Contents: PART I. EARLY EFFORTS TO GATHER AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS, 1781-1861 (Chapter 1. Evolution of Agricultural Data Systems); PART II. THE FOUNDING PERIOD, 1862 to 1905 (Chapter 2. A Beginning Is Made, Chapter 3. Regular Reports Are Established, 1866-81, Chapter 4. An Era of Progress, 1882-93, Chapter 5. A Decade of Confusion 1894-1905); PART III. A PERIOD OF GROWTH, 1905-30 (Chapter 6. Crop Reporting from 1905 Through World War I, Chapter 7. Post World War I—The Decade of the 1920’s; PART IV. AN ERA OF TURBULENT EXPANSION (Chapter 8. A New Era Starts with Henry A. Wallace, Chapter 9. Post World War II, Chapter 10. Inauguration of a Long-Range Plan for Development of the Statistical Reporting Service); PART V. APPENDIX (Chapter 11. A Century of Agriculture in Charts and Pictures, Chapter 12. A Chronology of Development and Progress, Chapter 13. Heads of Agricultural Statistics, Chapter 14. Statutes Establishing and Enlarging the Department of Agriculture; Chapter 15. Laws Governing Crop Reports, Chapter 16. Crop Reporting Regulations, Chapter 17. Commissioners and Secretaries of Agriculture).