Farm Management Survey (FMS)

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Have you been invited to participate in this survey via email or mail? To log in to the survey, complete the following steps.

Step 1: Visit the electronic questionnaire portal and select Start my survey.

Step 2: Enter your secure access code (you will find this code in the invitation letter or email you previously received from Statistics Canada).

Step 3: Complete the survey.

Are you missing your secure access code, or do you need help?

Phone:

1-877-949-9492
(TTY: 1-800-363-7629)
Monday to Friday (except holidays) from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Eastern time

If you use an operator-assisted relay service, you can call us during regular business hours. You do not need to authorize the operator to contact us.

Email:

infostats@statcan.gc.ca

 

The Farm Management Survey is conducted by Statistics Canada in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).

The survey collects information from Canadian farm operators about production and farm management practices.

The data will be used to:

  • guide research and program and policy development;
  • enable farmers to adopt improved practices for economic and environmental benefit.

Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes. In addition, information from partially completed or unsaved questionnaires may be retained and used.

Collection periods:
From January 18 to March 21 2022
Collection methods:
Electronic questionnaire and telephone interview
Survey participation:
Voluntary

  • Block Information Confidentiality

    Confidentiality

    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.

  • Block Information on Data sharing agreements and record linkage

    Data sharing agreements and record linkage

    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 statistical agencies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province.

    For this survey, there are Section 12 agreements with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, l'Institut de la statistique du Québec, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

    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:

    Attention of Director, Environment and Energy Statistics Division
    150 Tunney’s Pasture Driveway
    Ottawa, Ontario
    K1A 0T6

    You may also contact us by email at statcan.environ-environ.statcan@statcan.gc.ca (this link will open in a new window).

    Record linkage

    To enhance the data from this survey and to reduce the response burden, Statistics Canada may combine the information you provide with data from other surveys or administrative sources.

  • Block Information on Topics covered in the survey

    Topics covered in the survey

    The survey asks questions about:

    • physical characteristics of the agricultural operation (animal housing, manure storage, fields, natural lands, wetlands)
    • production practices (the physical practices used to produce an agricultural product)
    • inputs added to the fields or animal feed (nutrients, fertilizer, pesticides, etc.)
    • business management, such as labor, computer technology, environmental planning and sources of new information
    • recent adoption of new products, processes, marketing, or business management.

  • Block Information on Published data

    Published data

    Statistics Canada publishes the results of its surveys in many formats. To find all the documents related to this survey, follow the links below and type the name of the survey in the search engine located at the left of your screen to filter the results.

    Data: You will find tables, profiles of a community or region, thematic maps, public use microdata files, and data visualization tools.

    Analysis: You will have direct access to Stats in brief (e.g., releases from The Daily, fact sheets), articles and reports, and journals and periodicals.

  • Block Information on Survey-specific questions

    Survey-specific questions

    How long does it take to complete the questionnaire?

    It will take approximately 25 to 35 minutes to complete the questionnaire.

    Can I choose not to answer certain questions?

    Yes. Even after having agreed to participate in the survey, you may choose not to answer specific questions you find sensitive or where you feel uncomfortable providing a response.

    When will the results be available?

    The data are expected to be released in Spring 2023.

    How will you safeguard the confidentiality of my information?

    As with all Statistics Canada surveys, any information provided will remain confidential pursuant to the Statistics Act. Statistics Canada takes the privacy of Canadians very seriously. Published data can never identify you or your household.

    To find out more about the measures in place to safeguard the confidentiality of your information, visit Statistics Canada's Trust Centre.

    Who benefits from Farm Management Survey data?

    Data from the Farm Management Survey are used by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), and provincial and territorial governments, to make informed decisions on existing programs and to develop new agricultural programs that directly benefit farmers. The survey reveals details about the current management of farms in Canada to identify issues in need of attention—allowing government to generate targeted responses. For example, Fertilizer Canada (industry association) uses field input data from the Farm Management Survey to assess fertilization needs and methods used by their clientele.

    As part of Canada's commitment to Open Government, future and past FMS data are available to the public on the Statistics Canada website.  Farm operators will be able to access data tables and analytical products once they become publicly available.

    How is the Farm Management Survey different from the Census of Agriculture?

    The Census of Agriculture provides the only comprehensive profile of the physical, economic, social and environmental aspects of Canada's agriculture industry, including at the local level. The census establishes basic information on which the Farm Management Survey can elaborate.
    Data from the Census of Agriculture present a picture of farmers' relationship with the environment through questions about farming practices that conserve soil fertility and prevent erosion, pesticide and fertilizer use, and the land features used to prevent wind or water damage. The Farm Management Survey builds on this information by asking more detailed questions about the specific products, technologies, and methods farmers are using. Unlike the census, the FMS includes questions about managing staff and environmental farm plans.

    Why are some farm operators not asked about their main agricultural activity?

    Statistics Canada acknowledges that farm operators are busy and appreciates all those who take the time to respond to our surveys. In our efforts to decrease the burden on survey participants, farms that have multiple activities will only be selected to report on one. The sample for this survey aims to represent seven farm sectors across Canada and selects respondents based on the farming activity for which their contribution is most significant nationally and regionally. As such, a farm may be asked questions on an activity other than what is considered their primary activity. For example; a dairy farmer may be selected to answer the questionnaire for his forage crops.

    How does the Farm Management Survey help to protect the environment?

    Collecting information about agricultural practices allows government to make informed decisions that work towards Canada's sustainability goals to reduce pollution and protect the natural environment. As technologies and farming operations change, new data is needed to identify our successes and what improvements can be made.

  • For more information about this survey:
 
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