Articles for the Census of Agriculture

The 2026 Census of Agriculture is here!

What to expect for the 2026 Census of Agriculture

In May 2026, farm operators across Canada received an invitation in the mail to complete the Census of Agriculture questionnaire. Respondents can complete their questionnaire online at census.gc.ca using their Secure Access Code (SAC) included in the invitation letter.

In accordance with the Statistics Act, farm operators are required to participate in the Census of Agriculture. By the same law, Statistics Canada is required to protect the information provided in Census of Agriculture questionnaires. We place the highest priority on protecting your privacy and your information.

Why is participation important?

Filling out the Census of Agriculture questionnaire is important for supporting the agriculture sector and local farming communities across Canada. Since 1921, the Census of Agriculture has provided a detailed portrait of the agriculture sector across Canada.

The data produced are key to supporting economic growth and sustainability for the businesses in this sector and can support decision-making around international trade, competitiveness and technological progress.

Farm organizations are also heavy users of census data and draw on this information to formulate policy recommendations, develop communications and outreach activities, and conduct market research.

Statistics Canada has been working hard to make it easier for farm operators to complete their 2026 questionnaire. It is now shorter and easier to complete. Farm operators are now required to only answer questions relevant to their operation’s activities.

Consulting our users to get it right

In fall 2022, Statistics Canada conducted a national consultation to assess the information needs of agricultural stakeholders. The agency received 847 comments and suggestions from diverse groups—including farming organizations and businesses, federal government departments and agencies, provincial government, and academics—to help improve the Census of Agriculture. Statistics Canada is grateful to the Canadian agricultural community for its ongoing feedback and support.

For more information, please visit the census website.

The 2026 Census of Agriculture—in support of a strong agriculture sector in Canada

The Census of Agriculture began May 4, 2026. Farm operators received a letter in the mail with easy-to-follow instructions on how to complete the census questionnaire.

How to complete the census

Accessing and completing the questionnaire online is easy and secure. To complete their questionnaire, farm operators can:

• go to Statistics Canada’s website, census.gc.ca, and select ”Start questionnaire”.
• use the secure access code received in the mail to access and complete the questionnaire.

Who should complete the Census of Agriculture?

Farm operators can support their community by filling out the Census of Agriculture questionnaire. The questionnaire can be completed by anyone who is responsible for, or knowledgeable about, the day-to-day management decisions of the farm’s operations.

In accordance with the Statistics Act, farm operators are required to participate in the Census of Agriculture. By the same law, the information provided to Statistics Canada will be kept confidential and used only for statistical purposes.

Why is the Census of Agriculture important?

The Census of Agriculture has provided a detailed portrait of the agriculture sector across Canada since 1921. Census data are key to strengthening the economic growth, international competitiveness, and sustainability of the agriculture sector and to ensuring that farm operators have the support they need to continue producing fresh, healthy food for Canadians.

Census data are Canada’s sole source of community-level data on agriculture. Key decision-makers – including farm businesses – use this information to act in the interest of farm operators, farming communities and agricultural associations across Canada.

Farm organizations are also heavy users of census data. They draw on this information to formulate policy recommendations, develop communications and outreach work, and conduct market research.

Policy advisors from all levels of government use Census of Agriculture data to develop strong farm support programs, to evaluate the impacts of external events on the agriculture sector, and to provide rapid, effective assistance in times of natural disasters—such as floods, droughts, storms and wildfires.

The Census of Agriculture comes with other benefits:

• Census of Agriculture data can help identify trends and provide information on emerging economic and social issues, opportunities, and challenges within the agricultural community.
• The questionnaire covers a wide range of topics, such as land use, crops, livestock, agricultural labour, machinery and equipment, land management practices, and farm finances. These invaluable data help inform research and policy across the Canadian agriculture sector.
• Census data give all stakeholders in the agriculture sector an equally reliable source of information.

What’s new?

For 2026, Statistics Canada has made improvements to the questionnaire to make it faster and easier to complete. Data from high-quality alternative sources will be used to replace multiple questions, reducing response burden while ensuring data needs are still being met.

Coast to coast to coast: The 2026 Census of Agriculture is here

The 2026 Census of Agriculture is underway!

By completing the census, farm operators can have their voices heard and help strengthen their communities while supporting the future of agriculture in Canada.

Why the census matters

The Census of Agriculture has provided a snapshot of the Canadian agriculture sector since 1921. Decision-makers use the data collected from the Census of Agriculture to act in the interest of farm operators, farming communities and agricultural associations across Canada.

Census data help guide:

• farm support programs and policies
• economic growth and stability
• emergency response to natural disasters
• policy programs, research, planning and advocacy.

Ways you can help support the 2026 Census of Agriculture

Your participation makes a difference! You can support the 2026 Census of Agriculture by:

• Sharing materials from the Census of Agriculture Community Supporter Toolkit with your networks.
• Letting your communities know that the Census of Agriculture is currently taking place.
• Completing your census questionnaire in May 2026.

Remember, accessing and completing the census questionnaire online is easy and secure

To complete their questionnaire, farm operators can:

• Go to Statistics Canada's website, census.gc.ca, to access the online questionnaire.
• Use the Secure Access Code (SAC) received in the mail to complete the questionnaire.

For more information, visit census.gc.ca.

How farmers can grow their business

Farming has a long and proud history in this country. Canadian farm operators have engineered new farming practices, tools and even crops. When it comes to growing your own farm business, you know what your land, livestock or plants need.

Make data-driven decisions by getting the right information. Successful businesses often set their strategies by looking at the available data in their market. In many industries, that can mean hiring a firm to carry out market research. But one way farmers can get high-quality data at no cost is by completing the 2026 Census of Agriculture.

A snapshot of Canada’s agriculture sector taken every five years, the census gives farm operators insight into current trends and challenges and lets policymakers better understand their needs and opportunities. As of May 4, farmers can fill out their census questionnaire online, and it’s important to do so—the quality of the data collected depends on wide participation.

By growing a strong sense of your business’s identity and story, as well as contributing to reliable data for decision-making, you can take your farm to the next level. You can contribute to Canada’s largest source of community-level agriculture data by completing your questionnaire at census.gc.ca.

How technology is transforming Canadian farming

Advanced farm equipment has made more efficient growing and harvesting possible and has increased crop yields on Canadian farms. But it’s not just farming hardware that has improved. Here are a few of the technologies shaping farming in the information age:

Data-driven farming: Farmers are using sensors that can monitor weather and soil conditions in real time to make more informed decisions. Sensors located in fields can alert farmers about moisture levels or even pest activity. These technologies can help farm operators react faster to threats as they develop, and can also provide data to inform planning for next season’s planting.

GPS-powered planting: By using devices linked to GPS satellites, farmers can plant seeds with pinpoint precision. This can help crop yields by reducing overlap and crowding. GPS precision planting tools are especially helpful for fields on uneven or steep terrain. Precise positioning can also enhance data collection for farm operators using sensors to monitor their crops.

Community-level data: Data analysis isn’t just informing decisions at the individual level. Agricultural groups and all levels of government make policy decisions based on the data collected through programs like the Census of Agriculture. It provides a snapshot of the agriculture sector in Canada every five years, and this year is a census year, which means farm operators will again contribute by filling out their census questionnaire online.

Rural data infrastructure: Broadband Internet service availability is improving in Canada’s rural and remote communities. Several projects are underway to expand high-speed Internet access across the country, with a target of 100 per cent access in 2030, according to reporting by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

By using data effectively, Canada’s agriculture sector is better equipped to meet today’s needs and plan for tomorrow’s opportunities. Farm operators can learn more about how to complete their 2026 Census questionnaire at census.gc.ca.