Census of Agriculture opens next month

Canadian farmers will have until the end of July to complete the census

Statistics Canada will begin collecting data for the 2026 Census of Agriculture next month.

Canadian farmers will have from May 4 to July 31 to complete the census, and Stats Canada is reminding farmers to look out for an invitation letter about the questionnaire.

“Decision-makers use the data collected from the Census of Agriculture to act in the interest of farm operators, farming communities and agricultural associations across Canada,” Stats Canada says.

Online is the main data collection format.

Producers can also request a paper version.

And the Census Help Line (1-855-340-2021) is available to farmers who need assistance.

Stats Canada published its list of 66 questions in July 2025.

These included question amendments that reflect modern farms.

New questions look at land management, and there’s expanded greenhouse, nut, and fruit categories.

And there’s questions related to operations that don’t produce products but rent out land and/or buildings.

In the Technologies question, for example, producers using an electronic feed monitoring system can identify that specifically.

Farmers will also be asked to report specific acreages of land practices including in-field winter grazing or feeding, rotational grazing, turning in green crops, and planting fall or winter cover crops.

The bioenergy question also received an update.

The question “now includes two categories—biomass combustion and biofuel and biogas—to respond to respondent feedback and gain further insight on renewable energy production,” Stats Canada said.

Statistics Canada also encourages producers to share the importance of the census through its community toolkit.

This resource includes social media posts, articles, and images related to the census.

Stats Canada expects the results of the 2026 Census of Agriculture to be available in May 2027.

Stats Canada released its previous batch of Canadian ag data in May 2022.

That data from the 2021 Census of Agriculture showed a 1.9 per cent decline in the number of farms in Canada – from 193,492 in 2016 to 189,875 in 2021.

Under the Statistics Act, participation is mandatory.

Failure to complete the questionnaire can lead to the case’s referral to the Public Prosecution Service of Canada and fines up to $500.