Census of Agriculture

Statistics Canada conducts the Census of Agriculture to develop a statistical portrait of Canada's farms and its agricultural operators. Every five years, the Census of Agriculture provides a comprehensive and integrated profile of the physical, economic, social and environmental aspects of Canada's agriculture industry; it is the only data source that consistently provides high-quality detailed statistical information on agriculture for small geographic areas. It collects a wide range of data at the national, provincial and subprovincial levels, such as the number of farms and farm operators, farm area, farm size, farm type, land use, crop areas, land management practices, livestock inventories, business operating arrangements, farm operating revenues, farm operating expenses, farm capital, and farm machinery. The Census of Agriculture not only provides a snapshot in time of the agriculture industry, but is also essential for understanding changes over time, thus serving as a basis for informed public and private decision making.
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  • Journals and periodicals: 96-325-X
    Geography: Canada
    Description: This publication features short and accessible analytical articles that delve further into key findings and emerging trends identified in Census of Agriculture and other data sources related to agriculture. Subjects of analysis include matters related to farm land, crops, livestock, farm finances, technology, the environment and the farm population, as well as other economic and social aspects of Canada’s agriculture industry. Analytical articles are written in plain language and are intended to be a valuable source of information for a broad audience, including policy analysts, students, researchers, agricultural operators, the media and the public at large.
    Release date: 2024-03-07

  • Articles and reports: 96-325-X201400113006
    Geography: Canada
    Description: As crops grow, they deplete the soil’s fertility by absorbing nutrients from the land. These nutrients, need to be replenished in order to ensure that there is something in the soil for the next year’s crops. Canadian agriculture relies heavily on commercial fertilizers as well as manure to replenish soil’s nutrients. This article examines how farmers provide their crops with the nutrients they need to grow and how these farming practices have changed over time.
    Release date: 2014-05-29

  • Articles and reports: 96-325-X201400111921
    Geography: Canada
    Description:

    Horticulture is a type of agriculture that encompasses a wide range of crop production. Fruit, vegetable, ornamental and medicinal plant culture all fall under the umbrella of horticulture. There are two broad categories of crops within horticulture: edible and non-edible crops.

    Edible horticulture crops, such as fruits, vegetables and nuts, are products grown for human food that are either consumed fresh or processed into value-added products, such as frozen foods, preserves and wine. Although they are not biologically classified as plants, mushrooms are considered to be an edible product of horticulture. Medicinal plants which are grown for teas and supplements such as ginseng are also considered to be edible horticultural products.

    Non-edible horticulture crops are not used as food but are rather produced for other purposes. For instance, cut flowers, bedding plants, shrubs, trees, and perennials are grown as ornamental plants to enhance the appearance of homes, offices, gardens and public spaces. Sod farming is another type of non-edible horticulture which produces established turf for lawns, parks and sports fields.

    Release date: 2014-04-22

  • Articles and reports: 96-325-X201400111913
    Geography: Canada
    Description:

    Farmers and corn breeders have developed multiple varieties suited to particular uses and adapted to distinct environments. In Canada, three broad types of corn dominate farmers' fields: corn for grain, corn for silage, and sweet corn.

    Release date: 2014-03-18

  • Articles and reports: 96-325-X201400111905
    Geography: Canada
    Description:

    The structure of the agriculture industry changed significantly over the last two decades. There are fewer but larger farms contributing to Canadian agriculture production. Since 1991, the average farm area increased, while the number of farm operators decreased. The average age of farm operators also increased.

    Release date: 2014-02-18

  • Articles and reports: 21-004-X20060019045
    Geography: Canada
    Description:

    This article profiles the industry, examining its current economic status as well as blueberry cultivation and the fruit's popularity worldwide.

    Release date: 2006-01-30

  • Articles and reports: 21-004-X20050068759
    Geography: Canada
    Description:

    Zero tillage is a relatively recent innovation on Canadadian farms however, it may not always be suitable for all crop and soil conditions. Zero till practices matched appropriately to crop and field conditions have the potential to reduce agriculture's impacts on the environment and lower energy and labour costs. The main sources of data are from Statistics Canada's 2001 Farm Environmental Management Survey (FEMS) and the 2001 Census of Agriculture.

    Release date: 2005-11-21

  • Articles and reports: 21-006-X2002008
    Geography: Canada
    Description:

    While the number of census-farms and farm operators is shrinking, the number of jobs in the agriculture and agri-food industry is growing. During the 15-year period from 1981 to 1996, the industry employed 15% of Canada's workforce.

    Employment in the agri-food sector has grown faster than the overall Canadian economy and this has offset the decline in employment on farms. In 1981, more people worked on farms than worked in restaurants, bars and taverns. By 1996, this trend had reversed and employment in the food and beverage services sector far outstripped the number of workers on farms.

    Food processing is often promoted as part of agricultural policy (to provide a local market for Canadian farmers) and as part of rural development policy (to create jobs in rural areas). However, in 1996, fewer people were working in Canada's food processing sector than in 1981. More food was processed (there was growth in the gross domestic product (GDP) of this sector), but fewer workers were involved. Rural regions adjacent to urban areas gained a greater share of food processing employment, making these regions relatively competitive in keeping food processing workforces.

    Employment in the agricultural and agri-food sectors is growing, but the nature of the work and where it is being done is changing.

    Release date: 2003-12-11

  • Journals and periodicals: 21F0016X
    Geography: Canada
    Description:

    Based on a presentation by Dr. Ivan Fellegi to the Federal Deputy Ministers' Committee on the Economic Renewal of Rural Canada in September l996, Understanding rural Canada uses charts and maps to present information on: rural demography showing population change and net migration by census division for the most recent 5-year period (l989 to l994); a focus on rural youth including information on education attained, plans for further education and ablility to use computers; rural employment, rural unemployment, rural employment in growing sectors and rural employment by small businesses; a classification of census divisions by level of average incomes and change in average incomes to show that many rural areas have lower incomes and their incomes are falling further behind; and, a typology of census divisions where rural areas are classified to rural nirvana areas, agro-rural areas, rural enclave areas, rural resourced areas and native north areas. This presentation was an outgrowth of the publication Rural Canada: a profile published by the federal Interdepartmental Committee on Rural and Remote Canada in March, l995.

    Release date: 1998-04-01
Reference (5)

Reference (5) ((5 results))

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 96-328-M2004030
    Geography: Canada
    Description:

    This activity looks at the increase in greenhouse area in Canada, and how this industry is changing.

    Release date: 2005-03-18

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 96-328-M
    Geography: Canada
    Description:

    This teacher's kit focuses on secondary school subject areas: family studies/home economics; geography; history; and science. The lessons are connected to curricula across Canada.

    The publication contains short analytical articles and full-colour maps, photographs, charts and graphs on different aspects of Canada's agriculture industry. Written in plain language for students, the book uses Census of Agriculture and other data.

    Release date: 2005-03-18

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 96-328-M2004022
    Geography: Canada
    Description:

    This activity focuses on the contribution of immigrants to Canadian agriculture, highlighting which countries they come from and why, and what types of farms they prefer.

    Release date: 2005-01-28

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 96-328-M2004016
    Geography: Canada
    Description:

    This activity looks at how Canada's grape industry has transformed itself in the wake of the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.

    Release date: 2004-10-29

  • Surveys and statistical programs – Documentation: 96-328-M2004021
    Geography: Canada
    Description:

    In this activity, students learn about the different medicinal herbs that are being grown on Canadian farms.

    Release date: 2004-10-29