- Who should fill in the Census of Agriculture questionnaire?
- What is an agricultural operation?
- How long will it take?
- What records will be useful in filling out your Census of Agriculture questionnaire?
- The law protects what you tell us
- Do you have to fill in the Census of Agriculture questionnaire?
- Need help?
Who should fill in the Census of Agriculture questionnaire?
The person(s) responsible for, or knowledgeable about, the management decisions of an agricultural operation.
What is an agricultural operation?
An agricultural operation produces at least one of the following products intended for sale. (It is not necessary to have had sales in the past 12 months.)
- Crops (hay, field crops, tree fruits or nuts, berries or grapes, vegetables, seed)
- Livestock (cattle, pigs, sheep, horses, game animals, other livestock)
- Poultry (hens, chickens, turkeys, chicks, game birds, other poultry)
- Animal products (milk or cream, eggs, wool, furs, meat)
- Other agricultural products (Christmas trees, sod, greenhouse or nursery products, mushrooms, honey or bees, maple syrup products)
How long will it take?
It may take about 40 minutes to complete your questionnaire, but the time will depend on the size and type of your operation. The questionnaire contains 36 steps, but most operators only have to complete about a third of them.
Statistics Canada takes all possible measures to reduce response burden such as providing a help line, giving the option of completing the questionnaire on paper, by telephone or on the Internet, etc.
What records will be useful in filling out your Census of Agriculture questionnaire?
The following records may help save you time:
- property tax statements
- 2015 income tax forms
- crop management and herd management records
- account books or computerized farm accounts
- financial statements prepared for lending institutions
- crop insurance statements
The law protects what you tell us
The confidentiality of your Census of Agriculture form is protected by law. Only Statistics Canada employees who work with census data and have taken an oath of secrecy see your form.
You can ask to see the information you provided on your 2016 Census of Agriculture after November 2016. To do so, write to the Privacy Co-ordinator, Statistics Canada, 25th Floor, R.H. Coats Building, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0T6.
Do you have to fill in the Census of Agriculture questionnaire?
Yes. Under the Statistics Act, agricultural operators are required to complete a Census of Agriculture form.
Need help?
The Census Help Line operates Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. from May 2 to July 31. If you have any questions, need assistance in completing your questionnaire, or require extra forms, call 1-855-859-6273.