produce a carcass that will grade select or better. 
This category excludes cattle that were pastured 
only, background feeder cattle, and veal calves. 
Cattle on feed sold. Data are for cattle on feed sold 
that weighed 500 pounds or more and were shipped 
directly from the feedlot to the slaughter market. 
This category excludes cattle that were pastured 
only, owned cattle that were shipped from feedlots 
operated by others, background feeder cattle, and 
veal calves. 
Chemicals applied. For each type of chemical used, 
the acres treated were reported only once even if the 
acres were treated more than once. If multi-purpose 
chemicals were used, the acres treated for each 
purpose were reported. See Total farm production 
expenses; Chemicals. 
Cherries. Cherries were reported as either sweet 
cherries or tart cherries. Combined crops or non- 
specified cherry acres were not options for the 
respondent. Total acres, bearing age acres, and 
nonbearing age acres were reported for each crop. 
Christmas trees, cut. Data are for acres of 
Christmas trees in production, either cut or to be cut, 
the number of these acres that were irrigated, and the 
number of trees cut along with the value of sales of 
the harvested trees. 
Christmas trees, live. These data were reported as 
nursery stock. They are generally sold as balled and 
burlapped trees from the operation. 
Chukars. (Chukkars) This is a new item for 2012. 
In 2007, chukars were reported as other poultry. 
Coffee. Data were collected only in Hawaii. 
Colonies of bees. Colonies of bees were tabulated in 
the county where the bees’ owner had the largest 
value of all agricultural products raised or produced. 
Colonies are often moved from farm-to-farm over a 
wide geographic area. Package bees are not included 
as separate colonies. Colonies of bees were collected 
in their own section to clarify to respondents that 
only “owned” colonies were to be reported versus 
any colonies on the operation. Published colonies 
2012 Census of Agriculture 
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service 
inventory is the total number of colonies owned on 
December 31, 2012. 
Commodities raised and delivered under 
production contracts. A production contract is an 
agreement between a producer or grower and a 
contractor (integrator) setting terms, conditions, and 
fees to be paid by the contractor to the operation for 
the production of crops, livestock, or poultry. The 
grower receives a payment or fee from the 
contractor, generally after delivery, which is less 
than the full market price of the commodity. A 
production contract involves the shifting of some 
risk and control from the grower to the contractor. 
Marketing contracts, futures contracts, forward 
contracts, or other contracts based strictly on price 
are not considered production contracts. 
Commodities sold to a co-op where some of the 
input items were purchased from the same co-op at a 
discount price were also excluded. Many operations 
produce commodities only under production 
contracts or only independently. Some operations 
may produce a commodity under production contract 
and also produce more of the same commodity that 
they sell independently. The production contract data 
are totals for the portion of agriculture production 
raised and delivered under production contract. 
Crops and livestock inventory, production, and value 
of sales are the total of all production, both 
independent and raised under production contract. 
Custom fed cattle shipped directly for slaughter 
under a production contract. Cattle under production 
contract which were not shipped directly to slaughter 
were reported in either replacement dairy heifers 
under production contract or in the Other cattle, 
sheep, livestock, or poultry under production 
contract category. 
Layers under production contract. The production 
contract is based on eggs, but the layers are owned 
by the contractor and are also under contract. The 
layers are ‘produced’ at the pullet farm, which may 
have a separate production contract. This is a new 
item for 2012. 
Replacement dairy heifers under production 
contract. This is a new item for 2012. In 2007, 
replacement dairy heifers were included in “Other 
cattle, livestock, poultry, or aquaculture under 
production contract.” 
APPENDIX B B -5 
