Crop yield farmer survey may be ditched in favour of satellite data

Statistics Canada may scrap one of its annual farmer surveys on crop yields in favour of a report that uses satellite data to estimate production.

Statscan, the national statistical agency, said the satellite data was producing increasingly similar results to its September farmer survey on yields of wheat, canola and other crops, and the change would help meet cost-cutting goals.

“We’ve been comparing (satellite data) over the last couple of years and they’re getting quite close to what we release in September estimates,” said Yves Gilbert, head of Statscan’s field crop reporting unit.