Maple Products (MAPL)
Detailed information for 2019
Status:
Active
Frequency:
Annual
Record number:
3414
This survey collects data on the production and value of maple products.
Data release - December 11, 2019
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.
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. The observed populations in New Brunswick and Ontario are those establishments in the target population for which business information is available on Statistics Canada's Business Register.
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.
Instead of a survey, administrative data is collected for all producers of maple products in Nova Scotia by Statistics Canada.
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: 2019-05-01 to 2019-11-13
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.
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.
View the Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s) .
Error detection
During data processing, edits are used to detect errors or inconsistencies that remain in the microdata records following collection. These edits include value edits (e.g. values which fall outside of expected ranges) and consistency edits (e.g. an amount of syrup sold is reported, but no price for the sale is reported).
Imputation
If data inconsistencies and errors are not resolved by telephone follow-up, the inconsistent data are imputed along with other missing data, including those from total survey non-responses. Donor imputation as well as data from the previous occasion (historical imputation) are used. In rare situations, mean imputation may also be used. The edited and imputed data are then subject to verifications and adjustments by expert analysts.
Estimation
Sampling weights are assigned to all selected establishments based on their probability of selection. These weights are used for the tabulation of the estimates. The estimates are then inflated to account for the take-none stratum from which no sample is selected. The contribution of this stratum is estimated based upon a model that considers the estimated percentage of the total production included in the take-none stratum population and the overall amount of production reported by the survey respondents.
The precision of the estimates is described through the sampling variance and uses classical statistical formulae for one-stage stratified simple random sampling survey designs.
Quality evaluation
Data verification and analysis of the top contributors and historical comparisons are performed before a final estimate is disseminated. Different sources of information are used to validate provincial estimations. No other surveys are available to compare directly with these survey results.
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 type does not apply to this survey.
Data accuracy
Non-sampling error
Non-sampling error is not related to sampling and may occur for various reasons during the collection and processing of data. For example, non-response is an important source of non-sampling error. Under or over-coverage of the population, differences in the interpretations of questions and mistakes in recording, coding and processing data are other examples of non-sampling errors. To the maximum extent possible, these errors are minimized through careful design of the survey questionnaire, verification of the survey data, and follow-up with respondents when needed to maximize response rates.
Coverage error
The Statistics Canada Business Register is regularly updated with information from the Canada Revenue Agency. This information can be used to identify new establishments involved in maple production. Prior to the selection of the sample in New Brunswick and Ontario, establishments which were not previously part of the Maple Survey population, but which reported a main business activity of maple production were investigated by subject matter experts and, when appropriate, added to the Maple Survey population.
Response rate:
The response rate at the national level is 77.25%.
- Date modified: