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 there of, 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.
Other concepts and definitions are presented 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 utilized 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/HEAD, EUR/HIVE, EUR/100M2, EUR/HA.
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 standard output coefficients transmitted to Eurostat are not kept confidential. But as soon as the standard output of an agricultural holding is computed, it must be kept confidential under given circumstances. The individual data collected are generally kept confidential in compliance with Article 16 of the Federal Statistics Law. Only in exceptional cases explicitly regulated by law individual data can be transferred (e.g. the provision of anonymized individual data to the research data centers of the Federal Statistical Office and the Statistical Offices of the Länder, for universities and other independent, academic institutions), without citing names or addresses (factually anonymized individual data).
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
No data treatment because of confidentiality policy.
8.1. Release calendar
The standard output coefficients are published on Eurobase under the “Additional data” page 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.
8.2. Release calendar access
No.
8.3. Release policy - user access
No information available.
According to Article 4 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1198/2014 standard outputs shall be updated to take account of economic trends at least each time a Union farm structure survey is carried out. Normally, dissemination takes place every three to four years.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Not requested for this reference year.
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
The standard output coefficients are not publicly accessible at national level. The SOC are transmitted to and published by Eurostat.
Typology Handbook (RI/CC 1500 rev 5), Committee for the Farm Accountancy Data Network, July 2020.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Not requested for this reference year.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not requested for this reference year.
11.1. Quality assurance
Standard output coefficients are provided by the Association for Technology and Structure in Agricultural (Kuratorium für Technik und Bauwesen in der Landwirtschaft e.V. - KTBL). To assure quality there was close cooperation and checks against former SOC, especially SOC2017.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Not requested for this reference year.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The standard output is used to classify agricultural holdings by type of farming and by economic size. Main users are Eurostat (ESTAT), Directionate General for Agricultural and Rural Development (DG AGRI), Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture of Germany (BMEL), Ministries of Agriculture of the Länder, their subordinate authorities or institutions and universities, higher education institutions and associations. Further user are communities, chambers and offices of agriculture, agricultural holdings, media and press representatives, political parties and interested private individuals.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
The international variables for the IFS 2023, like the standard output and type of farming, were carried out by Eurostat in coordination with the national statistical offices.
At the national level, variables are implemented in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture of Germany, which involves the ministries of the Länder via the Statistical Committee. In addition, the federal ministries, the Statistical Offices of the Länder, the central associations and representatives from economy and science are represented in the Statistical Advisory Committee, which shall advise the Federal Office on statistical matters and represent the interests of the users of federal statistics. The detailed discussion of individual statistics and of special methodological and technical questions take place in the technical committee Agricultural Statistics of the Statistical Advisory Committee.
12.3. Completeness
Following codes were excluded because this areas or animals are not significant for the German Agriculture:
rice (SOC_CLND013),
fibre flax (SOC_CLND028),
cotton seed and fibre (SOC_CLND030),
fruits from subtropical and tropical climate zones (SOC_CND058),
kitchen gardens and other utilised agricultural area n.e.c. under glass or high accessible cover (SOC_CLND073_085),
ostrich (SOC_CLVS027),
guinea fowls and small poultry (including quails, pheasants and pigeons) (SOC_CLVS028)
breeding female rabbits (SOC_CLVS029),
bees (SOC_CLVS030)
other UAA under glass or high accessible cover n.e.c. (SOC_ CLND085)
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
The dataset is complete with the exception of the variables mentioned under 12.3.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
No information available.
13.2. Sampling error
Not requested for this reference year.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not requested for this reference year.
13.3. Non-sampling error
No information available.
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
SOC reference years: 2018 – 2022.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not requested for this reference year.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not requested for this reference year.
14.2. Punctuality
Data transmitted by the given deadline (24 November 2023).
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Not requested for this reference year.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The geographical level of the IFS is the FADN region whereas the national geographical level is the NUTS2 region.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not requested for this reference year.
15.2. Comparability - over time
In general, 13 years (SO2007; SO2010; SO2013; SO2017; SO2020)
Comparability is limited for some variables due to different reasons:
1. Shorter time series:
New variables that have been added over the last 13 years
Variables are no longer relevant at national level, so they have been excluded (see 12.3)
2. Methodological changes in calculation between SOC2017 and SOC2020:
Changeover of the database of the KTBL
Deeper regional breakdown
New calculation of variables like vine
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
See 15.2.
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.
The calculation and quality assurance of the large number of standard output coefficients as well as the evaluation of influencing factors and the development over time was complex and time-consuming.
17.1. Data revision - policy
No.
17.2. Data revision - practice
No information available.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not requested for this reference year.
18.1. Source data
The standard output coefficients are provided by the Association for Technology and Structure in Agricultural (Kuratorium für Technik und Bauwesen in der Landwirtschaft e.V. - KTBL).
18.2. Frequency of data collection
According to Article 4 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1198/2014 standard outputs shall be updated to take account of economic trends at least each time a Union farm structure survey is carried out. Normally, data collection takes place every three to four years.
18.3. Data collection
Not requested for this reference year.
18.4. Data validation
Check against the SOC2017, SOC2013, SOC2010 and SOC2007 data.
For more information, you can consult the Eurostat glossary page on the standard output.
14 November 2023
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.
Other concepts and definitions are presented 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).
No information available.
Units of measure utilized 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/HEAD, EUR/HIVE, EUR/100M2, EUR/HA.
Not requested for this reference year.
The standard output coefficients are provided by the Association for Technology and Structure in Agricultural (Kuratorium für Technik und Bauwesen in der Landwirtschaft e.V. - KTBL).
According to Article 4 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1198/2014 standard outputs shall be updated to take account of economic trends at least each time a Union farm structure survey is carried out. Normally, dissemination takes place every three to four years.
SOC reference years: 2018 – 2022.
The geographical level of the IFS is the FADN region whereas the national geographical level is the NUTS2 region.
In general, 13 years (SO2007; SO2010; SO2013; SO2017; SO2020)
Comparability is limited for some variables due to different reasons:
1. Shorter time series:
New variables that have been added over the last 13 years
Variables are no longer relevant at national level, so they have been excluded (see 12.3)
2. Methodological changes in calculation between SOC2017 and SOC2020:
