Agricultural Frame Update Survey – 2026

Getting Started

Purpose

The information from this survey will serve the following purposes: evaluate the coverage of the Census of Agriculture, maintain and update the Canadian Business Register, the principal frame for the economic statistics program of Statistics Canada and improve the efficiency of the Agriculture Statistical Program by collecting information on the main products and activities of this business.

Why we conduct this survey?

Statistics Canada is conducting the Agricultural Frame Update Survey (AFUS) to ensure the accuracy of the agriculture universe on the Business Register (BR).

The information from the Agricultural Frame Update Survey will serve the following purposes:

  • Coverage evaluation of the 2026 Census of Agriculture sample.
  • Maintain and update the Canadian Business Register, the principal frame for the economic statistics program of Statistics Canada. The Business Register lists all active businesses in Canada.
  • Improve the efficiency of the Agriculture Statistical Program by collecting information on the main products and activities of this business.

Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes.

Your participation in this survey is required under the authority of the Statistics Act.

Other important information

How are we authorized to collect this information?

Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19.

Your answers are confidential

By law, Statistics Canada is prohibited from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, business or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent, or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Statistics Canada will use the information from this survey for statistical purposes only.

Record linkages

To enhance the data from this survey and to minimize the reporting burden, Statistics Canada may combine it with information from other surveys or from administrative sources.

Data-sharing agreements

To reduce respondent burden, Statistics Canada has entered into data sharing agreements with provincial and territorial statistical agencies and other government organizations, which have agreed to keep the data confidential and use them only for statistical purposes. Statistics Canada will only share data from this survey with those organizations that have demonstrated a requirement to use the data.

Section 11 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with provincial and territorial statistical agencies that meet certain conditions. These agencies must have the legislative authority to collect the same information, on a mandatory basis, and the legislation must provide substantially the same provisions for confidentiality and penalties for disclosure of confidential information as the Statistics Act. Because these agencies have the legal authority to compel businesses to provide the same information, consent is not requested and businesses may not object to the sharing of the data.

For this survey, there are Section 11 agreements with the provincial and territorial statistical agencies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon.

The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Section 12 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with federal, provincial or territorial government organizations. 

Under Section 12, you may refuse to share your information with any of these organizations by writing a letter of objection to the Chief Statistician, specifying the organizations with which you do not want Statistics Canada to share your data and mailing it to the following address: 

Chief Statistician of Canada
Statistics Canada
Care of Director, Agriculture Division
150 Tunney's Pasture Driveway
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0T6

You may also contact us by email at infostats@statcan.gc.ca or by fax at 1-514-496-4879. 

For this survey, there are Section 12 agreements with the statistical agencies of Prince Edward Island, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. 

For agreements with provincial and territorial government organizations, the shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Business or organization and contact information

BR-Q1. Verify or provide the business or organization's legal and operating name and correct where needed.

Note: Legal name should only be modified to correct a spelling error or typo.

Legal Name

Name of a corporation as determined by its instrument of incorporation. The legal name of the entity is that which is recognized by law and is, therefore, the name liable for pursuit or for debts incurred by the business or organization. In the case of a corporation, it is the legal name set by its charter or the statute by which the corporation was created.

Modifications to the legal name should only be done to correct a spelling error or typo.

To indicate a legal name of another legal entity you should instead indicate it in question 3 by selecting 'Not currently operational' and then choosing the applicable reason and providing the legal name of this other entity along with any other requested information.

Operating Name

The operating name, which is different from the legal name, is a name the business or organization is commonly known as for day-to-day activities, and is used to advertise and promote itself. The operating name is synonymous with trade name.

  • Legal name:
  • Operating name (if applicable):

BR-Q2. Verify or provide the contact information for the designated contact person for the business or organization, and correct if needed.

  • First name
  • Last name
  • Title
  • Preferred language of communication:
    • English
    • French
  • Mailing address (number and street):
  • City:
  • Province, territory or state:
  • Postal code or ZIP code:
  • Country:
    • Canada
    • United States
  • Email address:
  • Telephone number (including area code):
  • Extension number (if applicable):
  • Fax number (including area code):

BR-Q3. Verify or provide the current operational status of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name above.

  • Operational
  • Not currently operational > e.g., temporarily or permanently closed, change of ownership
    Why is this business or organization not currently operational?
    • Seasonal operations
      • When did this business or organization close for the season?
        • Date
      • When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
        • Date
    • Ceased operations
      • When did this business or organization cease operations?
        • Date
      • Why did this business or organization cease operations?
        • Bankruptcy
        • Liquidation
        • Dissolution
        • Other - Specify the other reasons why operations ceased  
    • Sold operations
      • When was this business or organization sold?
        • Date
      • What is the legal name of the buyer?
    • Amalgamated with other businesses or organizations
      • When did this business or organization amalgamate?
        • Date
      • What is the legal name of the resulting or continuing business or organization?
      • What are the legal names of the other amalgamated businesses or organizations?
    • Temporarily inactive but will re-open
      • When did this business or organization become temporarily inactive?
        • Date
      • When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
        • Date
      • Why is this business or organization temporarily inactive?
    • No longer operating due to other reasons
      • When did this business or organization cease operations?
        • Date
      • Why did this business or organization cease operations?

Agricultural activity

BR-Q4. Will this operation produce agricultural products in 2026?

Examples of agricultural products include: hay, field crops, field vegetables, fruit, berries, nuts, sod, nursery products, ornamental plants, flowers, Christmas trees, mushrooms, greehouse products, maple products, honey, bees or other pollinating bees, poultry, eggs, livestock, meat, milk, wool, horses. 

Definition: Throughout this questionnaire, this operation or this agricultural operation refers to the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name in question 1. 

  • Yes, this operation will produce agricultural products. (If yes, answer the question below.)
    • Will this operation be reporting sales or expenses for these agricultural products to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)?
      Include sales and expenses from:
    • agricultural products grown or raised by this operation in 2026
    • other commodities produced using agricultural products grown or raised by this operation in 2026 (e.g., wine, meat products).
      • Yes
      • No
    • No, but other agricultural operations will use the land and/or farm buildings to produce agricultural products
    • No, this operation will not produce agricultural products

BR-Q5. Verify or provide the current main activity of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name above.

Note: The described activity was assigned using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).

This question verifies the business or organization’s current main activity as classified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The NAICS is an industry classification system developed by the statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States. Created against the background of the North American Free Trade Agreement, it is designed to provide common definitions of the industrial structure of the three countries and a common statistical framework to facilitate the analysis of the three economies. NAICS is based on supply-side or production-oriented principles, to ensure that industrial data, classified to NAICS, are suitable for the analysis of production-related issues such as industrial performance.

The target entity for which NAICS is designed are businesses and other organizations engaged in the production of goods and services. They include farms, incorporated and unincorporated businesses and government business enterprises. They also include government institutions and agencies engaged in the production of marketed and non-marketed services, as well as organizations such as professional associations and unions and charitable or non-profit organizations and the employees of households.

The associated NAICS should reflect those activities conducted by the business or organizational units targeted by this questionnaire only, as identified in the “Answering this questionnaire” section and which can be identified by the specified legal and operating name. The main activity is the activity which most defines the targeted business or organization’s main purpose or reason for existence. For a business or organization that is for-profit, it is normally the activity that generates the majority of the revenue for the entity. 

The NAICS classification contains a limited number of activity classes; the associated classification might be applicable for this business or organization even if it is not exactly how you would describe this business or organization’s main activity. 

Please note that any modifications to the main activity through your response to this question might not necessarily be reflected prior to the transmitting of subsequent questionnaires and as a result they may not contain this updated information.

The following is the detailed description including any applicable examples or exclusions for the classification currently associated with this business or organization:

#{NAICS_Title_E.Prefill}

#{NAICS_Desc_E.Prefill}.

Main activity

BR-Q6. You indicated that [NAICS code] is not the current main activity. Was this business or organization's main activity ever classified as [NAICS description]?

  • Yes
    When did the main activity change?
    Date:
  • No

BR-Q7. Search and select the industry activity classification that best corresponds to this business or organization's main activity.

Select this business or organization's activity sector (optional)

  • Farming or logging operation
  • Construction company or general contractor
  • Manufacturer
  • Wholesaler
  • Retailer
  • Provider of passenger or freight transportation
  • Provider of investment, savings or insurance products
  • Real estate agency, real estate brokerage or leasing company
  • Provider of professional, scientific or technical services
  • Provider of health care or social services
  • Restaurant, bar, hotel, motel or other lodging establishment
  • Other sector

Canada Revenue Agency Business Numbers

Canada Revenue Agency Business Numbers – Question identifier: 1

Q1. Does this operation have a Business Number issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)? 

A Business Number is a unique 9-digit number assigned to a business by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). It is used to register a business for tax programs such as GST/HST, payroll deduction, corporation income tax, etc.

  • Yes
    • Enter the Business Number issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
      • Include only the first 9 digits.
      • Business Number Example: 123456789
      • Business number:
  • No

Canada Revenue Agency Business Numbers – Question identifier: 2

Q2. Do you operate or own other agricultural or non-agricultural businesses?

  • Yes 
    Enter the other legal or operating name of the businesses and their associated Business Number.
    • Legal or operating name 1
    • Associated Business Number 1 
    • Legal or operating name 2 (if applicable)
    • Associated Business Number 2 Example: 123456789 RT 0001  (if applicable)
    • Legal or operating name 3 (if applicable)
    • Associated Business Number 3 Example: 123456789 RT 0001 (if applicable)
  • No

If there are more than three other businesses, enter them in the edit field below. 

Main farm location of this operation – Question identifier: 3

Q3. Please provide the main farm location of this operation.

This is where the main agricultural activities take place. It can be the farm headquarters, main farm buildings or main gate of the farm operation.

  • Province of the main farm location  
    • Province or territory code: 
  • Civic address of the main farm location (if no civic address, skip to the land description field below in the page)
    • Address Number:
    • Road or street:
    • Name of village, town or city or municipality:
    • Postal code:
  • Land description of the main farm location (for the Prairies and parts of British Columbia only)
    • Quarter:
    • Section:
    • Township:
    • Range:
    • Meridian:

Land area - Unit of measure

Unit of measure – Question identifier: 4

Q4. What unit of measure will be used to report land areas for this operation?

  1. Acres
  2. Hectares
  3. Arpents (Quebec only) 

Total farm area

Total farm area – Question identifier: 5

Q5. What is the total farm area of this operation?

Include all land area owned, leased, rented, crop-shared or used by this operation.

Type of UOM:

Total farm area – Question identifier: 6

Q6. What is the total area of land used by others?

Include land rented, leased or crop-shared to others, land trading, rent-free, etc.

Type of UOM:

Agriculture production

Agriculture production – Question identifier: 7

Q7. Select the agricultural products currently being produced on this operation.

Select all that apply

  • Field crops
  • Hay
  • Summerfallow
  • Potatoes
  • Fruit, berries and nuts
  • Vegetables
  • Sod
  • Nursery products
  • Greenhouse products
  • Cattle and calves (include beef or dairy)
  • Pigs
  • Sheep and lambs
  • Mink
  • Fox
  • Hens and chickens
  • Turkeys
  • Maples taps
  • Honeybees
  • Mushrooms
  • Other agricultural products – specify: 

Area in crops

Area in crops – Question identifier: 8.

Q8. Report the area for: (see list below), on this operation.

Exclude land used by others.

Report the areas only once, even if used for more than one crop type.

  1. Field crops: (Report area) 
  2. Hay: (Report area) 
  3. Summerfallow: (Report area) 
  4. Potatoes: (Report area) 
  5. Fruit, berries and nuts: (Report area) 
  6. Vegetables: (Report area) 
  7. Sod: (Report area) 
  8. Nursery products: (Report area) 
  9. Other crops - specify: (Add description/name and count)

Greenhouse area – Unit of measure

Greenhouse area – Unit of measure - Question identifier: 9.

Q9. What unit of measure will be used to report greenhouse area for this operation?

  • Square feet
  • Square metres

Greenhouse area 

Greenhouse area – Question identifier: 10.

Q10. What is the total area under glass, plastic or other protection used for growing plants?

Type of UOM:

Livestock (excluding birds)

Livestock (excluding birds) – Question identifier: 11.

Q11. Report the total number of animals for: (See the list below) on this operation.

Exclude animals owned but kept on a farm, ranch or feedlot operated by someone else.

Number of by type of livestock

  1. Cattle and calves (Add count)
  2. Pigs (Add count)
  3. Sheep and lambs (Add count)
  4. Mink (Add count)
  5. Fox (Add count)
  6. Other livestock - specify: (Add description/name and count)

Birds

Birds – Question identifier: 12.

Q12. Report the total number of birds for: (see list below), on this operation.

Exclude poultry owned but kept on an operation operated by someone else.

Number of by type of livestock

  1. Hens and chickens (Add count)
  2. Turkeys (Add count)
  3. Other poultry - specify: (Add description/name and count)

Maple taps

Maple taps – Question identifier: 13.

Q13. Report the total number of taps made on maple trees this year.

Number: (Add count)

Mushroom growing area – Unit of measure

Mushroom growing area – Unit of measure - Question identifier: 14.

Q14. What unit of measure will be used to report the mushroom growing area (standing footage) for this operation?

  • Square feet
  • Square metres

Mushrooms

Mushrooms – Question identifier: 15.

Q15. Report the total growing area (standing footage) for mushrooms.

By Type of UOM: (Report area)

Honeybees

Honeybees – Question identifier: 16.

Q16. How many live colonies of honeybees (used for production or pollination) are owned by this operation?

Number: (Add count)

Gross farm receipts and operating expenses

Gross farm receipts and operating expenses – Question identifier: 17.

Q17. In 2025, what were the total gross farm receipts before deducting expenses, excluding resale of commodities purchased and any receipts from non-farming activities?

Include:

  • receipts from all agricultural products sold
  • program payments and insurance payments
  • receipts from custom work.

Exclude:

  • sales of forest products
  • sales of capital assets (e.g., quota, land, machinery)
  • the sale of any goods purchased only for resale.

Report for the 2025 calendar year or for the last complete accounting (fiscal) year. 

Total gross farm receipts: (report dollar value $.00)

Gross farm receipts and operating expenses

Gross farm receipts and operating expenses – Question identifier: 18.

Q18. In 2025, what were the total farm operating expenses, excluding purchases of commodities resold and any expenses from non-farming activities?

Include only the farm business share of amounts paid.

Exclude:

  • costs of any goods purchased only for resale
  • amortization or capital cost allowance
  • inventory adjustment.

Report for the 2025 calendar year or for the last complete accounting (fiscal) year. 

Total farm operating expenses: (report dollar value $.00)

Business partnership information

Business partnership information – Question identifier: 19.

Q19. Are there any partners associated with the operation: #{FARM name} who may also report farm receipts or operating expenses for it?

  1. Yes
  2. No

Business partnership information – Question identifier: 20.

Q20. For the associated partners, please provide the following information.

If there is more than one business or business partner associated with this operation, please provide the additional information in the section below.

  • Business legal or corporation name:
  • Business number (GST/HST):
  • Family name:
  • First name:
  • Mailing address:
  • Name of village, town or city:
  • Province/territory:
  • Postal code:
  • Telephone number:

If there are other businesses or business partners, enter their information in the field below.

Legal name, phone number, business Number (if available).

Enter other information here:

Contact person

Statistics Canada may need to contact the person who completed this questionnaire for further information.

Q21 Is #{Contact First and Last Name} the best person to contact?

  • Yes
  • No – If now add the contact information details for the best person to contact.
    • First name:
    • Last name:
    • Title:
    • Email address:
    • Telephone number (including area code):
    • Extension number (if applicable):
    • Fax number (including area code) 

Feedback

Feedback – Question identifier: 22.

Q22. How long did it take to complete this questionnaire?

Include time spent gathering the necessary information.

  • Hours:
  • Minutes:

Feedback – Question identifier: 23.

Q23. Do you have any comments about this questionnaire?

Date modified: