Agricultural Water Survey - 2012

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For Information onlyThis is an electronic survey example for information purposes only. This is not a working questionnaire.

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Information for the Respondent

Purpose

The Agricultural Water Survey is conducted to gather information on irrigation water use, irrigation methods and practices, and sources and quality of water used for agricultural purposes on Canadian farms. The results will help farm operators, governments and the Canadian public gain a better understanding of the demand for water and how it is used on Canadian farms.

Authority

This is a voluntary survey conducted under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S19. Your cooperation is important to ensure that the information collected in this survey is as accurate as possible.

Confidentiality

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from publishing any statistics which would divulge information obtained from this survey that relates to any identifiable business, institution or individual, unless written consent has been given by the respondent, or as permitted by the Statistics Act. The data reported on this questionnaire will be treated in confidence, used for statistical purposes and published in aggregate form only.

Data-sharing agreements

In an effort to reduce respondent burden, Statistics Canada has entered into agreements, under Section 12 of the Statistics Act, for sharing information from this survey with: Agriculture and Agri-food Canada; Environment Canada; Prince Edward Island Department of Agriculture; New Brunswick Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture; the Institut de la statistique du Québec; Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives; Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture; and Alberta Agriculture and Food. These organizations must keep the information confidential and use it for statistical or research purposes only, not for regulatory activities.

Under Section 12 of the Statistics Act, you may refuse to share your information with any of these organizations by writing a letter of objection to the Chief Statistician and returning it with the completed questionnaire. Please specify the organization with which you do not want to share your data. For agreements with provincial government organizations, the shared data will be limited to information pertaining to farm operations located within the jurisdiction of the respective province.

Record linkage

To enhance the data from this survey, Statistics Canada may combine it with information from other surveys or from administrative sources.

Return procedures

Please return the completed questionnaire within 30 days of receipt by mail, using the enclosed, postage paid envelope.

Thank you

YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS SURVEY IS IMPORTANT REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH IRRIGATION WAS DONE DURING THE GROWING SEASON.

Reporting instructions

- Who should complete this survey?
This survey is addressed to the farm operation and is to be completed by a person that has good knowledge of the irrigation activities practiced on this farm.

- If exact values are not available, please provide estimates.

- Comments on any part of the survey should be provided in the space on the second-last page of the questionnaire.

Instructions

Please refer to the growing season when answering the following questions.

Irrigation is defined as applying water to the soil to assist the growing of crops in dry areas during periods of inadequate rainfall; to prevent soil compaction or erosion; or to protect plants against frost.

Include:
- all irrigated land, producing or non-producing, used for forage crops, fruits, vegetables, field crops, hay and improved pasture, on owned land or land rented or leased from others

Exclude:
- land rented or leased to others
- summerfallow
- Christmas trees
- greenhouses, nurseries and sod operations
- land drained by a drainage system that is never irrigated

Irrigating Operations

Irrigating is defined as applying water to the soil to assist the growing of crops in dry areas during periods of inadequate rainfall; to prevent soil compaction or erosion; or to protect plants against frost.

Irrigating Operations - Question identifier:1.

Did you irrigate your crops this year?

1: Yes. Go to question 3.
3: No

Irrigating Operations - Question identifier:2.

Have you ever irrigated your crops?

If no, thank you for your cooperation. Please return the questionnaire within 30 days of receipt by mail, using the enclosed postage paid envelope.

1: Yes. Go to question 3.
3: No

Irrigating Operations - Question identifier:3.

In 20XX, were you unable to irrigate for any length of time because of any of the following issues?

Mark all that apply.

If you did not irrigate at all in 20XX, please return the questionnaire within 30 days of receipt using the enclosed, postage paid envelope.

1: Shortage of surface water
2: Shortage of underground water (include shallow wells and deep wells)
3: Poor water quality
4: High cost of obtaining water
5: Irrigation ban
6: Other issue(s), specify:
8: No issues prevented irrigation for any length of time

Irrigating Operations - Question identifier:4.

Will you be using acres, hectares, or arpents to report land areas?

This same unit should be used throughout the questionnaire.

1: Acres
2: Hectares
3: Arpents

Irrigating Operations - Question identifier:5.

What was the total land area of cropland and improved pasture on this operation, producing or non-producing, that actually received irrigation during the growing season?

6. Irrigation Volumes - Forage Crops

6. Irrigation Volumes - Forage Crops - Question identifier:a.

Did you produce or grow forage crops on this operation during the growing season?

Include hay, improved pasture and silage.

1: Yes.
3: No. Go to question 7a

6. Irrigation Volumes - Forage Crops - Question identifier:b.

Did you irrigate forage crops on this operation during the growing season?

1: Yes.
3: No. Go to question 7a

6. Irrigation Volumes - Forage Crops - Question identifier:c.

What area of land was irrigated for forage crops?

Specify the total land area that received irrigation in 20XX using the unit of measure specified in question 4. A land area that received irrigation multiple times during the season should only be counted once. For example, if you irrigated 100 acres in July and the same 100 acres plus an additional 50 acres in August, the size of the irrigated crop area is 150 acres.

6. Irrigation Volumes - Forage Crops - Question identifier:d.

How much water was applied to the forage crops in each of the following months?

Please provide the quantity of water and mark one of the units of measure listed below, as well as the irrigated land area using the unit of measure specified.

Enter a "0" if there was no irrigation for a particular month.

Unit of measure used for quantity of water - check one only:

01: Inches
02: Millimetres
03: Total acre-feet
04: Total gallons (imperial)
05: Total gallons (US)
06: Total litres
07: Total cubic metres
08: Acre-feet per acre
09: Imperial gallons per acre
10: US gallons per acre
11: Other unit of measure, specify:

5: April
6: May
7: June
8: July
9: August
10: September
11: October (estimate, if necessary)
12: Total

7. Irrigation Volumes - Field Crops

Field Crops:
Barley, Borage seed, Buckwheat, Canary seed, Canola, Caraway seed, Chick peas, Coriander seed, Corn for grain, Dry beans, Dry field peas, Flaxseed, Ginseng, Lentils, Linola, Mixed grains, Mustard seed, Oats, Potatoes, Rye, Safflower, Soybeans, Sugar beets, Sunflower seeds, Tobacco, Triticale, Wheat and Other field crops.

7. Irrigation Volumes - Field Crops - Question identifier:a.

Did you produce or grow field crops, including potatoes, on this operation during the growing season?

Exclude hay, improved pasture and silage.

1: Yes.
3: No. Go to question 8a

7. Irrigation Volumes - Field Crops - Question identifier:b.

Did you irrigate field crops, including potatoes, on this operation during the growing season?

1: Yes.
3: No. Go to question 8a

7. Irrigation Volumes - Field Crops - Question identifier:c.

What area of land was irrigated for field crops, including potatoes?

Specify the total land area that received irrigation in 20XX using the unit of measure specified. A land area that received irrigation multiple times during the season should only be counted once. For example, if you irrigated 100 acres in July and the same 100 acres plus an additional 50 acres in August, the size of the irrigated crop area is 150 acres.

7. Irrigation Volumes - Field Crops - Question identifier:d.

How much water was applied to the field crops, including potatoes, in each of the following months?

5: April
6: May
7: June
8: July
9: August
10: September
11: October (estimate, if necessary)
12: Total

8. Irrigation Volumes - Fruit Crops

Fruits:
Apples, Apricots, Blueberries, Cherries, Cranberries, Grapes, Kiwis, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Prunes, Raspberries, Saskatoon berries, Strawberries and Other fruit.

8. Irrigation Volumes - Fruit Crops - Question identifier:a.

Did you produce or grow fruit crops on this operation during the growing season?

1: Yes.
3: No. Go to question 9a

8. Irrigation Volumes - Fruit Crops - Question identifier:b.

Did you irrigate fruit crops on this operation during the growing season?

1: Yes.
3: No. Go to question 9a

8. Irrigation Volumes - Fruit Crops - Question identifier:c.

What area of land was irrigated for fruit crops?

8. Irrigation Volumes - Fruit Crops - Question identifier:d.

How much water was applied to the fruit crops in each of the following months?

5: April
6: May
7: June
8: July
9: August
10: September
11: October (estimate, if necessary)
12: Total

9. Irrigation Volumes - Vegetable Crops

Vegetables:
Asparagus, Beans (green or wax), Beets, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage (Chinese), Cabbage (regular), Carrots (including baby), Cauliflower, Celery, Corn (sweet), Cucumbers, Garlic, Gherkins, Leeks, Lettuce, Melons (watermelon), Melons (other), Onions (dry), Onions (green), Parsley, Parsnips, Peas (green), Peppers, Pumpkins, Radishes, Rhubarb, Rutabagas, Spinach, Squash, Tomatoes, Turnips, Zucchini, Other herbs and Other vegetables.

9. Irrigation Volumes - Vegetable Crops - Question identifier:a.

Did you produce or grow vegetable crops, excluding potatoes, on this operation during the growing season?

1: Yes.
3: No. Go to question 10

9. Irrigation Volumes - Vegetable Crops - Question identifier:b.

Did you irrigate vegetable crops, excluding potatoes, on this operation during the growing season?

1: Yes.
3: No. Go to question 10

9. Irrigation Volumes - Vegetable Crops - Question identifier:c.

What area of land was irrigated for vegetable crops, excluding potatoes?

9. Irrigation Volumes - Vegetable Crops - Question identifier:d.

How much water was applied to the vegetable crops, excluding potatoes, in each of the following months?

5: April
6: May
7: June
8: July
9: August
10: September
11: October (estimate, if necessary)
12: Total

Irrigation Systems

Irrigation Systems - Question identifier:10.

What irrigation method was used to irrigate your crops in 20XX?

Indicate the irrigation methods used for each category of crops (forage crops, field crops, fruits, vegetables). Mark all that apply.

Sprinkler irrigation:
Systems distribute water onto crops in a high-velocity, high-volume spray. Sprinkler systems include hand move; solid or permanent set; side roll, wheel line, wheel move or wheel roll; traveller, volume gun, travelling gun, walker, overhead or circular; linear move; and centre pivot.

Micro-irrigation:
Delivers water onto the soil surface very close to the crop or below the soil. It includes surface drip, sub-surface drip, micro-sprinklers, bubblers, micro jets and hand watering.

Surface irrigation:
The water flows over the soil surface by gravity, either by flooding or in furrows. It includes down rows, furrows, corrugations, border dyke, level basins, uncontrolled flooding and back flooding. It excludes surface drip irrigation.

1: Sprinkler irrigation
2: Micro-irrigation
3: Surface irrigation
4: Not applicable, not irrigated in 20XX
5: Not applicable, not grown in 20XX

Irrigation Practices and Water Sources

The following questions deal with possible sources of water used for irrigation.

Irrigation Practices and Water Sources - Question identifier:11.

Of all the water used for irrigation in 20XX, what percentage came from each of the following?

If only on-farm water is reported, go to question 14.

1: On-farm underground water or well water, including shallow wells and deep wells
2: On-farm lakes, rivers, creeks or streams, ponds or dugouts i.e. direct access (surface water)
3: Off-farm water transported to the farm e.g., via pipeline, canal system or vehicle, including municipal water and any surface water located off-farm
4: Other source(s), specify:

Irrigation Practices and Water Sources - Question identifier:12.

Of all the off-farm water used for irrigation in 20XX, what percentage came from each of the following?

1: Tap water
2: Treated wastewater
3: Provincial water sources (irrigation district, irrigation project)
4: Private sources
5: Other source(s), specify:

Irrigation Practices and Water Sources - Question identifier:13.

Why did this operation need to obtain water from an off-farm source in 20XX?

Mark all that apply.

1: No water or not enough water available on the farm for irrigation
2: Poor quality of on-farm water for irrigation
3: Other reason(s) specify:

Irrigation Practices and Water Sources - Question identifier:14.

Which of the following practices were used in 20XX to conserve water or energy?

This question asks about water and energy practices used for irrigation on this operation during the growing season.

Mark all that apply:

1: Wind breaks
2: Leaving stubble on fields (e.g., minimum tillage, direct seeding)
3: Watering at night or in the morning
4: Pressure reduction
5: Water or energy saving nozzles
6: Incorporating compost or other organic material into soil to increase soil water retention
7: Other water or energy saving methods or devices
8: No practices used

Comments

Comments - Question identifier:15.

Approximately how long did it take to collect the data and complete the survey?

Comments - Question identifier:16.

We invite your comments on any section of the survey.

Please be assured that we review all comments with the intent of improving the survey.

Date modified:: 2016-06-17

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