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.
Standard Output Coefficients (SOC) are calculated for each agricultural product (crop or livestock) relevant for Sweden, as an average value over a reference period of 5 years. SOC are used to measure the economic size of a farm, by summing all the SO per hectare. SOC is used by investigators, politicians and researchers to clarify how the production value of agriculture is distributed between different regions and types of companies. The data is also used by organisations, companies and authorities as a basis for economic assessments, calculations, forecasts and investigations.
The data used for the calculation of SOC is mainly already existing data.
The statistical unit is the production value per product or hectare. The data is presented at different geographical levels.
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. The values are expressed in euro and in SEK.
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.
3.3. Coverage - sector
The statistics cover agricultural holdings undertaking agricultural activities in the context of Union agricultural surveys and censuses.
The standard output coefficient (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.
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.
3.5. Statistical unit
The agricultural holding is defined by Council Regulation (EC) No 1217/2009 as a farm business, in accordance with its general use in the context of Union agricultural surveys and censuses.
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).
See sub-categories below.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Not requested for this reference year.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not requested for this reference year.
See sub-categories below.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Not relevant. Only aggregated already collected data is used.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Not relevant. Only aggregated already collected data is used.
See subcategories below.
8.1. Release calendar
Name of report
Reference
Publication date
EAA - Economic Accounts for Agriculture. Agricultural income by region and type of farming in 2023
JO0205
January 2025
8.2. Release calendar access
The release calender is sent to Statistics Sweden in November and published on the website of the Swedish Board of Agriculture in December, every year.
Link to the release calendar at the Swedish Board of Agriculture:
All statistics are published on the website of the Swedish Board of Agriculture and are described in our statistic reports. The statisstics are released at 8.00 A.M. on the publication datestated on the release calendar.
Release of date is made available to all users at the same time. No users can access the data before it has been released at 8.00 A.M. on the predefined release date.
SOC data are calculated and disseminated over the years in which the farm structure survey is conducted.
SOC data are published on Eurobase on Agriculture statistics (Additional data - Eurostat (europa.eu) page). 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
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
Not requested for this reference year.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not requested for this reference year.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Not requested for this reference year.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Not requested for this reference year.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not requested for this reference year.
See sub-categories below.
11.1. Quality assurance
Yes
11.2. Quality management - assessment
We produce our statistics in accordance with the Quality Declaration of the European Statistical System (QDESS).
Our principles of quality are based on: relevance, accuracy, timeliness and punctuality, accessibility and clarity, as well as comparability and coherence. In accordance with the QDESS, our statistics are developed, produced and disseminated based on sound methodologies, the best international standards and appropriate procedures that are transparent and well documented.
In our work we strive to minimise the burden on our respondents and establish a good cooperation with data providers and data users.
We work systematically with identifying our strengths and weaknesses but also with modernising and innovating the statistical production in order to improve our statistics and the statistical quality framework.
See sub-categories below.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Standard output coefficients (SOC) are used to determine the farm typology, which is based on the standard output of the farm. This standard output accompanies the results of the farm structure statistics and the FADN, but the SO coefficients can also be used by the Member States as indicators.
Internationally, the biggest users are the European Union, FAO and the OECD.
Nationally, the biggest users are state institutions/policy makers, county administrative boards, the Federation of Swedish farmers, municipalities, media and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
In 2012, the Swedish Board of Agriculture (SBA) conducted a user survey. According to the survey, the county administrative boards were great users of the agricultural statistics produced by the SBA. They used our statistics on agricultural land, livestock and statistics on holding and holders. According to the survey, 18 county administrative boards needed statistics in municipality level. The Federation of Swedish Farmers also needed more statistics in municipality levels, mainly statistics on livestock and statistics on agricultural holdings.
The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences was in need of more micro data.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry and other departments at the Swedish Board of Agriculture are also big users of our statistics. These users require data on regional level.
During the years the farm structure surveys are conducted, all users’ needs are met.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
We conduct user surveys and have yearly meetings with users in order to measure the user satisfaction.
12.3. Completeness
Information on low- and zero prevalence variables is available on Eurostat's website.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Not applicable.
See sub-categories below.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Not requested for this reference year.
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
See sub-categories below.
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.
See sub-categories below.
14.1. Timeliness
See sub-categories below.
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 sub-category below.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Not requested for this reference year.
See sub-categories below.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Comparability between countries, as well as nationally.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not requested for this reference year.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Comparing SOC2020 with 2017 figures brings to the following comments:
The discrepancies of heifers 1-2 and heifers 2 years and older between the years had mostly to do with the price of sales between these two groups. The price since it does not only depend on growth in kilo is a bit estimated.
Some sharp fluctuations on SOC for animals are influenced by the breeding purposes (beef) and the value will change between years.
Breeding females is calculated correctly in 2020, I.e the difference depends on a mistake in calculation in 2017.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
The length of comparable time series is over 15 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.
Not applicable. Only already collected data is used for the calculation of SOC.
17.1. Data revision - policy
If there are errors in data already published, then the errors are documented and the data updated. Updated information together with a comment will be published.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Not requested.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not requested for this reference year.
18.1. Source data
For the calculation of SOC already collected data are used. See table below for data sources.
Price
Area
Yield
Total quantities produced
Number of livestock
FSS
X
X
Agricultural price statistics
X
Crop and animal production statistics
X
X
X
IACS
X
Bovine livestock identification database
X
Specific surveys (Horticultural survey)
X
X
EAA
X
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
Comparison checks. Comparisons with previous rounds of the SOC calculations.
Other
18.5. Data compilation
Not requested for this reference year.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not requested for this reference year.
18.6. Adjustment
Not requested for this reference year.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not requested for this reference year.
No additional comments.
Standard Output Coefficients (SOC) are calculated for each agricultural product (crop or livestock) relevant for Sweden, as an average value over a reference period of 5 years. SOC are used to measure the economic size of a farm, by summing all the SO per hectare. SOC is used by investigators, politicians and researchers to clarify how the production value of agriculture is distributed between different regions and types of companies. The data is also used by organisations, companies and authorities as a basis for economic assessments, calculations, forecasts and investigations.
The data used for the calculation of SOC is mainly already existing data.
The statistical unit is the production value per product or hectare. The data is presented at different geographical levels.
The standard output coefficient (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.
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.
The agricultural holding is defined by Council Regulation (EC) No 1217/2009 as a farm business, in accordance with its general use in the context of Union agricultural surveys and censuses.
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).
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.
Not requested for this reference year.
For the calculation of SOC already collected data are used. See table below for data sources.
Price
Area
Yield
Total quantities produced
Number of livestock
FSS
X
X
Agricultural price statistics
X
Crop and animal production statistics
X
X
X
IACS
X
Bovine livestock identification database
X
Specific surveys (Horticultural survey)
X
X
EAA
X
SOC data are calculated and disseminated over the years in which the farm structure survey is conducted.
SOC data are published on Eurobase on Agriculture statistics (Additional data - Eurostat (europa.eu) page). 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.
See sub-categories below.
Comparability between countries, as well as nationally.
Comparing SOC2020 with 2017 figures brings to the following comments:
The discrepancies of heifers 1-2 and heifers 2 years and older between the years had mostly to do with the price of sales between these two groups. The price since it does not only depend on growth in kilo is a bit estimated.
Some sharp fluctuations on SOC for animals are influenced by the breeding purposes (beef) and the value will change between years.
Breeding females is calculated correctly in 2020, I.e the difference depends on a mistake in calculation in 2017.
