Census of Agriculture, taken every five years, is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. The Census looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures, and many other areas. This is one of the United States Agricultural Census'.