Maple Products (MAPL)

Detailed information for 2020

This survey collects data on the production and value of maple products.

Data release - December 10, 2020

• Description
• Data sources and methodology
• Data accuracy

Description

This survey collects data to provide estimates of production and value of maple products in Canada. The data are used by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, other government departments and provincial governments as well as producer's organizations. This information assists in the administration of agricultural policies, production and price analysis and economic research.

Statistical activity

The survey is administered as part of the Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP). The IBSP has been designed to integrate approximately 200 separate business surveys into a single master survey program. The IBSP aims at collecting industry and product detail at the provincial level while minimizing overlap between different survey questionnaires. The redesigned business survey questionnaires have a consistent look, structure, and content.

The integrated approach makes reporting easier for firms operating in different industries because they can provide similar information for each branch operation. This way they avoid having to respond to questionnaires that differ for each industry in terms of format, wording and even concepts. The combined results produce more coherent and accurate statistics on the economy.

• Additional documentation

Reference period: Calendar year

Collection period: May to November of reference year

Subjects

• Agriculture and food (formerly Agriculture)
• Crops and horticulture

Data sources and methodology

Target population

The target population is producers of maple products in the provinces of Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia that meet Statistics Canada's definition of a farm. A farm is defined as an operation that produces at least one agricultural product and will report revenue and/or expenses for that agricultural production to the Canada Revenue Agency. Institutional farms and community farms are excluded from the target population.

While New Brunswick and Ontario are surveyed by Statistics Canada, Nova Scotia and Quebec data are provided through other sources.

For New Brunswick and Ontario, the observed population consists of establishments on Statistics Canada's Business Register that represent the target population. This frame of operations is derived using signals of agricultural activities on the latest set of tax declarations. To improve the overall coverage of this frame to the target population, information from additional sources including lists of special operations and survey feedback is used include establishments which report their fiscal data differently.

Quebec conducts its own survey and provides Statistics Canada with timely aggregate data. Data collection for Quebec takes the form of a Census-type mail-in survey originating at l'Institut de la statistique du Québec. Data, received by the Institut, are edited for correctness and tables are compiled. Volume of syrup destined for processing is obtained from administrative data compiled by the Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec. The value of processed syrup is obtained through a separate survey of processors.

Instrument design

The questionnaire was developed by subject matter specialists through consultation with the provinces and industry experts. New questions are not pre-tested in the field. However, testing is conducted in-house for flow and consistency. Questions will be changed, added or removed as the need arises. Required changes are usually identified through such means as subject matter specialist research, changes in market trends and field staff debriefing reports.

Sampling

This is a sample survey with a cross-sectional design.

In New Brunswick and Ontario the data are collected through a one-stage stratified random sample survey of producers of maple products according to Statistics Canada's Business Register. In Nova Scotia and Quebec, aggregated provincial data is received from the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and the Institut de la statistique du Québec.

As a result of the timing of the COVID-19 pandemic, active collection of data from Ontario and New Brunswick was suspended for 2020 to minimize burden on farm operators. Estimates for these provinces were produced using modelling and information from previous years.

Data sources

Data collection for this reference period: 2020-10-01 to 2020-11-18

Responding to this survey is mandatory.

Data are collected directly from survey respondents and extracted from administrative files.
Data are collected annually using an e-mail invitation to open, complete and submit an electronic questionnaire. If the questionnaire is not completed on-line by the deadline, the respondent will be contacted for a scheduled telephone interview.

As a result of the timing of the COVID-19 pandemic, active collection of data from Ontario and New Brunswick was suspended for 2020 to minimize burden on farm operators. Estimates for these provinces were produced using modelling and information from previous years.

In Nova Scotia and Quebec, aggregated provincial data is received from the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and the Institut de la statistique du Québec.

Error detection

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Imputation

This methodology does not apply.

Estimation

Estimation and compilation:

The estimates for Ontario are based on two linear regression models to estimate the 2020 total maple syrup production and the 2020 maple syrup price per litre from which the gross value of maple products can also be estimated. The models are based on data from previous years of Statistics Canada's Maple survey and historic and current data from the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association.

The estimates from New Brunswick use information provided annually by the New Brunswick Maple Syrup Association combined with data from previous years of Statistics Canada's Maple survey to estimate the 2020 total maple syrup production and gross value of maple products.

Quality evaluation

Validation:

Estimates for Ontario's 2019 total maple syrup production and gross value of maple products were calculated using the model and compared to Statistics Canada's 2019 Maple survey estimates. Both modelled estimates fell within the 95% confidence interval of the survey estimates.

For both Ontario and New Brunswick the estimates were reviewed by subject matter experts to assess their quality

Disclosure control

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects which could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.

Revisions and seasonal adjustment

This methodology does not apply to this survey program.

Data accuracy

Non-sampling error:

The quality of any model is directly affected by the amount and quality of data that can be used to estimate the values and its correlation with the characteristic to be estimated. The data received from the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association were more detailed than those from the New Brunswick Maple Syrup Association. This extra data allowed a wider range of models to be investigated. Through these investigations, the model parameters were refined to better estimate the 2020 values.