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.
Directorate of Agricultural Policy, Documentation and International Relations
FADN Unit
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
2 Acharon Street, 101 76, Athens, Greece
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
12 October 2024
2.2. Metadata last posted
12 October 2024
2.3. Metadata last update
15 August 2024
3.1. Data description
Standard Output statistics provide 5 year’s mean data of the Standard Output Coefficients (SOCs) of agricultural products (crop or livestock) (in €/ha), yields (in 100kg or 100lit per ha or Livestock Unit) and farm gate prices (in €/100kg or 100lit). SOCs are the average monetary value of the agricultural output at farm-gate price.
The majority of data used in calculations, is coming from already available official statistical data sources. If official data are not available, administrative sources, expert’s opinion's, registries (e.g. vineyard registry) and other data providers are used. In Greece, the data are referenced by 2 main areas (Main Land of Greece and Aegean Islands and Crete).
The list of products is based on crop and livestock classifications determined in Annex III of Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 and are also listed in the Euro SDMX Registry under the Codelist CL_SOC_PRODUCT classification.
Additionally, the correspondences of products to crops and animals the SDMX registry with the codelists ESTAT_CL_CROPS, ESTAT_ SCL_ANIMALS and CL_SAIO_AGRIPROD classification systems are used for the retrieval from other datasets of the data required for the calculations.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Products of arable and perennial crops, mushrooms and animals, detailed in the CL_SOC_PRODUCT list, except nonsignificant for the country products (NSNE) . NSNEs are determined a priori by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The SOC of an agricultural product (crop or livestock, is the average monetary value of the agricultural output at farm-gate price, in euro per hectare or per head of livestock.
There are two methods of estimation of the SOC variables:
When the IFS is to be realized with a census an analytical method taking into account all the data required is applied
The years that the IFS is to be realized with a survey SOC variables can be estimated eithe with the analytical method either by updating the previous period values.
3.5. Statistical unit
The utilised agricultural area per crop and the livestock units per animal species of agricultural holdings.
3.6. Statistical population
SOC variables cover the agricultural holdings of the reference area producing the specified product. Crop main area, harvested production of main and secondary products, livestock heads, animal products and farm gate prices, are used in the calculations.
3.7. Reference area
SOCs are estimated for two parts of Greece, delimited with a view to the selection of agricultural holdings and their products:
492: Nisia Aigaiou, Kriti (Aegean islands and Crete)
3.8. Coverage - Time
The SOCs are calculated as an average over a reference period covering 5 successive calendar or agricultural years. They cover the period of 5 years preceding the year N of the European survey on the structure of agricultural holdings (IFS). They are referred with the number of the N-3 year and their reference periods are as follows:
2005 – 2009: SOCs 2007 used in IFS 2010 (census)
2008 – 2012: SOCs 2010 used in IFS 2013 (sample survey)
2011 – 2015: SOCs 2013 used in IFS 2016 (sample survey)
2015 – 2019: SOCs 2017 used in IFS 2020 (census)
2018 – 2022: SOCs 2020 used in IFS 2023 (sample survey)
3.9. Base period
Not applicable
Production units, are:
area, measured in ha for crop products and
animal numbers, measured in heads for animal products
Products, are in 100kg weight or 100lit volume units, according to their physical properties.
Prices, are in [€/product units] units
Yields, are in [product units/production units] units
SOCs, are in [€/Production unit] units
Exceptions apply for
poultry, for which SOC are determined in terms of 100 heads, and for bees, for which they are determined by hive.
For mushrooms, the SOCs are determined on the basis of gross output for all the annual successive harvests and are expressed per 100 m2 of area under crops. For their use in the context of the FADN, such SOCs for mushrooms are divided by the number of annual successive harvests.
The SOCs are calculated as an average over a reference period covering 5 successive calendar or agricultural years.
The data used to calculate the SOC covers a 12-month production period (either a calendar year or an agricultural year). If the period of production for crops and livestock is other than 12 months, the figure should be converted to values relating to a period of 12 consecutive months.
This is relevant when the production period is less than 12 consecutive months, for example ‘other pigs’ or ‘broilers’. In these cases the period has to be extended to 12 months.
In cases where the production period for livestock is greater than 1 year, for example ‘laying hens’ or ‘dairy cows’, a SOC is calculated for a period of 12 months.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
SOCs must be forwarded to the EUROSTAT the year before the Integrated Farm Structure Survey (IFS, FSS until 2016) is realised and to the National Statistical Service (ELSTAT) and to the Ministry’s CAP Managing Authority, whenever they are requested.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The policies of the Ministry, the FADN legislation, the National Statistical Service (ELSTAT) and of the data providers are applied. Only mean values and aggregates are used and any sensible data that might be found in the datasets used is deleted. The same is done with data that may allow the identification of the statistical units.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Data is treated only by authorized FADN Liaison agency agents, who are aware of the confidentiality policy, the GDPR and any confidentiality restriction of the data providers.
The maximum accuracy that can be achieved with the recommended methodology, using mean values, for roughly aggregated crop and animal products and large geographic areas.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable. Non-probability sampling is used.
Existing mean values from other statistics were used in the calculations. The resulting values were compared to FADN dataand reviewed by local experts in every production branch.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable
13.3.1. Coverage error
0%. Both geographic divisions and crop and animal products of the country are included.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
0%
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
100%
13.3.2. Measurement error
Not applicable
13.3.3. Non response error
Not applicable
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
Not applicable
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not applicable
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
Delivery and publication every thirty-six months.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not records kept.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
No records kept.
14.2. Punctuality
Not applicable. The release is not annual or more frequent.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The geographical comparability was not quantified. 5 years annual mean productivity data used are estimated from area/Livestock units and production data, collected by experts at the NUTS3 level. The distinction of two regions, continental Greece (491) and Islands (492) was based on yields variability, assesed by the local experts.
Producer prices are reported annually at the national level.
Given the extend of the variability of annual, holding level microdata, the estimated 5 years mean SOC values, can be considered geographically comparable.
The comparability at the EU level was not assessed.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not requested for this reference year.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The method of estimation "Update" or "Detailed" changes and this might limit the comparability of SOCs timeseries. However given that they are 5 years mean values and the two years are overlapping in two successive estimations, smoothens data variability.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Not requested for this reference year.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
SOCs estimated using mean annual data at the national level from other data sources, are compared to estimations from FADN microdata. The experts consider those comparisons to determine the reported values. The general conclusion is that there is a big variability of yields, prices and resulting SO values annually at the holdings level so that the estimated 5 years mean values fall in this range of variation.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable. SOCs are 5 years mean values.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Common data for productivity and producer prices are used for SOCs "Updating" and for national accounts.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The internal coherance is assured by the use of official datasets, experts opinion and EUROSTAT validation tests.
There is a great workhour cost and burden for the following reasons:
collection and compilation of a big amount of data, out of FADN main scope,
data of different nature (areas, production, prices),
data for almost every agricultural product to compile in SOC product groups,
datasets that are not designed for that purpose and use different aggregations and codifications.
Every year, disaggregated data for many crop and animal products included in each SOCs CD_PRODUCT group, have to be collected in order to be available when the time comes to calculate and deliver the 5 years mean values, every 3 years. This workload is equivalent to redoing every existing national and european annual agricultural statistic at NUTS3 level. This is not the main purpose of the FADN and the FADN funding and ressources are not accounting for this workload.
The continuous reduction of active scientific staff creates many problems in the timetables.
With the existing resources available, delays are a daily occurrence and there are serious concerns that during the transition from FADN to FSDN up to 2028, the liaison agency will not be able this requirement in due time.
Once the data are validated by EUROSTAT and DGAgri they can no more be revised. They keep being used as such for 3 years until the next SOC is estimated.
A posteriori checks can only be made on the source data and methodologies used for the 2 years data that will be overlapping with the next 5 years SOC calculation.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Data are revised only if there is a feedback request from EUROSTAT or DG Agri, during the validation checks.
17.2. Data revision - practice
There is not any unprompted data revision practice.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
No records kept.
According to the FADN legislation, once every 10 years, when the farm structure survey is carried out in the form of a census, the basic data for determining the SO coefficients shall be renewed on the basis of the direct observation method (meaning that more detailed data is collected). This was relevant for SOC2017 which is applied to the IFS2020 data. In 2023 the update method was used for the transmission of SOC2020.
18.1. Source data
The basic data needed is:
the quantity of the main product (by area or livestock unit)
the corresponding unit price
the value of any secondary product
For SOCs2017 the "detailed method" was applied. Dissagregated productivity and producer price data for every main and secondary product of the product groups required for the SOC were taken from Eurostat and ELSTAT, national agricultural statistics datasets and administrative data sources, formal and informal.
For SOCS2020 the "Update method" was used. 5 years mean yields were estimated stable. Annual mean producer prices (absolute and indexes) from the Eurostat [aact_eaa05] and the PRAG_PRICES_A dataset of ELSTAT (used in national accounts for agriculture) were used. The experts took also in consideration FADN microdata, to adjust the final values to be reported.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Data has to be collected and compiled in a compatible to the SOCs format, at least every year, whenever they are publicly available. Missing detailed data are required by selected producers and producer organisations, experts and FADN data collectors, whenever the SOCs are to be estimated using the detailed method (every 10 years).
18.3. Data collection
Publicly available data are downloaded from online data sources.
Detailed missing data are required formally and informally with peer to peer contacts.
18.4. Data validation
Validation is made by Eurostat and DGAgri.
18.5. Data compilation
The codification of data from crops and animals statistics using the framework of EUROSTAT IFS and the keys provided in SDMX is used to compile area, livestock and production data. For aggregated product groups, internal codifications and keys connecting them have been developed. The compilation of price statistics is realised connecting the data sources with keys developed for that purpose, case by case.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
No records kept.
18.6. Adjustment
The adjustments recommended in the Typology Handbook (RICC1155) are followed whenever the available data allow that.
The adjustments made by the experts, are not explicitly recorded in the methodology. They are made case by case, product by product, depending on the information and data they have access to.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
There are not any seasonal adjustments to be made.
Standard Output statistics provide 5 year’s mean data of the Standard Output Coefficients (SOCs) of agricultural products (crop or livestock) (in €/ha), yields (in 100kg or 100lit per ha or Livestock Unit) and farm gate prices (in €/100kg or 100lit). SOCs are the average monetary value of the agricultural output at farm-gate price.
The majority of data used in calculations, is coming from already available official statistical data sources. If official data are not available, administrative sources, expert’s opinion's, registries (e.g. vineyard registry) and other data providers are used. In Greece, the data are referenced by 2 main areas (Main Land of Greece and Aegean Islands and Crete).
The SOC of an agricultural product (crop or livestock, is the average monetary value of the agricultural output at farm-gate price, in euro per hectare or per head of livestock.
There are two methods of estimation of the SOC variables:
When the IFS is to be realized with a census an analytical method taking into account all the data required is applied
The years that the IFS is to be realized with a survey SOC variables can be estimated eithe with the analytical method either by updating the previous period values.
The utilised agricultural area per crop and the livestock units per animal species of agricultural holdings.
SOC variables cover the agricultural holdings of the reference area producing the specified product. Crop main area, harvested production of main and secondary products, livestock heads, animal products and farm gate prices, are used in the calculations.
SOCs are estimated for two parts of Greece, delimited with a view to the selection of agricultural holdings and their products:
The data used to calculate the SOC covers a 12-month production period (either a calendar year or an agricultural year). If the period of production for crops and livestock is other than 12 months, the figure should be converted to values relating to a period of 12 consecutive months.
This is relevant when the production period is less than 12 consecutive months, for example ‘other pigs’ or ‘broilers’. In these cases the period has to be extended to 12 months.
In cases where the production period for livestock is greater than 1 year, for example ‘laying hens’ or ‘dairy cows’, a SOC is calculated for a period of 12 months.
The maximum accuracy that can be achieved with the recommended methodology, using mean values, for roughly aggregated crop and animal products and large geographic areas.
Production units, are:
area, measured in ha for crop products and
animal numbers, measured in heads for animal products
Products, are in 100kg weight or 100lit volume units, according to their physical properties.
Prices, are in [€/product units] units
Yields, are in [product units/production units] units
SOCs, are in [€/Production unit] units
Exceptions apply for
poultry, for which SOC are determined in terms of 100 heads, and for bees, for which they are determined by hive.
For mushrooms, the SOCs are determined on the basis of gross output for all the annual successive harvests and are expressed per 100 m2 of area under crops. For their use in the context of the FADN, such SOCs for mushrooms are divided by the number of annual successive harvests.
The codification of data from crops and animals statistics using the framework of EUROSTAT IFS and the keys provided in SDMX is used to compile area, livestock and production data. For aggregated product groups, internal codifications and keys connecting them have been developed. The compilation of price statistics is realised connecting the data sources with keys developed for that purpose, case by case.
The basic data needed is:
the quantity of the main product (by area or livestock unit)
the corresponding unit price
the value of any secondary product
For SOCs2017 the "detailed method" was applied. Dissagregated productivity and producer price data for every main and secondary product of the product groups required for the SOC were taken from Eurostat and ELSTAT, national agricultural statistics datasets and administrative data sources, formal and informal.
For SOCS2020 the "Update method" was used. 5 years mean yields were estimated stable. Annual mean producer prices (absolute and indexes) from the Eurostat [aact_eaa05] and the PRAG_PRICES_A dataset of ELSTAT (used in national accounts for agriculture) were used. The experts took also in consideration FADN microdata, to adjust the final values to be reported.
Table 2 - SO coefficients in the IFS cycle and FADN years
IFS Year
SOC set
SOC references years
SOC delivery deadline
IFS 2020
SOC2017
2015-2016-2017-2018-2019
31 December 2020
IFS 2023
SOC2020
2018-2019-2020-2021-2022
31 December 2023
IFS 2026
SOC2023
2021-2022-2023-2024-2025
31 December 2026
Delivery and publication every thirty-six months.
The geographical comparability was not quantified. 5 years annual mean productivity data used are estimated from area/Livestock units and production data, collected by experts at the NUTS3 level. The distinction of two regions, continental Greece (491) and Islands (492) was based on yields variability, assesed by the local experts.
Producer prices are reported annually at the national level.
Given the extend of the variability of annual, holding level microdata, the estimated 5 years mean SOC values, can be considered geographically comparable.
The comparability at the EU level was not assessed.
The method of estimation "Update" or "Detailed" changes and this might limit the comparability of SOCs timeseries. However given that they are 5 years mean values and the two years are overlapping in two successive estimations, smoothens data variability.
