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the Census of Agriculture > Frequently
asked questions >
3.0 General questions
3.1 Why does Statistics Canada conduct the Census
of Agriculture?
3.2 Why don’t the Census of Agriculture
data come out at the same time as that of the Census of Population?
3.3 What is the legal authority for the Census
of Agriculture, and is completing the questionnaire obligatory?
3.4 Can anyone be publicly identified by the
information he/she provides?
3.5 Will the information about my farm operation
be sold?
3.6 Why are local census representatives used
to collect detailed financial information?
3.7 Can a Statistics Canada employee disclose
personal information?
3.8 Has anyone been prosecuted for not answering
Census of Agriculture forms?
3.9 What fines could be imposed as a result
of prosecutions of those refusing to complete their Census of Agriculture
questionnaire?
3.10 What other countries take a Census of
Agriculture?
3.11 Why do we conduct a Census of Agriculture
when we don’t do one for other industrial sectors?
3.12 How are Census of Agriculture data used?
3.13 How does the Census of Agriculture benefit
the farmer?
3.14 How can Census of Agriculture data help
the environment?
3.15 Is information from the Census of Agriculture
and the Census of Population combined in any way?
3.1 Why does Statistics Canada conduct the Census of
Agriculture?
Statistics Canada conducts the Census of Agriculture to produce detailed,
accurate and timely data of the agriculture industry in Canada. Canadian
agriculture is constantly changing and the census informs us of these
changes.
Statistics Canada uses these data to benchmark estimates of crop area,
livestock and financial numbers for the years between censuses. The census
also provides a unique source of data for small geographic areas.
3.2 Why don't Census of Agriculture data come out at
the same time as that of the Census of Population?
The Agriculture Division of Statistics Canada processes Census of Agriculture
questionnaires. Information down to the lowest level of geography was
released on June 12, 2002.
Census of Population questionnaires are always processed separately
from Census of Agriculture. Data for two variables, population and dwellings,
were released on March 12, 2002 and other major releases will be staggered
throughout the coming year. The Census of Agriculture releases all
its
farm variable data (more than 300 variables) on May 15, 2002, a year
from Census Day.
With over 247,000 farms reporting across Canada and 16 pages per questionnaire,
a significant amount of processing must be completed within a year from
Census Day. The Census of Agriculture processing schedule has many Step
s
to ensure data quality, including follow-up calls to farmers to verify
information and find farms that may have been missed during enumeration.
3.3 What is the legal authority for the Census of Agriculture,
and is completing the questionnaire obligatory?
The Statistics Act requires that the Census of Agriculture be
conducted every five years in the years ending in 1 and 6; for example,
1996 and 2001. This Act, like all Canadian laws, applies to everyone
who
resides in Canada. Agricultural operators are, therefore, required to
complete the census questionnaire.
3.4 Can anyone be publicly identified by the information
he/she provides?
No. All published data are subject to confidentiality restrictions; data
are grouped to ensure information concerning any particular individual
or agricultural operation is not disclosed.
No individual, government department or financial institution has access
to the information provided on an individual census form. Not even the
Supreme Court of Canada or Revenue Canada can obtain personal information
given to Statistics Canada on census questionnaires.
3.5 Will the information about my farm operation be sold?
The Statistics Act guarantees that no individual records can ever
be identified. Any information Statistics Canada does sell is grouped
so that no individual records are revealed.
3.6 Why are local census representatives used to collect
detailed financial information?
Local enumerators are used to distribute and collect census forms because
of their local geographic knowledge, which ensures more complete coverage.
All census representatives are sworn to secrecy and may be prosecuted
under the Statistics Act should they ever reveal personal respondent
information.
In 2006, farm operators will return their questionnaires by mail directly
to a central location. No local person will be looking at questionnaires.
3.7 Can a Statistics Canada employee disclose personal
information?
Every Statistics Canada employee takes an oath of secrecy under the Statistics
Act and would face a fine, imprisonment or both for disclosing confidential
information.
3.8 Has anyone been prosecuted for not answering Census
of Agriculture forms?
Yes. Statistics Canada refers refusal cases to the Department of Justice
but only after many repeated efforts to obtain co-operation have failed.
Statistics Canada is reviewing the refusals from the 2001 Census and
no
numbers are available yet on how many agriculture files will be sent
to the Department of Justice. After the 1996 Census, summonses were sent
to 12 agricultural operators who had refused to complete a Census of
Agriculture
form. We have always had a very high degree of co-operation and an excellent
relationship with respondents.
3.9 What fines could be imposed as a result of prosecutions
of those refusing to complete their Census of Agriculture questionnaire?
Completion of the questionnaire is mandatory under the Statistics
Act. A person may be liable to a fine of $500 or imprisonment for
three months, or both, for refusing to answer the census questions.
3.10 What other countries take a Census of Agriculture?
Most of the world’s industrialized countries take a Census of
Agriculture. The United Kingdom takes a census every year.
The United States takes a Census of Agriculture every five years, in
years ending in a 2 or 7. Results for the 2002 U.S Census of Agriculture
will be available in 2004. The U.S Census of Agriculture questionnaires
will be mailed
to all farms in mid-December 2002 for return by Feb. 2, 2003.
Like Canada, Australia also conducts a Census of Agriculture every
five years in years ending in 1 or 6.
3.11 Why do we conduct a Census of Agriculture when
we don’t do one for other industrial sectors?
Agricultural censuses are conducted in most of the world’s industrialized
countries. Since Confederation, Canada has developed a tradition of conducting
a Census of Agriculture combined with surveys to regularly estimate key
variables such as crop areas and livestock inventories. The Census of
Agriculture is the backbone of the Canadian agriculture statistics system.
Other statistical systems exist for other economic sectors and, in some
cases, are still developing.
3.12 How are Census of Agriculture data used?
Census of Agriculture data are used by:
- governments — to make policy decisions concerning agricultural
credit, crop insurance, transportation, market services and international
trade
- Statistics Canada — to produce annual estimates between censuses
for the agriculture sector
- businesses — to market products and services and to assist
in making production and investment decisions
- agricultural producer groups — to inform their members about
industry trends and developments, put operators’ viewpoint before
legislators and the Canadian public, and defend their interests in
international trade negotiations
- academics — to conduct research on the agriculture sector.
3.13 How does the Census of Agriculture benefit the
farmer?
Agricultural operators benefit in a number of ways:
They benefit when companies supplying agricultural products and services
use the data to determine where to locate their service centres. They
also keep abreast of trends in Canadian agriculture through the analysis
of Census of Agriculture data published by the agriculture media.
Producer groups and marketing agencies use the data to assess the need
for policies and programs, to represent their members’ views to the
government and public, and to defend their interests in international
trade negotiations.
As well, government policy advisors use the data to help develop programs
related to safety nets and human resources for the agriculture sector.
The Census of Agriculture also provides useful small area data for
evaluating how seriously adverse weather conditions affect farm operations
across
the country. In 2001 a severe drought in much of Alberta, Saskatchewan,
Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island had serious
implications for farm operators. The 2001 Census of Agriculture
provides
a snapshot of these provinces’ agriculture prior to the drought and
will provide key information on the number and type of farms and livestock
affected.
3.14 How can Census of Agriculture data help the environment?
The Census of Agriculture identifies and measures farming practices
and their relationship to changing environmental concerns. Moreover,
all levels
of government use Census of Agriculture data for decision- and policy-making.
Census of Agriculture data are used to assess the effects or potential
impact of droughts, flooding, insect infestations and erosion. They can
also track patterns of herbicide, insecticide and fertilizer use, and
adoption of land management practices such as conservation tillage, strip-cropping,
etc.
3.15 Is information from the Census of Agriculture
and the Census of Population combined in any way?
Yes. A special Agriculture–Population database has been created
to provide a unique socio-economic profile of people involved in agriculture
that is not available in other surveys or for any other industry. Information
such as the age and education levels of dairy farmers or principal occupations
and incomes of beef farmers is available. Confidentiality provisions ensure
that individuals’ identity is protected and that they cannot be identified
by the information they provide.
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