Here’s What’s New in the 2026 Census of Agriculture

Statistics Canada just gave producers an early look at the 2026 Census of Agriculture — and it’s got some timely updates that speak directly to the realities of farming today.

The questionnaire keeps much of the core content from 2021, allowing for long-term trend tracking, but it also gets a refresh in areas that matter to today’s ag landscape. Expect more detailed questions about environmental stewardship, new technologies on the farm, and emerging crop and livestock categories.

Here’s What’s In It for You:

• New Crop & Livestock Categories: Got something unique in the ground or the barn? There are new commodity categories designed to reflect what’s really happening on modern farms — including niche and emerging products.
• Environmental Practices Front and Centre: The census now digs deeper into sustainability practices, giving you the opportunity to show how your operation contributes to soil health, water conservation, carbon reduction, and more.
• Tech & Renewables: If you’ve adopted precision ag tools, automation, or are generating renewable energy, there are updated questions to capture that data more accurately.
• Less Redundancy, Less Paperwork: StatsCan has dropped some questions and will instead pull that info from administrative sources—meaning less burden on your end.