Hi.
I’m trying to find data to update our Master Plan. I’ve searched and googled for about…ten hours now and I can’t find township-level agricultural data that’s what I need.
Specifically, I need the number of farms in this (Michigan) township, and any economic, social, etc. data in addition to that would be quite welcome. The census site has township-level data for lots of good stuff on its fact-finder site. Indeed, while some very acute annoyances have obtained, I’ve found the census.gov site to be very well done. I’ve been through all sorts of statistical resources that I can find and I am becoming very frustrated.
I’m hoping that there is an obvious and easy to obtain data set that I’ve overlooked. Even if there isn’t, your help would be appreciated. I cannot offer money, power, or fame, only a sincere expression of thanks.
You’re the best!
Easy. What county are you in? The government has a service called the Extension Service, usually runs out of a state university, geared towards giving free farm/ag/garden information to Joe Taxpayer, has free information on all kinds of garden, farm stuff, you’d be amazed. Look in the phone book–for example, mine here is under “Macon County University of Illinois Extension Office”. You could Google “[your county name] extension”, bet it would turn up. Or you can try “[your county name] master gardener”, which is another nifty program they run, which has nothing to do with the info you’re looking for, but at least it would give you the phone number of the extension office proper.
So, anyway, ask them, it’s a starting point. If they don’t have the info, they’ll know who to ask.
Also, don’t overlook that obvious resource, the Reference Librarian down at the local public library. If it’s anything like my public library, there’s a whole platoon of bored librarians sitting around just praying for someone to come in and ask them something really abstruse like this.