Field Crop Reporting Series

Detailed information for December 2025

The purpose of the field crop surveys is to obtain information on seeded and harvested field crop areas, average yields, production and on-farm stocks at strategic times over the course of a typical crop cycle, which ranges from spring to late fall. Therefore, the field crop surveys are conducted in June, November and December. Model-based estimates are used for March and July on-farm stocks. Seeding intentions, previously collected in March, are now collected in December.

• Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s)
• Description
• Data sources and methodology

Description

This is a series of data collection activities by questionnaire as well as model-based data which are used in the release of estimates at pre-scheduled, strategic times during the crop year.

These data are meant to provide accurate and timely estimates of seeding intentions, seeded and harvested area, production, yield and farm stocks of the principal field crops in Canada at the provincial level. The crops surveyed include wheat, oats, barley, rye, flaxseed, canola, corn for grain, soybeans, sunflower seed, dry beans, dry field peas, lentils, mustard seed, Canary seed and chick peas.

NOTE: As of fall of 2017, and between mid-September to following early December of each year, the most current reference year's data in Table 32-10-0359-01 (formerly CANSIM 001-0017) is updated with model-based principal field crop estimates obtained from satellite imagery. The September survey has been replaced with the model-based data, reducing respondent's burden.

For the July 2019 occasion of the field crop survey, model-based data was used to estimate the yield and production for the province of Manitoba. The model utilized data from low resolution satellite imagery, historical field crop survey estimates, agroclimatic information, and it also used data from crop insurance.

Beginning in 2020, the July survey was fully replaced by model-based estimates for yields and production. When administrative data are not available, historical data is used. On-farm stocks of principal field crops as of July 31st were collected with the June Field Crop Survey from 2020 to 2024. Beginning in 2025, the on-farm stocks as of July 31st will also be replaced by model-base data.

Please refer to the Integrated Metadatabase Web page (Model-based Principal Field Crop Estimates, record number 5225) for more details about the methodology used to obtain these model-based estimates.

The data are used by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada and other federal departments to develop and administer agricultural policies. This information is also used by provincial departments for production and price analysis and for economic research.

Reference period: Seeded area: all occasions; harvested area, yield and production: July, August and November; stocks: December (calendar year end), March (financial year end) and July (crop year end).

Subjects

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

Data sources and methodology

Target population

The target population for the Field Crop Reporting Series are all entities that produce field crops and meet Statistics Canada's definition of a farm. A farm is defined as an operation that produces at least one agriculture product and will report revenue and/or expenses for that agricultural production to the Canada Revenue Agency. Several small populations are excluded from the target population of the Field Crop Reporting Series including farms in Canada's three territories (Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut), institutional farms and community farms.

The observed population consists of establishments on Statistics Canada's Business Register that represent this target population. This frame of operation 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 to include establishments that report their fiscal data differently.

The Field Crop Reporting Series collects data from Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta at all survey occasions. However, they only collect data twice a year for Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and British Columbia in the June cycle (seeded areas) and the November cycle (final crop production).

Instrument design

The questionnaire was originally designed in 1908 and has evolved over the years in order to address Statistics Canada and Canadian agricultural requirements. Consultations have taken place between subject matter specialists and provincial and industry experts. Testing is conducted in-house for flow and consistency. Questions will be changed, added or removed as the need arises.

As of March 2018, the questionnaire is offered in electronic format for use on Statistics Canada website. The survey can now be self-completed by respondents as well as on the phone with an interviewer.

Sampling

Probability surveys can use two types of sampling frames: list and area. In the field crop surveys, only the list frame is used in sample selection. This list frame is stratified into homogeneous groups on the basis of Census characteristics (such as farm size and crop area) and sub-provincial geographic boundaries. The sample units (farms) are selected from Statistics Canada's Business Register.

Data sources

Data collection for this reference period: 2025-12-12 to 2026-01-16

Responding to this survey is mandatory.

Data are collected directly from survey respondents for June, November and December occasions.

For the March occasion, model-based estimates are used to estimate on-farm stocks. Seeding intentions, previously collected in March, are now collected in December.

For the July and August occasions, yields are estimated by satellite imagery, historical field crop survey estimates, agroclimatic information and data from crop insurance.

This survey data is now collected using a web-based electronic version of the questionnaire. A letter or an email containing a survey access code is sent to respondents to access their survey on-line. Follow-up with an interviewer is also conducted using the computer assisted telephone interview method, in conjunction with the Business Collection Portal. The conducting of the interview is offered in both official languages and takes on average 18 minutes to complete.

View the Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s) .