Field Crop Reporting Series

The purpose of the field crop surveys is to obtain information on seeded and harvested field crop areas, average yields, production and on-farm stocks at strategic times over the course of a typical crop cycle, which ranges from spring to late fall. Therefore, the field crop surveys are conducted in March, June, July, November and December. 

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

• Block Information Confidentiality

  Confidentiality

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

  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 the response 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, Québec, 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. The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province.

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

  You may also contact us by email at statcan.esd-helpdesk-dse-bureaudedepannage.statcan@canada.ca or by fax at 613-951-6583.

  For this survey, there are Section 12 agreements with the Prince Edward Island statistical agency as well as with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

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

  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

  This survey asks questions about

  • crop area (seeded and harvested)
  • yield
  • production
  • farm stocks of principal field crops.

• 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.

• Bloc of Brochure

  Brochure

  Your farm feeds Canadians (4.29 MB)

  With your input, Statistics Canada's Field Crop Reporting Series can be a solid source of reliable and timely information that you and the industry need.

  You're not just a planter, a grower and a harvester—you're an entrepreneur. The truth is, you're busy and your role can't be overstated: your efforts put food on the table of millions of Canadians.

  You also know better than anyone that the agriculture industry is subject to many uncontrollable changes: fluctuations in weather, input prices, transportation costs and crop prices, to name a few. We recognize that timely information is important for you to make the best decisions possible.

  Because of your participation, Statistics Canada's Field Crop Reporting Series is a solid source of timely data you can rely on.

  Five surveys equal in-depth information

  Statistics Canada conducts the farm surveys in March, June, July, November and December to produce the Field Crop Reporting Series. Information from these surveys provide Canadians and Canadian farmers with important field crop statistics, including seeded and harvested areas, yields, production and stocks.

  The Field Crop Reporting Series helps

  • track major grain production nationally and provincially, aiding supply management in a timely manner
  • determine the availability of crops by stock assessments as of March 31^st, July 31^st and December 31^st
  • provide annual trend information by crop and small area regions, which can be incorporated into future crop planning.

  Who uses the data?

  Various partners, associations and stakeholders, ranging from universities to government agencies use the data to formulate policies and programs that assist the agricultural sector. The data help provide an overview of the crop landscape and farming economy in Canada.

  Did you know?

  • The Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act, Bill C-30, was supported by information farmers provided on the field crop surveys of 2013 and 2014.
  • Canola is the second largest crop grown in Canada, after wheat. In 2015, 18.4 million metric tonnes were produced.
  • Soybean production in Canada doubled between 2005 and 2015, to 6.2 million metric tonnes. Farmers in Ontario, Manitoba and Québec produced 94% of the national total in 2015.
  • Area seeded to lentils in Saskatchewan and Alberta reached record levels in 2015 and 2016.
  • In British Columbia and in the Maritimes, tame hay typically account for over half of the total field crop area reported.

  Source: CANSIM tables 001-0017 and 00-0010.

  We need your help

  Whether this is the first time you have been asked to participate in this mandatory survey, or whether you have already taken part in the past, the information you provide ensures an accurate portrayal of the farming community, including Canada's food production and supply chain.

  Participating is easy

  We understand how busy you are. Therefore, based on your comments, we are striving to make your participation as quick and simple as possible.

  • We are currently developing an electronic version of the survey, which you will be able to complete at a time convenient for you during the data collection period.
  • Of the five surveys conducted per year, your participation can only be requested up to a maximum of two times within a calendar year.

  • At this time, the survey is only done by phone. A Statistics Canada interviewer will contact you by phone to complete the survey. However, you can arrange an appointment, within the survey collection dates, at a time that is more convenient to you by contacting one of the toll-free numbers listed below.

  Your information is strictly confidential

  All information collected by Statistics Canada is strictly confidential and is protected by the Statistics Act. Statistics Canada cannot release any information that would identify you or any member of your household or business without your consent. Furthermore, this information cannot be released under any other law, not even the Access to Information Act.

  For more information, please visit the survey page on Statistics Canada's website: Field Crop Reporting Series

  Thank you for helping us collect information that will have a positive impact on Canada's food supply chain.

  Atlantic: 1-800-565-1685

  Quebec: 1-877-992-3999

  Ontario: 1-800-387-0714

  Western provinces and territories: 1-866-445-4323

  National TTY line: 1-800-363-7629

  Twitter.com/statcan_eng

  Facebook.com/statisticscanada

  Youtube.com/statisticscanada

• For more information about this survey (questionnaires, definitions, data sources and methods used): survey number 3401