(Photo: WBOC)CLAYTON, Del.- Kitty Holtz has been a grain farmer in Kent County for more than 40 years and says the industry is integral to Delaware.
"We provide food, fiber and fuel for this country and for the world," she said.
The federal government is sending out an agriculture census to Delaware farmers to not only learn more about their operations, but to find out how they can be helped.
"It also helps all of the agencies and like the University of Delaware folks as they're looking for grants to support their work, it documents how important it is," said Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee.
Holtz said the agriculture census is especially important because even though grain prices have increased, it shows that farmers like her are still hurting because costs are going up.
"They've really gone up in the last five years as well, so hopefully this report will give an overall picture and not just what the general public sees as really good prices," Holtz said.
Holtz also worries about over-regulation and hopes farmers will address it in their census.
"We need regulations but to be over-regulated where it's impacting on our right to farm, that's an issue," she said.
Delaware farmers will be mailed a census but it can also be taken online at http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/index.php
