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- The 2026 Census of Agriculture is coming!
- The 2026 Census of Agriculture—in support of a strong agriculture sector in Canada
The 2026 Census of Agriculture is coming!
In May 2026, farm operators across Canada will receive an invitation in the mail to complete the Census of Agriculture questionnaire. Respondents will be able to complete their questionnaire online using their Secure Access Code (SAC) included in the invitation letter.
What to expect for the 2026 Census of Agriculture
In the coming months, the Census of Agriculture Program will reach out to the farming community with materials they can use to help promote the census. Along with shareable materials, there will be a media campaign detailing what's new in the upcoming census and why the census is important.
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 agricultural industry and local farming communities across Canada. Since 1921, the Census of Agriculture has provided a detailed portrait of the agricultural industry 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, faster 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 begins in early May 2026. Farm operators will receive a letter with easy-to-follow instructions on how to complete the questionnaire.
Completing the questionnaire online is quick and easy. In May 2026, farm operators can:
- go to Statistics Canada's website, www.census.gc.ca, and select the online questionnaire.
- use the secure access code received in the mail to complete the questionnaire.
Why is the Census of Agriculture important?
The Census of Agriculture has provided a detailed portrait of the agricultural industry across Canada since 1921. Census data are key to strengthening the economic growth, international competitiveness, and sustainability of the agricultural 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 agricultural 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.
Farm operators can support their community by filling out the Census of Agriculture questionnaire in May 2026. 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.
What's new?
For 2026, we have 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.