Québec Agricultural Operations Registration Slips

This survey is conducted on behalf of the ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ). That department has entrusted the collection of the data in the Québec Agricultural Operations Registration Slips to the Institut de la statistique du Québec. The general objective of the registration slip is to gather strategic information on the operations in order to enable MAPAQ to know its clientele, administer its programs and apply its regulations.

This is a telephone survey, with the questionnaire being sent by mail to all Québec operations with 20 units or less that report more than $5000 in annual revenue. MAPAQ handles the collection of information from enterprises with more than 20 units of assessment.

Agricultural operators must prepare for the telephone interview by filling out the questionnaire they received in the mail. They are obliged to answer the questions so that the registration of their operation remains valid.

For additional information, call the Direction des stratégies et des opérations de collecte, of the Institut de la statistique du Québec, at 1 866 390-5367. Note that collection will begin on February 8, 2010 and will continue until the end of October.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Institut de la statistique du Québec?
The Institut de la Statistique du Québec, also known as Statistique Québec, is a government organization whose mission is to produce, analyze and disseminate official, objective and accurate statistics on all aspects of Québec society.

Why do I have to register?
Agricultural operations that register will be able to take advantage of financial assistance measures granted by MAPAQ. They will also be able to take advantage of the financial benefits of other government programs and have the support of La Financière agricole du Québec.

For additional information, go to the following link on the MAPAQ Website: MAPAQ Website.

Why is the information from the Québec Agricultural Operations Registration Slips collected by Statistique Québec rather than MAPAQ?
This new registration method has been established in order to save time and minimize travel since the questionnaire is mailed and the information is collected by phone.

Furthermore, the change will enable the staff of the service centres to devote their energy to more structural activities for operators.

Do I have to fill out the registration slip with a Statistique Québec interviewer and what are the penalties if I do not fill it out?
In accordance with the Act respecting the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation (R.S.Q., c. M-14), the Regulation respecting the registration of agricultural operations and the payment of property taxes and compensations (M-14, r.2.2) and the Act respecting the Institut de la statistique du Québec (R.S.Q., c. I-13.011), it is mandatory to provide all the information required in the registration slip.

If an operator refuses to answer the Statistique Québec interviewer’s questions, the operator’s agricultural operation may be stricken from MAPAQ’s list of registered operations and the operator will then be unable to take advantage of MAPAQ’s various financial assistance measures.

Why is there only one registration slip for the different types of agricultural operation?
The same registration slip is sent to all agricultural operations because some questions are related to the operation as a whole, regardless of the type of production. This method also makes it possible to save costs related to the design and transmission of several questionnaires.

Statistique Québec has, however, set up the questionnaire so that producers can easily find the questions that apply to their type of production.

Why are there other agricultural surveys conducted by Statistique Québec in addition to the registration slip?
The slip is used for registration with MAPAQ. The other surveys are also in collaboration with MAPAQ. They make it possible to have, an annual basis, more precise and detailed data from each production surveyed. That yields tools for developing each of the programs associated with the different agricultural sectors.

What should I do if I have to make changes in my file during collection?
Agricultural operators are responsible for informing their service centre of any change in the operation or units of assessment used. It might be a change in legal status, a change in the units held, a contract of purchase or sale, etc.

What will the data collected in the registration slip be used for?
The data provide MAPAQ with a vital tool that provides it with information about the location and use of the land on which crops are grown or animals are raised. More specifically, it makes it possible to update one of the most important informational assets of MAPAQ and the government regarding the agricultural sector, so as to:

• supply agricultural data for a number of data systems: FLORA, SIGNAL (statistics), SIGMA (georeferencing), etc.

• provide the data used in developing special programs during a crisis;

• give MAPAQ the data required to assess agricultural trends and for economic analyses.

Who can I contact for more information?
Any person who wants more information about the survey can call the Direction des stratégies et des opérations de collecte of Statistique Québec at 1 866 390-5367, or contact MAPAQ’s regional service centre.

Why listen to our conversation, and who listens?
It is possible that a supervisor will listen to your conversation with our interviewer. The supervisor has been sworn before a commissioner and is obliged to make sure the information heard remains secret and confidential. The supervisor listens in solely to ensure the quality of the data collected and of the work done.