Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
For more information, you can consult the Eurostat glossary page on the standard output.
3.2. Classification system
Data collected include information on the number of harvests, value, quantity and unit price corresponding to the standard output coefficients of a list of products, broken down by FADN region for each country (reference area). Such values are expressed in euro (and in national currency for countries out of euro area).
The list of products is based on the classifications of crop and livestock variables available in Annex III of Regulation (EU) 2018/1091.
The FADN regions refer to the Farm Accountancy Data Network divisions that are territories of a Member State, or any part thereof, delimited with a view to the selection of returning holdings. See Council Regulation (EC) No 1217/2009 for more information.
The standard output coefficients are used to calculate the standard output of agricultural holdings and to classify agricultural holdings by type of farming and by economic size.The farm type is determined by the relative contribution of the different productions to the total standard output of the holding.
The standard output coefficient of an agricultural product (crop or livestock), abbreviated as SOC, is the average monetary value of the agricultural output at farm-gate price, in euro per hectare or per head of livestock.
Two legal acts are relevant for defining the variables collected for integrated farm statistics:
Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on integrated farm statistics and repealing Regulations (EC) No 1166/2008 and (EU) No 1337/2011.
The 2023 data collection is implemented by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2286 of 16 December 2021 on the data to be provided for the reference year 2023 pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 of the European Parliament and of the Council on integrated farm statistics as regards the list of variables and their description and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 1200/2009 (OJ L 458, 22 December 2021, p. 284–343).
Other concepts and definitions are presented in the Handbook of Integrated Farm Statistics 2023 (IFS 2023) and in the Typology handbook (RI/CC 1500 rev 5) prepared by the Committee for the Farm Accountancy Data Network.
Standard Output Coefficients (SOC) are collected under the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), by FADN regions in each country. FADN regions are mapped with NUTS regions. For more information on NUTS regions, see the NUTS classification.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The SO 2004 was calculated using the average of 2003, 2004 and 2005 prices. It is applied in 2007 Farm structure survey data and has been applied to 2005 Farm structure survey to allow comparability over the time periods.
The SO 2007 was calculated using the average of 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 prices. It is applied in the 2010 Farm structure survey data.
The SO 2010 was calculated using the average of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 prices. It is applied in the 2013 Farm structure survey data.
The SO 2013 was calculated using the average of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 prices. It is applied in the 2016 Farm structure survey data.
The SO 2017 was calculated using the average of 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 prices. It is applied in the 2020 Farm structure survey data.
The SO 2020 was calculated using the average of 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 prices. It is applied in the 2023 Farm structure survey data.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable
Units of measure utilised in the SOC data set are listed in the data transmission file to Eurostat by product. In general terms the used ones are EUR/100HEAD, EUR/100M2, EUR/HA, EUR/HEAD, EUR/HIVE.
Article 4 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1198/2014 states on the reference period for the standard output: “For the purposes of calculating standard outputs for the Union farm structure survey for year N, as referred to in Article 5b(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1217/2009, the reference period consists of the five successive years from year N-5 to year N-1. The standard outputs shall be determined using average basic data calculated over the reference period laid down in the first paragraph and commonly referred to as ‘N-3 standard outputs’. These N-3 standard outputs shall be updated to take account of economic trends at least each time a Union farm structure survey is carried out.”
For IFS 2023 this means that the Standard Output Coefficients required will be those calculated on the period of 5 years that spans from 2018 to 2022 (SOC2020).
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/220 lays down rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1217/2009 setting up a network for the collection of accountancy data on the incomes and business operation of agricultural holdings in the European Union and is supplemented by the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1198/2014 (namely the thresholds, reference period, types of farming and collection of accountancy data).
The legal basis for all statistical surveys carried out in the country, including IFS, is provided by the Official Statistics Law of 2021 (Law No. 25(I)/2021). This Law provides for the development, production and dissemination of all official statistics. Its provisions are also in line with Regulation (EC) No. 223/2009 on European statistics, with an emphasis on its latest amendment by Regulation (EU) 2015/759.
The EU legal basis for the IFS is provided by Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on integrated farm statistics and repealing Regulations (EC) No 1166/2008 and (EU) No 1337/2011.
The legal framework governing the FADN by the Department of Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment is the national Law No. 138(I)/2015.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not requested for this reference year.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Official statistics are released in accordance to the confidentiality principles provided in the following:
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European statistics, particularly chapter V on statistical confidentiality.
European Statistics Code of Practice (especially principle 5 on statistical confidentiality).
CYSTAT's internal Code of Practice for the Collection, Publication and Storage of Statistical Data.
Dissemination Policy of the Statistical Service
Guidelines for the Protection of the Confidential Data which cites the specifications and precautions that have to be taken in every stage of handling statistical data.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
The treatment of confidential data is regulated by CYSTAT's Code of Practice for the Collection, Publication and Storage of Statistical Data.
8.1. Release calendar
No
8.2. Release calendar access
No
8.3. Release policy - user access
As provided in Article 4(1) of the Official Statistics Law (Law No. 25(I)/2021) regarding the principle of impartiality, statistics are disseminated in such a way that all users have equal and simultaneous access to the data. The main channel for dissemination of national statistics is Cystat web portal (Cystat-DB) through which Cystat provides high quality statistical information such as announcements, interactive tables, predefined tables, metadata, infographics, etc.
SOC data are published on Eurobase under the Additional data - Eurostat (europa.eu) on Agriculture statistics. The publication of the data normally takes place within N+1 year after the deadline for the data transmission. Nevertheless updates of the data can occur, triggered by DG Agri and Eurostat revision and post-validation checks.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
No
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Not requested for this reference year.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Not requested for this reference year.
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not requested for this reference year.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Not requested for this reference year.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not applicable.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not requested for this reference year.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
No
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Not requested for this reference year.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not requested for this reference year.
Statistics are produced in accordance with the provisions of the European Statistics Code of Practice and in line with the principles governing its implementation. The quality of statistics is assessed according to the following quality criteria: relevance, accuracy, timeliness, punctuality, accessibility and clarity, coherence and comparability.
The definition of standard output (SO) and the calculation of standard output coefficients is described in the handbook of the Committee for the Farm Accountancy Data Network.
11.1. Quality assurance
Quality assurance and assessment procedures such as use of best practices, quality guidelines and compliance monitoring are followed. Statistics are produced in accordance with the provisions of the European Statistics Code of Practice and in line with the statistical principles governing its implementation.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The quality of statistics is assessed according to the following quality criteria: relevance, accuracy, timeliness, punctuality, accessibility and clarity, coherence and comparability. The quality indicators are assessed taking into account Eurostat's defined methodology and recommendations. On the basis of the above criteria, the statistics are assessed as being of very good quality.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Data are used by Eurostat, the Statistical Service of Cyprus, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
No user satisfaction survey is carried out.
12.3. Completeness
The data are transmitted to Eurostat at the level of detail required by the relevant Regulation.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
When a variable in not collected in IFS because it is reported as non-significant (NS) or non-existent (NE), the standard output coefficient (SOC) for the specific variable is not calculated.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Data are derived from several sample surveys and various administrative sources; errors are minimal and the data is considered to be of good quality since actions are undertaken to reduce any possible errors during the elaboration of the different surveys. Precautionary measures are taken in order to ensure the statistical quality of the data (control of reliability of declared prices and quantities, control of abnormal and missing values, random checks).
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable
13.3.1. Coverage error
Not requested for this reference year.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not requested for this reference year.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not requested for this reference year.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Not requested for this reference year.
13.3.3. Non response error
Not requested for this reference year.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
Not requested for this reference year.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not requested for this reference year.
13.3.4. Processing error
Not requested for this reference year.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not requested for this reference year.
14.1. Timeliness
Data is transmitted to Eurostat according to the deadline specified in the relevant Regulation.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Data on the Standard Output coefficients are not published.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Data on the Standard Output coefficients are not published.
14.2. Punctuality
Data is transmitted only to Eurostat and the deadline is respected.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Not requested for this reference year.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
It is possible to compare the standard output coefficients with other European countries, especially countries in the Mediterranean where the structure of the agricultural sector and the weather conditions are similar.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable, because there are no mirror flows.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Data is comparable over time. Comparisons are performed with previous years’ standard output coefficients (2007, 2010, 2013 and 2017). For some SOCs time comparison is due to necessary changes in data sources is limited:
Variable
Differences 2020 vs 2017
Comments
A5230
24.10%
There was an increase in both the volume and price of production.
A5240_5300
23.10%
There was an increase in both the volume and price of production.
F2000T
-40.20%
The average yield for figs for 2020 was decreased by 55% compared to 2017.
G2000T
-21.20%
The average yield (kg/ha) of hay for SOC2020 was decreased compared to SOC2017.
G3000T
57.90%
The average yield of green maize for 2020 was increased compared to 2017 by 44% mainly due to silage.
I1190T
53.60%
The average yield (kg/ha) of peanuts for SOC2020 was increased compared to SOC2017.
I5000T
28.10%
The average price of almost all aromatic, medicinal and culinary plants for SOC2020 was increased compared to SOC2017.
O1910T
20.10%
The average yield (kg/ha) in olives for oil for SOC2020 was increased compared to SOC2017.
T0000T
-36.40%
The average yield (kg/ha) of citrus fruits for SOC2020 was decreased compared to SOC2017.
V0000_S0000S
28.70%
The average prices for vegetables in greenhouses for SOC2020 was increased compared to SOC2017.
V0000_S0000T O
20.30%
The average prices for vegetables in open field for SOC2020 was increased compared to SOC2017.
W1110T
27.70%
Prices for Commandaria in SOC2020 were increased compared to SOC2017.
W1200T
29.70%
Prices for table grapes in SOC2020 were increased compared to SOC2017.
W1200T
29.70%
Prices for table grapes in SOC2020 were increased compared to SOC2017.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Comparable reference years are 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2017, hence the length is 4 years.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Not requested for this reference year.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not requested for this reference year.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not requested for this reference year.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Not requested for this reference year.
No cost and burden exercise has been elaborated.
17.1. Data revision - policy
No revisions were deemed necessary.
17.2. Data revision - practice
No revisions were deemed necessary.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not requested for this reference year.
18.1. Source data
Several sources are used in order to collect the necessary data to be used in the calculation of standard output coefficients. The data is generally based on statistical surveys and administrative records, such as:
Department of Agriculture: Greenhouse survey 2018-2022, Wine data, special small survey on Nurseries, Flower Review 2018, Sheep and Goats annual survey 2018-2022, Pig survey 2018-2022, Bovine annual census 2018-2022, Annual Poultry survey 2018-2022, Annual Rabbit survey 2018-2022.
Statistical Service of Cyprus: Annual sample surveys on cereals, vineyards, and main crop products 2018-2022, Economic Accounts of Agriculture 2018-2022, Floriculture survey 2018-2022, Monthly production of meat (monthly data on slaughtering) 2018-2022.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
SOC data transmission occurs every 3 years.
18.3. Data collection
The standard output coefficients are transmitted to Eurostat for validation after several validation checks performed in order to flag any possible data errors for investigation and appropriate correction in the data collection phase of each survey every year.
18.4. Data validation
Data validation is performed by Eurostat and DGAgri.
For more information, you can consult the Eurostat glossary page on the standard output.
16 February 2024
The standard output coefficient of an agricultural product (crop or livestock), abbreviated as SOC, is the average monetary value of the agricultural output at farm-gate price, in euro per hectare or per head of livestock.
Two legal acts are relevant for defining the variables collected for integrated farm statistics:
Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on integrated farm statistics and repealing Regulations (EC) No 1166/2008 and (EU) No 1337/2011.
The 2023 data collection is implemented by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2286 of 16 December 2021 on the data to be provided for the reference year 2023 pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 of the European Parliament and of the Council on integrated farm statistics as regards the list of variables and their description and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 1200/2009 (OJ L 458, 22 December 2021, p. 284–343).
Other concepts and definitions are presented in the Handbook of Integrated Farm Statistics 2023 (IFS 2023) and in the Typology handbook (RI/CC 1500 rev 5) prepared by the Committee for the Farm Accountancy Data Network.
Standard Output Coefficients (SOC) are collected under the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), by FADN regions in each country. FADN regions are mapped with NUTS regions. For more information on NUTS regions, see the NUTS classification.
Article 4 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1198/2014 states on the reference period for the standard output: “For the purposes of calculating standard outputs for the Union farm structure survey for year N, as referred to in Article 5b(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1217/2009, the reference period consists of the five successive years from year N-5 to year N-1. The standard outputs shall be determined using average basic data calculated over the reference period laid down in the first paragraph and commonly referred to as ‘N-3 standard outputs’. These N-3 standard outputs shall be updated to take account of economic trends at least each time a Union farm structure survey is carried out.”
For IFS 2023 this means that the Standard Output Coefficients required will be those calculated on the period of 5 years that spans from 2018 to 2022 (SOC2020).
Data are derived from several sample surveys and various administrative sources; errors are minimal and the data is considered to be of good quality since actions are undertaken to reduce any possible errors during the elaboration of the different surveys. Precautionary measures are taken in order to ensure the statistical quality of the data (control of reliability of declared prices and quantities, control of abnormal and missing values, random checks).
Units of measure utilised in the SOC data set are listed in the data transmission file to Eurostat by product. In general terms the used ones are EUR/100HEAD, EUR/100M2, EUR/HA, EUR/HEAD, EUR/HIVE.
Not requested for this reference year.
Several sources are used in order to collect the necessary data to be used in the calculation of standard output coefficients. The data is generally based on statistical surveys and administrative records, such as:
Department of Agriculture: Greenhouse survey 2018-2022, Wine data, special small survey on Nurseries, Flower Review 2018, Sheep and Goats annual survey 2018-2022, Pig survey 2018-2022, Bovine annual census 2018-2022, Annual Poultry survey 2018-2022, Annual Rabbit survey 2018-2022.
Statistical Service of Cyprus: Annual sample surveys on cereals, vineyards, and main crop products 2018-2022, Economic Accounts of Agriculture 2018-2022, Floriculture survey 2018-2022, Monthly production of meat (monthly data on slaughtering) 2018-2022.
SOC data are published on Eurobase under the Additional data - Eurostat (europa.eu) on Agriculture statistics. The publication of the data normally takes place within N+1 year after the deadline for the data transmission. Nevertheless updates of the data can occur, triggered by DG Agri and Eurostat revision and post-validation checks.
Data is transmitted to Eurostat according to the deadline specified in the relevant Regulation.
It is possible to compare the standard output coefficients with other European countries, especially countries in the Mediterranean where the structure of the agricultural sector and the weather conditions are similar.
Data is comparable over time. Comparisons are performed with previous years’ standard output coefficients (2007, 2010, 2013 and 2017). For some SOCs time comparison is due to necessary changes in data sources is limited:
Variable
Differences 2020 vs 2017
Comments
A5230
24.10%
There was an increase in both the volume and price of production.
A5240_5300
23.10%
There was an increase in both the volume and price of production.
F2000T
-40.20%
The average yield for figs for 2020 was decreased by 55% compared to 2017.
G2000T
-21.20%
The average yield (kg/ha) of hay for SOC2020 was decreased compared to SOC2017.
G3000T
57.90%
The average yield of green maize for 2020 was increased compared to 2017 by 44% mainly due to silage.
I1190T
53.60%
The average yield (kg/ha) of peanuts for SOC2020 was increased compared to SOC2017.
I5000T
28.10%
The average price of almost all aromatic, medicinal and culinary plants for SOC2020 was increased compared to SOC2017.
O1910T
20.10%
The average yield (kg/ha) in olives for oil for SOC2020 was increased compared to SOC2017.
T0000T
-36.40%
The average yield (kg/ha) of citrus fruits for SOC2020 was decreased compared to SOC2017.
V0000_S0000S
28.70%
The average prices for vegetables in greenhouses for SOC2020 was increased compared to SOC2017.
V0000_S0000T O
20.30%
The average prices for vegetables in open field for SOC2020 was increased compared to SOC2017.
W1110T
27.70%
Prices for Commandaria in SOC2020 were increased compared to SOC2017.
W1200T
29.70%
Prices for table grapes in SOC2020 were increased compared to SOC2017.
W1200T
29.70%
Prices for table grapes in SOC2020 were increased compared to SOC2017.
