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.
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 requested for this reference year.
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 2020 this means that the Standard Output Coefficients required will be those calculated on the period of 5 years that spans from 2015 to 2019 (SOC2017)
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
For the administrative data used in the compilation of the SOC, there is an MoU in place with a number of sources, for the transfer of the data from the source to the NSO.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not requested for this reference year.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
At the National level:
The NSO requests information for the compilation of official statistics according to the articles of the Malta Statistics Authority (MSA) Act – Cap. 422 and the Data Protection Act – Cap. 586of the Laws of Malta implementing the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
Article 40 of the MSA Act stipulates the restrictions on the use of information while Article 41 stipulates the prohibition of disclosure of information. Furthermore, Section IX of the Act (Offences and Penalties) lays down the measures to be taken in case of unlawful exercise of any officer of statistics regarding confidentiality of data.
Since its inception, the NSO has always assured that all data collected remains confidential and that it is used for statistical purposes only according to the articles and derogations stipulated in the laws quoted above. The Office is obliged to protect the identity of data providers and refrain from divulging any data to third parties that might lead to the identification of persons or entities.
During 2009, the NSO has set up a Statistical Disclosure Committee to ensure that statistical confidentiality is observed, especially when requests for microdata are received.
Upon employment, all NSO employees are informed of the rules and duties pertaining to confidential information and its treatment. In line with stipulations of the MSA Act, before commencing work, every employee is required to take an oath of secrecy whose text is included in the same Act.
An internal policy on anonymisation and pseudo-anonymisation is in place to ascertain that adequate methods are used for the protection of data that the office collects and shares with the public in its capacity as the National Statistics Office. The policy is meant to safeguard the confidentiality of both personal and business data entrusted to the NSO. The document provides guidance for all NSO employees who process data on a daily basis as to how anonymisation and pseudo-anonymisation methods should be applied. The policy applies to all confidential, restricted and internal information, regardless of form (paper or electronic documents, applications and databases) that is received, processed, stored and disseminated by the NSO.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
None of the SOC is confidential.
8.1. Release calendar
None
8.2. Release calendar access
No
8.3. Release policy - user access
Not applicable
SOC data are published on Eurobase under the “Additional data - Eurostat (europa.eu)” 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.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
At National level, such data is not published but once these are requested from other entities, data is made available.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Not applicable.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Not applicable.
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not applicable.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Not applicable.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not applicable.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not applicable.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Not applicable.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Not applicable.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not requested for this reference year.
11.1. Quality assurance
The entire process is carried out in accordance with the best codes of practice for the collection, compilation, presentation, and submission of statistical data.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Not requested for this reference year.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The users of the above-mentioned statistical data can range from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Animal rights (MAFA), policymakers, and academics.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
No survey on user satisfaction on the topic has been conducted.
12.3. Completeness
The data collection covers all the crops cultivated and animal reared in Malta.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
100%
13.1. Accuracy - overall
A system of checks and re-checks both across time and within the data compilation and processing system is in place to ensure a sound level of accuracy.
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
Not requested for this reference year.
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
The data has been compiled and transmitted 19 days after the deadline. The delay of the data delivery was due to the priority given to the Integrated Farm Statistics 2023 that has been carried out in the last quarter of 2023.
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
see point 14.1
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Not requested for this reference year.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
When comparing SOC coefficients with those of neighbouring regions, one must keep in mind that in Malta there are a lot of imports when compared to the local production. Therefore, the local prices have to compete with the imported prices and that is the main reason why forcertain products the SOC of the neighbouring countries are much higher.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not requested for this reference year.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The coefficients are comparable from SO 2007 onwards since the same methodology has been applied throughout the years.
Comparing SOC2020 with 2017 figures brings to the following comments:
- F1100T and F1200 - An increase of 27% has been registered when compared to SO 2017. This was the result of an increase in the average price as a result of a drop in the production of pome fruits/stone fruits during the years.
- V0000_S0000S – This was mainly the result of a decrease in the area used for the cultivation of vegetables under glass. Additionally, there was also a decrease in the production which resulted in an increase in the average price.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
5 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.
The cost to compile such SOC is very minimal since they are based on readily available datasets and no dedicated surveys are in place.
17.1. Data revision - policy
At the NSO, there is currently no internal policy governing revisions that occur for all statistics produced. Nonetheless, a revisions policy is being drafted to safeguard a coordinated revisions system across statistical domains. This policy will take account of the need and causes for revisions; time and frequency of revisions; data and other statistical products affected by such revisions; and length of periods revised.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Not applicable
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not requested for this reference year.
18.1. Source data
Sources
For the compilation of the SOC, the following sources were used:
Physical quantities produced – annual data of crops sold through the organised markets together with the estimated data for the direct sales. Such data is the same data as per the crop production statistics.
Prices – for potatoes, vegetables, permanent crops, and mushrooms, we have used the agricultural price statistics while prices for livestock have been taken from the FADN survey.
Cultivated area – Data collected from other surveys such as the Integrated Farm Statistics.
Number of animals present on the farm and slaughtered – For the number of livestock, data from the national livestock database has been used while data from the animal production statistics has been used for the slaughtered data.
Calculation
G0000T – Fodder
The SO coefficient has been worked out by taking into consideration the estimated annual production together with the annual area and the average price. For the latter, data collected from the FADN survey has been used. Then the SO was calculated for each year and a simple average has been taken for the respective five years.
V0000_S0000T - Fresh vegetables (including melons) and strawberries - outdoor
For this SO coefficient, the following crops were taken into consideration. For each SOC, the percentage of the area with that crop out of the total area of vegetables has been taken into consideration.
Globe Artichokes
Lettuce
Broad Beans
Marrows
Bell pepper
Watermelons
Cabbages
Sugar Melons
Carrots
Onions
Cauliflowers
Pumpkins
Cucumber
Spinach
Eggplant
Strawberries
Garlic
Tomatoes
Kohlrabi
V0000_S0000S - Fresh vegetables (including melons) and strawberries - under glass or high accessible cover
For this SO coefficient, the following crops were taken into consideration.
Green Peppers
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Vegetable Marrows
Melons
Tomatoes
V0000_S0000S - Fresh vegetables (including melons) and strawberries - under glass or high accessible cover
For this SO coefficient, the following crops were taken into consideration.
Permanent crops
For each SOC, the percentage of the area with that crop out of the total area of that type has been taken into consideration for the weighted average. Regarding the average price, for most of the products, administrative data obtained from the organised markets has been used while for grapes data from the FADN survey has been used. Once the SOC has been compiled for every year, then a simple average of the reference five years has been taken to have the final coefficient.
U1000 - Mushrooms
The SO coefficient has been worked out by taking into consideration the output of all the successive harvests for each year and the total area in 100 square meters. Then simple average has been taken for the respective five years to have the coefficient.
Bovine animals
For the dairy cows (A2300F), the SO was calculated as follows: Value of milk + value of calf + [value of slaughtered * replacement rate]
Value of milk is the main primary output while the others are referred to as the secondary output.
The value of milk is obtained on a monthly basis directly from the one dairy plant available on the island, while slaughtering data is obtained from the civil abattoir. The same applies for the average carcass price. Regarding the price of Milk, this was not adjusted for high value products. For the other items, expert estimates are used.
Sheep and goats
The primary output was calculated by first estimating the amount of milk products produced by ewes and she-goats. Then this has been multiplied by the value of this product. Then we calculated the secondary output by taking into consideration the slaughter value of a cull ewe and the estimated lifetime of an ewe together with the of a fattened lamb. The replacement value was also calculated. At the end the standard output was compiled as follows: Value of other product + [(Value of (cull animal – young breeding ewe) * replacement rate] + Value of fattened lamb/kid. Then simple average has been taken for the respective five years to have the coefficient.
For the other sheep and goats, the SOC was calculated as follows: Value at the time of slaughter – value of newborn.
Pigs
A3120 - Breeding sows – The primary output was calculated by first estimating the number of piglets per breeding sow. Then this has been multiplied by the value of the piglet. Then we calculated the secondary output by taking into consideration the slaughter value of a breeding sow and the estimated lifetime of the breeding sow. The replacement value was also calculated. At the end the standard output was compiled by adding the primary output and the secondary output and deducting the replacement cost. Then simple average has been taken for the respective five years to have the coefficient.
A3130 - Other pigs – It was calculated by taking into consideration, Value of slaughtered pigs less the replacement value and the result multiplied by the replacement rate. Then simple average has been taken for the respective five years to have the coefficient.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
SOC data transmission occurs every 3 years
18.3. Data collection
Not requested for this reference year.
18.4. Data validation
The SOCs 2020 were compared to the previous one (SOC 2017) and these are the main findings:
Potatoes - R1000T - A decrease of 7% had been registered as a result of a drop of 12% in the production.
Fresh Vegetables - V0000_S0000T - An increase of 43% has been registered when compared to SO 2017. This was mainly the result of a decrease in the area used for the cultivation of vegetables. There was also a decrease in the production which resulted in an increase in the average price.
Flowers – A decrease of 32% has been registered for flowers outdoor (N0000T) while the SOC for flowers under glass (N0000S) remained quite stable when compared to SO 2017. This is the result of a drop in the production of outdoor flowers.
Stone fruit - F1200T - An increase of 27% has been registered as a result of an increase in the average price as a result of a drop in the production of stone fruits during the years. Moreover, there was also a decrease in the area of stone fruit plantations.
Citrus plantations - T0000T - An increase of 18% has been registered as a result of an increase in the average price as a result of a drop in the production of citrus during the years. Moreover, there was also a decrease in the area of citrus plantations.
Olive plantations - O1100T and O1910T – A drop of 42% has been registered as a result of a decline in the production of olives during the last years. Moreover, there was also a decrease in the area of olive plantations.
Vineyards
The SOC for PDO wines (W1110T) registered an increase of 18% as a result of an increase in the volume and a slight decrease in the area cultivated. In our case, the SOC for PGI wines is the same as PDO wines. We have realised that in the past years, the SOC of PGI was the same as that of other wines but in reality the SOC of PGI should be the same as that of PDO.
Other wines (W1190T) registered a decrease of 36% when compared to SO 2017. This was the result of a decrease in the production of grapes for other wines.
Grapes for table use (W1200T) registered a decrease of 16% as a result of a decrease in the production of grapes for table use.
Cultivated mushrroms (U1000) registered a decrease of 25% as a result of a decrease in the production.
Fresh Vegetables under glass - V0000_S0000S - registered an increase of 26% as a result of an increase in the production and a decrease in the area under glass. Moreover, there was an increase in the average price.
Male bovine animals, 2 years old or over - A2130 – An increase of 52% has been registered as a result of an increase in the average slaughter price.
Sheep - A4100 – An increase of 42% has been registered as a result of an increase in the value of the other product that reflected in the overall coefficient.
Sheep, breeding females - A4110K – An increase of 58% has been registered as an increase in the value of the other product that reflected in the overall coefficient.
Goats - A4200 – An increase of 42% has been registered as a result of an increase in the value of the other product that reflected in the overall coefficient.
Goats, breeding females - A4210K – An increase of 44% has been registered as a result of an increase in the value of the other product that reflected in the overall coefficient.
Bees (hives) - A6710R – An increase of 20% has been registered as a result of an increase in the average price of the end product.
For more information, you can consult the Eurostat glossary page on the standard output.
31 January 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.
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 2020 this means that the Standard Output Coefficients required will be those calculated on the period of 5 years that spans from 2015 to 2019 (SOC2017)
A system of checks and re-checks both across time and within the data compilation and processing system is in place to ensure a sound level of accuracy.
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.
Sources
For the compilation of the SOC, the following sources were used:
Physical quantities produced – annual data of crops sold through the organised markets together with the estimated data for the direct sales. Such data is the same data as per the crop production statistics.
Prices – for potatoes, vegetables, permanent crops, and mushrooms, we have used the agricultural price statistics while prices for livestock have been taken from the FADN survey.
Cultivated area – Data collected from other surveys such as the Integrated Farm Statistics.
Number of animals present on the farm and slaughtered – For the number of livestock, data from the national livestock database has been used while data from the animal production statistics has been used for the slaughtered data.
Calculation
G0000T – Fodder
The SO coefficient has been worked out by taking into consideration the estimated annual production together with the annual area and the average price. For the latter, data collected from the FADN survey has been used. Then the SO was calculated for each year and a simple average has been taken for the respective five years.
V0000_S0000T - Fresh vegetables (including melons) and strawberries - outdoor
For this SO coefficient, the following crops were taken into consideration. For each SOC, the percentage of the area with that crop out of the total area of vegetables has been taken into consideration.
Globe Artichokes
Lettuce
Broad Beans
Marrows
Bell pepper
Watermelons
Cabbages
Sugar Melons
Carrots
Onions
Cauliflowers
Pumpkins
Cucumber
Spinach
Eggplant
Strawberries
Garlic
Tomatoes
Kohlrabi
V0000_S0000S - Fresh vegetables (including melons) and strawberries - under glass or high accessible cover
For this SO coefficient, the following crops were taken into consideration.
Green Peppers
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Vegetable Marrows
Melons
Tomatoes
V0000_S0000S - Fresh vegetables (including melons) and strawberries - under glass or high accessible cover
For this SO coefficient, the following crops were taken into consideration.
Permanent crops
For each SOC, the percentage of the area with that crop out of the total area of that type has been taken into consideration for the weighted average. Regarding the average price, for most of the products, administrative data obtained from the organised markets has been used while for grapes data from the FADN survey has been used. Once the SOC has been compiled for every year, then a simple average of the reference five years has been taken to have the final coefficient.
U1000 - Mushrooms
The SO coefficient has been worked out by taking into consideration the output of all the successive harvests for each year and the total area in 100 square meters. Then simple average has been taken for the respective five years to have the coefficient.
Bovine animals
For the dairy cows (A2300F), the SO was calculated as follows: Value of milk + value of calf + [value of slaughtered * replacement rate]
Value of milk is the main primary output while the others are referred to as the secondary output.
The value of milk is obtained on a monthly basis directly from the one dairy plant available on the island, while slaughtering data is obtained from the civil abattoir. The same applies for the average carcass price. Regarding the price of Milk, this was not adjusted for high value products. For the other items, expert estimates are used.
Sheep and goats
The primary output was calculated by first estimating the amount of milk products produced by ewes and she-goats. Then this has been multiplied by the value of this product. Then we calculated the secondary output by taking into consideration the slaughter value of a cull ewe and the estimated lifetime of an ewe together with the of a fattened lamb. The replacement value was also calculated. At the end the standard output was compiled as follows: Value of other product + [(Value of (cull animal – young breeding ewe) * replacement rate] + Value of fattened lamb/kid. Then simple average has been taken for the respective five years to have the coefficient.
For the other sheep and goats, the SOC was calculated as follows: Value at the time of slaughter – value of newborn.
Pigs
A3120 - Breeding sows – The primary output was calculated by first estimating the number of piglets per breeding sow. Then this has been multiplied by the value of the piglet. Then we calculated the secondary output by taking into consideration the slaughter value of a breeding sow and the estimated lifetime of the breeding sow. The replacement value was also calculated. At the end the standard output was compiled by adding the primary output and the secondary output and deducting the replacement cost. Then simple average has been taken for the respective five years to have the coefficient.
A3130 - Other pigs – It was calculated by taking into consideration, Value of slaughtered pigs less the replacement value and the result multiplied by the replacement rate. Then simple average has been taken for the respective five years to have the coefficient.
SOC data are published on Eurobase under the “Additional data - Eurostat (europa.eu)” 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.
The data has been compiled and transmitted 19 days after the deadline. The delay of the data delivery was due to the priority given to the Integrated Farm Statistics 2023 that has been carried out in the last quarter of 2023.
When comparing SOC coefficients with those of neighbouring regions, one must keep in mind that in Malta there are a lot of imports when compared to the local production. Therefore, the local prices have to compete with the imported prices and that is the main reason why forcertain products the SOC of the neighbouring countries are much higher.
The coefficients are comparable from SO 2007 onwards since the same methodology has been applied throughout the years.
Comparing SOC2020 with 2017 figures brings to the following comments:
- F1100T and F1200 - An increase of 27% has been registered when compared to SO 2017. This was the result of an increase in the average price as a result of a drop in the production of pome fruits/stone fruits during the years.
- V0000_S0000S – This was mainly the result of a decrease in the area used for the cultivation of vegetables under glass. Additionally, there was also a decrease in the production which resulted in an increase in the average price.
