Statistics Canada - Statistique Canada
Skip main navigation menuSkip secondary navigation menuHomeFrançaisContact UsHelpSearch the websiteCanada Site
The DailyCanadian StatisticsCommunity ProfilesProducts and servicesHome
CensusCanadian StatisticsCommunity ProfilesProducts and servicesOther links
Products and services > Downloadable Publications > 75F0010XIE

Labour market and income data guide
December 2000
Global view of surveys Survey descriptions Help

Census of Agriculture

Description: The census collects data on agricultural operations. This information is used by the Agriculture Division of Statistics Canada as a benchmark for the calculation of estimates and for the determination of the sample frame for the agricultural surveys. The information is also used by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and provincial governments for the development, administration and evaluation of agricultural policies as well as by universities and agri-businesses for research and planning.

Who/what is surveyed: All census farms

How the data is collected: 98% Self-enumeration, drop off/mail back; 2% personal interviews

Geographic detail: Canada, provinces and territories; Census Agricultural Regions; Census divisions; Census Consolidated Subdivisions; Federal electoral districts/Enumeration areas; Aggregation of enumeration areas; User defined boundary areas (e.g. soil landscape areas, agricultural resource areas, watersheds)

Demographic detail: age, sex, mother tongue, marital status, ethnicity, family size, farm population

Information collected:

Characteristics of farms and farm operators for Canada, provinces, territories and sub-provincial areas
Farm operators, number (up to three per farm)

- residence status
- time commitments to the operation and to paid employment
- business operated separately from the farm
- injuries suffered while performing agricultural activities

Farms, operating arrangements, location and area operated
Agricultural land profile by land use
Area, by crop type
Poultry, by type, by age, by number of birds type
Livestock, by number, by type
Fur bearing animals, number, by type
Maple trees, number of tappings
Bee colonies
Commercial fertilizer, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides: area applied
Irrigation, land area irrigated
Manure application methods: area applied
Practices used to control soil erosion
Weed control used on summerfallow
Tillage used to prepare land seeding
Market value:

- farm vehicles, machinery and equipment, by number, by type
- farm land and buildings, owned, rented or leased from governments or others

Farm business expenses, by type
Farm capital purchases and improvements, by type
Hired agricultural labour, weeks
Forest products on farms, value of products sold
Agricultural products sold, gross value of sales
Farms using computers, number
Agriculture-Population Linkage Database: Age, sex, mother tongue, marital status, ethnicity, education, income sources of farm operators, occupation, family size, farm population

Frequency: Quinquennial

Sample size: 276,548 census farms

Data availability: 1966 to 1996

Reference period: The reference period for the Census of Agriculture data varies with the variable under consideration. The most common reference periods include the previous calendar year (e.g. value of agricultural products sold) and census day (e.g. number of livestock on the operation).

Release dates: May 1997 (1996 Census)

Response rates: 100%

What makes the data valuable:

  1. Detail on small geographic areas not available from other sources
  2. Comprehensive picture of the major characteristics of the agriculture industry
  3. Data reflect new agricultural practices, new crops and livestock
  4. Many characteristics available for cross tabulation
  5. Consistent historical data
  6. Data from the Agriculture-Population Linkage database provides a socio-economic portrait of farm operators, their spouses, children, families and households

Related surveys or data:

For a complete list of products and services from the Agriculture Division, consult People, Products and Services (catalogue no. 21F0003XPB) or the on-line catalogue at www.statcan.ca

Products and services:

  1. 1996 Census of Agriculture CD-ROM (catalogue no 93F0031XCB)
  2. Canadian Agriculture at a Glance (catalogue no 96-325-XPB)
  3. Custom tabulations: This service develops custom tables to meet clients' specific needs in terms of geography and content
  4. For a complete list of products and services from the Census of Agriculture consult People, Products and Services (catalogue no. 21F0003XPB) or the on-line catalogue at /start.html or contact your closest Statistics Canada Regional Reference Centre.

Responsible division: Agriculture



Home | Search | Contact Us | Français Return to top of page
Date Modified: 2003-11-07 Important Notices