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For any question on data and metadata, please contact: Eurostat user support |
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1.1. Contact organisation | Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union |
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1.2. Contact organisation unit | E1: Agriculture and fisheries |
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1.5. Contact mail address | 2920 Luxembourg LUXEMBOURG |
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2.1. Metadata last certified | 18/06/2024 | ||
2.2. Metadata last posted | 27/02/2024 | ||
2.3. Metadata last update | 27/02/2024 |
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3.1. Data description | |||
The data describe the structure of agricultural holdings providing the general characteristics of farms and farmers and information on their land, livestock and labour force. They also describe production methods, rural development measures and agro-environmental aspects that look at the impact of agriculture on the environment. The data are used by public, researchers, farmers and policy-makers to better understand the state of the farming sector and the impact of agriculture on the environment. The data follow up the changes in the agricultural sector and provide a basis for decision-making in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and other European Union policies. The statistical unit is the agricultural holding (farm). The aggregated results are disseminated through statistical tables. The data are presented at different geographical levels and over periods. The data collections are organised in line with the EU legislation. For 2020 (the agricultural census), 2023 and 2026, they are organised in line with the Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 and have a new structure, consisting of a core data set and several modules. The data are as comparable and coherent as possible across European countries. |
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3.2. Classification system | |||
Data are arranged in tables using many classifications. Please find below information on most classifications. The classifications of variables are available in Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 and in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1874 (for the year 2020), in Commission Regulation (EU) No 715/2014 (for the year 2016) and in Regulation (EC) No 1166/2008 (for the years 2010 and 2013). For the previous years, please consult List of Regulations and Decisions underlying the farm structure surveys in the annex of item 6.1. The farm typology means a uniform classification of the holdings based on their type of farming and their economic size. Both are determined on the basis of the standard gross margin (SGM) (until 2007) or standard output (SO) (from 2010 onward) which is calculated for each crop and animal. The farm type is determined by the relative contribution of the different productions to the total standard gross margin or the standard output of the holding. For the legal acts governing the typology system from 1990 onwards, please consult List of Regulations and Decisions underlying the farm structure surveys in the annex of item 6.1. The territorial classification uses the NUTS classification to break down the regional data. The regional data is available at NUTS level 2. |
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3.3. Coverage - sector | |||
The statistics cover agricultural holdings undertaking agricultural activities as listed in item 3.5 below and meeting the minimum coverage requirements (thresholds) as listed in item 3.6 below. |
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3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions | |||
Both the censuses and the sample surveys are aimed at producing a variety of information on specific CAP targets, as well as providing a basis for extrapolating Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) data. A set of characteristics and definitions are set in legislation, please consult List of Regulations and Decisions underlying the farm structure surveys in the annex of the item 6.1. Some exceptions are nevertheless recorded. For 1990-2005, see annex Exceptions and explanations on the characteristics of FSS surveys 1990-2005. Since 2007, see the national methodological reports. Information regarding the following groups of characteristics is available:
For 2020, the list of core variables is set in Annex III of Regulation (EU) 2018/1091.The descriptions of the core variables as well as the lists and descriptions of the variables for the modules collected in 2019/2020 are set in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1874. The following groups of variables are collected:
A complete glossary of agricultural statistics is available for users. Annexes: 3.4. Exceptions and explanations on the characteristics of FSS surveys 1990-2005 |
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3.5. Statistical unit | |||
The statistical unit is the agricultural holding. |
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3.6. Statistical population | |||
The statistical population consists of agricultural holdings which meet the minimum requirements set up in the IFS/FSS legislative framework. For 2020, the data cover in each country the agricultural holdings and common land agricultural units that meet at least one of the physical thresholds set in Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 with regard to the size of agricultural land or the number of livestock units.
From 2010 until 2016, following the entry into force of Regulation (EC) No 1166/2008, all countries included all holdings above at least one threshold of a set of thresholds. For the set of thresholds (set by legislation), as well as for the specific thresholds applied by countries between 2007 and 2013, see Farm structure survey - survey coverage. Countries which used a survey threshold above one hectare UAA were allowed to fix this threshold at a level that excludes only the smallest agricultural holdings which together contribute 2 % or less to the total UAA excluding common land and 2 % or less to the total number of farm livestock units (LSU). Until the FSS 2007, in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 571/88, the countries which applied a threshold of above one hectare of utilised agricultural area (UAA) committed themselves to fix this threshold at a level excluding only the smallest holdings, which together contributed 1 % or less to the total standard gross margin (SGM). Annexes: 3.6. Thresholds IFS2020 |
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3.7. Reference area | |||
The 2020 agricultural census covers the European Union, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland. For earlier years, data from candidate countries and potential candidates are also received. See for which country and year the data are available on Eurostat website, in the FSS glossary article. |
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3.8. Coverage - Time | |||
FSS has been carried out since 1966. The online database is only available from 1990 onwards. See for which country and year the data are available on Eurostat website, in the FSS glossary article. For earlier data (before 1990), see Farm Structure - Historical Results (surveys from 1966/67 to 1997). The label for Germany has been changed in July 2023 from "Germany (until 1990 former territory of the FRG)" to "Germany". |
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3.9. Base period | |||
The FSS data have been processed with SGM coefficients/SO coefficients (calculated as a 3-year average in the case of SGM and 5-year average in the case of SO). The 2020 data are processed with 2017 SO coefficients (calculated as a 5-year average of the period 2015-2019). For more information, see the definitions of the standard output and of the standard gross margin as well as the use of SO and SGM coefficients in Farm Structure Surveys in the period 1990-2013. |
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Two kinds of units are generally used:
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FSS data are available for the following years: 1989/1990, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999/2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009/2010, 2013 and 2016. The agricultural censuses are in line with the FAO recommendations and are carried out every 10 years. The intermediate surveys are organised 3 (until 2007) or 2 times (since 2010) between the censuses. The exact reference periods are determined in legislation.
For 2010, 2013 and 2016, the reference periods are provided in Article 8 of the Regulation (EC) No 1166/2008. Article 16 of the same Regulation provides derogations for Greece, Spain and Portugal, where the references to the year 2010 are replaced by references to the year 2009. For more information on the comparability of reference periods in 2013 across countries and between 2013 and 2010 by country, see Farm structure survey - reference periods. The surveys 1990 and 2000 covered a period between 1 December 1988 and 1 March 1991, respectively 1 December 1998 and 1 March 2001, thus the actual survey varied from country to country. See for which country and year the data is available on Eurostat website in the FSS glossary article. |
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6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements | |||
The rules governing the farm structure surveys are laid down in a number of Council Regulations and Commission Regulations and Decisions. The annex List of the Regulations and Decisions underlying the FSS presents all legal acts by survey year and type of information provided (organisation of surveys, characteristics, definitions, tables, deadlines for data transmission, typology). For the latest data collections, the legislation is (also) presented on a dedicated page, see section "Farm structure". The NUTS classification is originally based on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics. The Regulation also specifies the stability of the classification for at least three years. Stability makes sure that data refer to the same regional unit for a certain period of time. This is crucial for statistics, in particular for time-series. However, sometimes national interests require changing the regional breakdown of a country. When this happens the country concerned informs the European Commission about the changes. The Commission in turn amends the classification at the end of period of stability according the rules of the NUTS Regulation. Therefore, the subsequent regular amendments to the annexes were adopted by Commission Regulation (EC) No 105/2007, Commission Regulation (EU) No 31/2011, Commission Regulation (EU) No 1319/2013, Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/2066 and Commission Delegated Regulation 2019/1755, establishing the NUTS versions 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2021. In addition, the NUTS classification was completed with the regional breakdowns of the countries that joined the EU (please see Regulation (EC) No 1888/2005 and Regulation (EC) No 176/2008), and updated by Commission Regulation (EU) No 868/2014, Commission Regulation (EU) No 1046/2012. For more information, see the NUTS website. Annexes: 6.1.List of the Regulations and Decisions underlying the IFS/FSS |
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6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing | |||
Not applicable. |
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7.1. Confidentiality - policy | ||||||||
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics, amended by Regulation (EU) 2015/759 stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society. |
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7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment | ||||||||
In the tables disseminated on Eurostat website, a cell is confidential if:
A confidential value is replaced with ":c". For non-confidential cells, the extrapolated number of holdings and all values of variables in cells are rounded to the closest multiple of 10. Because of the confidentiality treatment, the sum of the individual cells does not systematically match with the value of the "total" cell. The following graphs present the rules used by countries to identify confidentiality cells when they disseminate national data, for IFS 2020. For Iceland, the information is provisional. The following graphs present the methods used by countries to protect confidential data cells when they disseminate national data, for IFS 2020. For Iceland, the information is provisional. The following graphs present the national use of the EU methodology for microdata dissemination, for IFS 2020. The information is provisional for Iceland.
The following graphs present the methods of perturbation used by countries when they disseminate national data, for IFS 2020. For Iceland, the information is provisional.
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8.1. Release calendar | |||
There is no fixed release deadline for Integrated Farm Statistics. Only transmission deadlines are set in legislation. |
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8.2. Release calendar access | |||
Eurostat's release calendar is available at: Release calendar - Eurostat (europa.eu). |
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8.3. Release policy - user access | |||
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice, Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see principle 10 - 'Accessibility and clarity') respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users. |
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Results are disseminated 2 years after the reference year. |
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10.1. Dissemination format - News release | |||
EU farms: 5.3 million fewer in 2020 than in 2005 Most of the 9.1 million farms in the EU are family-run in 2020 |
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10.2. Dissemination format - Publications | |||
The FSS results have been published in a series of statistical books, pocketbooks, Eurostat yearbooks and Statistics Explained articles, including a complete glossary:
Regional Data Data for censuses carried out every 10 years are sometimes available in a three-level geographical breakdowns of the whole country, the regions and the districts; while data for intermediate sample-based surveys are only available upon the two-levels of country and regions. Since FSS 1999/2000, information about local farm location is collected in most countries, so the data can also be disseminated by NUTS and are robust regarding the changes in the NUTS definition. The FSS 2009/2010 information is in line with the NUTS 2010 classification: Commission Regulation (EU) No 31/2011 amending the NUTS classification from January 2003. The FSS 2009/2010 and 2013 information are in line with the NUTS 2013 classification, see: Commission Regulation (EU) No 1319/2013 and Commission Regulation (EU) No 868/2014 amending the NUTS classification established by Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003. The FSS 2016 information is in line with the NUTS 2013 classification. The IFS 2020 information is in line with the NUTS 2021 classification. FSS/IFS surveys do not cover the whole territory but only the land covered by the agricultural holdings. So the land use data without link with farm characteristics should be downloaded by the user from the relevant domain.
Production of paper and on-line publications in countries The following graphs present the shares of countries that produced paper and on-line publications for IFS 2020. For Iceland, the information is provisional. |
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10.3. Dissemination format - online database | |||
The main dissemination outlet is the website of Eurostat. Aggregates at regional (NUTS 2), national and European level are published under node "Farm structure" (ef). The following graph presents the share of countries publishing an online database including IFS 2020 data. The information for Iceland is provisional. |
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10.3.1. Data tables - consultations | |||
The ranking and trends of the most consulted tables from 2018 to 2022 are available at: euagristat.shinyapps.io/user_attention_tables/ (select domain "FSS"). |
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10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access | |||
Eurostat grants access to microdata for scientific purposes only. Information on the procedure can be found in the dedicated page. Commission Regulation (EC) No 606/2008 included the FSS in the list of surveys that can be accessed for scientific purposes. In 2017, the Working Group on the Structure of Agricultural Holdings supported the release of the Farm Structure Survey (FSS) data in the form of scientific use files. The adopted methodology is common to all countries and also outlines specific measures requested by some countries. The following graph presents the share of countries with accessible microdata at national level, for IFS 2020. The information for Iceland is provisional. |
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10.5. Dissemination format - other | |||
Please consult free data online or refer to ESTAT-EUROFARM-DATA-USERS@ec.europa.eu. |
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10.5.1. Metadata - consultations | |||
Not available. |
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10.6. Documentation on methodology | |||
The following graph presents the share of countries having a national handbook on methodology, for IFS 2020. The information for Iceland is provisional.
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10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate | |||
Not available. |
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10.7. Quality management - documentation | |||
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11.1. Quality assurance | |||
Countries and Eurostat perform a systematic data validation. See item 18.4. For the national quality reports, see items 10.6 and 10.7. Peer reviews in Eurostat concluded in 2008 and in 2024. An Internal Audit was undertaken in Eurostat in 2013. The following graph presents the quality assurance and assessment procedures in countries, for IFS 2020. The information for Iceland is provisional.
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11.2. Quality management - assessment | |||
Data are collected from reliable sources applying high standards with regard to the methodology and ensuring a high degree of comparability. The national methodological reports (quality reports), sent by the countries for each survey, comprise information on each of the quality aspects defined by Eurostat. The quality reports are aligned to the European Standard Quality Reporting Structure. The following graph presents the share of countries having a national quality management system, for IFS 2020. The information for Iceland is provisional. |
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12.1. Relevance - User Needs | |||
The users are all the stakeholders in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and other policy areas such as environment, regional development, climate change and health:
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12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction | |||
The following graphs present the share of countries that conducted an user satisfaction survey and the level of satisfaction in the countries that conducted an user satisfaction survey, for IFS 2020. The information for Iceland is provisional. |
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12.3. Completeness | |||
According to the Regulation (EC) No 2018/1091 and Regulation (EC) No 1166/2008, if a country determines that a variable has a low or zero prevalence, the variable may be excluded from the data collection. For designating a variable non-significant, Eurostat recommends the following general thresholds:
However, the designation of a variable as NS is subjective and it is not possible to give a threshold fully applicable to all countries and all variables. In other words, thresholds are different for different agricultural crops and livestock units in different countries. |
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12.3.1. Data completeness - rate | |||
Not applicable for Integrated Farm Statistics as the not collected variables (not-significant variables and not-existent variables) are completed with 0. |
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13.1. Accuracy - overall | ||||
Regulation (EC) No 2018/1091 and Regulation (EC) No 1166/2008 require the estimates to be representative at the level of NUTS2 regions and by farm type and by size of agricultural holdings. This means that the estimates should be reliable and can be disseminated without quality concerns at NUTS2 regions. This does however not hold for lower geographical levels, e.g. NUTS 3, unless for countries which stratify by NUTS 3. The sample surveys are usually stratified at NUTS 2 level. The results of sample surveys are extrapolated with one (sometimes two) weighting factor(s) for a wide range of characteristics. Therefore the accuracy of estimates is affected by sampling errors. |
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13.2. Sampling error | ||||
Regulation (EC) No 2018/1091 provides sets of precision requirements, each set corresponding to each core and module data collections. For 2020, the precision requirements apply to all NUTS 2 regions with at least 10 000 holdings in the relevant population of the core/module. For a NUTS 2 region with fewer than 10 000 holdings, those precision requirements apply instead to the associated NUTS 1 region, provided that the associated NUTS 1 region contains at least 1 000 holdings in the relevant population of the core/module. The precision requirements are applied only if the prevalence of the variable surpasses a certain threshold in the respective region. Regulation (EC) No 1166/2008 provides for two sets of precision requirements, one for the FSS sample (i.e. non-census) surveys and another for the SAPM (survey on agricultural production methods) in 2010. For the FSS, precision requirements are defined for a list of 21 variables; these precision requirements apply to all NUTS 2 regions with at least 10 000 holdings. For a NUTS 2 region with fewer than 10 000 holdings, those precision requirements apply instead to the associated NUTS 1 region, provided that the associated NUTS 1 region contains at least 1 000 holdings. For the SAPM, a reduced list of 10 variables is defined. The precision requirements are applied only if the prevalence of the variable surpasses a certain threshold in the respective region. Eurostat publishes estimates for many more variables than those for which precision requirements are set in regulations and for many types of population breakdowns, while the variables determining these breakdowns are not stratification variables in the sampling design. Since some cells' estimates, being of poor quality, likely send misleading messages to data users, the following EU quality rating system is implemented for cells' estimates:
Counts are first converted to proportions, standard errors are estimated for the corresponding proportions and the quality rating system for proportions is applied. The following graphs present information on countries that apply the EU quality rating system, that apply another quality rating system and that do not apply a quality rating system, for the 2020 data. The information is provisional for Iceland. |
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13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators | ||||
The national quality reports/national methodological reports provide the relative standard errors (RSEs) for the main crop and livestock variables, for which precision requirements are set in legislation. The reports also provide details on the methods used by countries for the estimation of the RSEs. Finally, the reports indicate the reasons for possible cases where precision requirements are applicable and estimated RSEs are above the thresholds (the reason is usually the variability of the variables between the sampling design and the data collection). Eurostat does not disseminate the sampling errors (the RSEs) for the data in tables, but calculates and uses the RSEs to suppress or indicate low reliability of the data in tables. |
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13.3. Non-sampling error | ||||
See sub-categories below. |
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13.3.1. Coverage error | ||||
The national methodological reports/quality reports provide reasons and treatments on coverage errors. |
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13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate | ||||
The national methodological reports/quality reports provide over-coverage rates. The following graphs present the type of holdings included in the frame but not belonging to the population of the core, in countries, for IFS 2020. The information for Iceland is provisional.
The following graphs present the actions undertaken by countries to minimise the over-coverage errors, for IFS 2020. The information for Iceland is provisional.
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13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion | ||||
Not applicable. |
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13.3.2. Measurement error | ||||
The national methodological reports/quality reports provide reasons and treatments on measurement errors. For the FSS characteristics with the largest measurement errors in 2010 and 2013, see the article Farm structure survey - measurement errors. |
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13.3.3. Non response error | ||||
The national methodological reports/quality reports provide reasons and treatments on non-response errors. Non-response errors are generally very low because the legislation in place obliges response with fines in many countries in case of non-response. |
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13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate | ||||
The national methodological reports/quality reports provide unit non-response rates. |
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13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate | ||||
The national methodological reports/quality reports provide information on item non-response rates. |
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13.3.4. Processing error | ||||
The national methodological reports/quality reports provide reasons and treatments on processing errors. Processing errors are low because the on-line surveys and questionnaires embedded in IT applications include consistency checks and validation rules. The following graphs present the sources of processing errors in countries, for IFS 2020. The information for Iceland is provisional.
The following graphs present the imputation methods used by countries, for IFS 2020. The information for Iceland is provisional.
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13.3.5. Model assumption error | ||||
Seasonal adjustment is not applicable. On the other hand, a few countries apply calibration but the related error is not estimated. |
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14.1. Timeliness | |||
The deadlines for the transmission of FSS data are set by legislation. For IFS 2020, Member States shall transmit validated core and module data and a quality report to the Commission (Eurostat) within 15 months after the end of the reference year. For the FSS 2013 and 2016, Member States transmitted validated survey data to the Commission within 12 months of the end of the survey year. Data relating to the rural development measures could be transmitted to the Commission separately within 18 months of the end of the survey year. Results are disseminated following validation, confidentiality treatment and tabulation, 2 years after the reference year. |
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14.1.1. Time lag - first result | |||
2 years and 3 months from the end of the reference year 2020 until the publication of the first results in the news release EU farms: 5.3 million fewer in 2020 than in 2005 - Eurostat (europa.eu) (3 April 2023). |
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14.1.2. Time lag - final result | |||
To be completed. |
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14.2. Punctuality | |||
See sub-category below. |
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14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication | |||
No delays after validation of the data. |
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15.1. Comparability - geographical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Comparability across countries is considered high. Harmonisation of concepts and methods is ensured by a number of Commission Regulations and Decisions providing detailed information on list of variables/characteristics, on rules and procedures that should be followed and on time-frame within which FSS/IFS should be conducted. The same data are available for all countries. Besides, the censuses carried out every 10 years are in line with the FAO recommendations enhancing this way the comparability with countries outside Europe including USA and Japan. 1. Survey coverage Each country is allowed, in line with the legislation, to set up thresholds at a level that excludes very small holdings, as long as the conditions for minimum coverage are guaranteed. Consequently, all countries have set up a system of country-specific alternative thresholds, which ensure that the requested minimum coverage is respected. Overview of the coverage, comparability possibilities and limitations for each group of countries, in 2020
For more information, see items 3.3 and 3.6. For the period until FSS 2013 see the article Farm structure survey - survey coverage. For 2016, see the national methodological reports. 2. Geographical location of the holding For 2020, according to Regulation (EU) 2018/1091, the countries transmit the cell code of the 1 Km2 INSPIRE statistical units grid for pan-European usage. For 2016, data include only the NUTS 3 regions where the holdings are located, according to Commission Regulation (EU) No 715/2014. For 2009/2010 and 2013, the methodology for geo-referencing the agricultural holdings is based on the geographical coordinates. Regulation (EC) No 1166/2008 defines the "location of the holding" as the latitude and longitude coordinates within an arc of 5 minutes that avoid the direct identification of an individual holding. If a latitude and longitude location contains only one agricultural holding, then this holding shall be attributed to a neighbouring location, which contains at least one other agricultural holding. In each country the geographical coordinates were attributed to each holding using distinct methodologies.
3. Common land The way common land has been included in the data collections has an impact on the comparability of number of holdings, average size of holdings and livestock densities across countries and by dimensions within each country. The following graphs present the share of countries that collect common land data, and their used sources, for IFS 2020. The information for Iceland is provisional.
The following table presents the methods used by countries to record data on common land, for IFS 2020. The information is provisional for Iceland. National methods used to record common land data IFS 2020
4. Annual working unit (AWU) The AWU (the number of working hours and days in a year for a full-time job) varies across countries. Annual working units are used to calculate the farm work on the agricultural holdings.
For IFS 2020, Eurostat required countries to collect other gainful activities not related to holdings only for sole holder holdings where the holder is single manager. However some countries collect and transmit the data to Eurostat additionally on sole holders where holder is co-manager with their spouse or family member.
For IFS 2020, Eurostat required countries to collect the variables on AHMM only for holdings with at least one of the following: bovine animals, pigs, sheep, goats, poultry. However some countries collect and transmit the data to Eurostat additionally for holdings without animals because an important part of nutrients are used in holdings without livestock.
The area of crops which have actually been irrigated at least once during the 12 months prior to the reference day of the survey do not include crops under glass or other (accessible) protective cover and kitchen gardens which are almost always irrigated. If more than one crop is grown in a field during the harvest year, the area should only be indicated once: for the main crop, if irrigation was used for it, or otherwise for the most important irrigated secondary or successive crop. See in addition the annex Exceptions and explanations on the characteristics of FSS surveys 1990 - 2005 in item 3.4. |
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15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not applicable, because there are no mirror flows in Integrated Farm Statistics. |
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15.2. Comparability - over time | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The time series analysis in agricultural domain is mostly oriented to economic and social aspects of the agriculture such as the evolution of the labour force, the level of investment on the farms regarding environmental issues and the most relevant type of tenancy on the agricultural sector. 1. Real changes in the evolution of agricultural holdings There is a decreasing trend in the number of agricultural holdings that appears in general over all European countries. Among the most important reasons to explain the changes over time are the abandonment of the agricultural activity, the lack of profitability of some crops and the increase of energy crops, based on the demand and subsidies. A time series analysis over a three year period helps to understand the impact of the agricultural policy on the agricultural practices i.e. the discontinuation of subsidies can lead to a quick and drastic decrease in the area used for the cultivation of a specific crop. 2. Methodological reasons affecting comparability over time The length of the farm structure time series is variable between the countries. In some countries, the online time series go back to 1990, while other countries started only in 2013. The core data are comparable in the time series mostly as long as the country did not change the coverage thresholds between years. The module data are comparable in the time series mostly as long as the country did not change the coverage thresholds between years and as long as the 2020 module data cover the agricultural holdings accounting for at least 98% of the total utilised agricultural area (without kitchen gardens) and at least 98% of the total livestock units of the country. Overview of the coverage, comparability possibilities and limitations for each group of countries, in 2020
2.1. Change of survey coverage The change of legal requirements on data collection coverage (see item 3.6) led to changes of thresholds in some countries between 2007 and 2010 and between 2016 and 2020. The graph below presents the impact of the change of survey coverage on the comparability of the national core data between 2016 and 2020. The information is provisional for Iceland. Significant changes on survey coverage between 2013 and 2016:
Between 2010 and 2013, an additional adjustment of thresholds took place in some countries (Belgium, France, Croatia, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Finland and Iceland). For more information on the impact of survey coverage changes on national data until 2013, see article Farm structure survey - survey coverage. 2.2. Change of method or methodological problems on the collection of common land data Common land has not been consistently covered by all countries before 2010, despite that it has been covered by legislation at least since 1988. Regulation (EC) No 1166/2008 made it clearer that the data on the UAA should cover common land in all countries. Therefore, since 2010, common land has been included in the surveys by countries in a more harmonised way. The following graph presents the impact of the change of common land methods on the comparability of the national data between 2016 and 2020. The information is provisional for Iceland. Between 2013 and 2016, the methodology changed at the level of the EU: in 2016 the common land was newly recorded under the new tenancy type "common land". This triggered some fluctuations in the utilised agricultural area classified in the various classes of tenure. In addition:
For information on methods and impact of change of methods on the data until 2013, see article Farm structure survey - common land.
2.3. Change of the definition of agricultural holding The modifications undertaken by countries on the definition of agricultural holding were mostly minor and had only a negligible impact on the number of holdings. Concerning the changes between 2016 and 2020, Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 newly considers agricultural holdings with only fur animals. However some countries do not raise fur animals. Some other countries, even if they raise fur animals, do not include agricultural holdings with only fur animals in their data collection because such agricultural holdings do not meet the thresholds. The reason is that the thresholds for animals are expressed in livestock units (LSU) and fur animals are not associated LSU coefficients. Also, such holdings do not contribute towards the minimum coverage of 98% of the total LSU of the country. Concerning the changes between 2013 and 2016, Germany newly covered holdings with more than 1000 places for poultry, even if they have no agricultural activities (including no poultry breeding) in the reference period. For the analysis of changes between 2010 and 2013, see article Farm structure survey - definition of agricultural holding.
2.4. Change of the reference period The folowing graph presents the impact of the change of reference periods for main variables on the comparability of the national data between 2016 and 2020. The information is provisional for Iceland. Concerning the changes between 2013 and 2016:
The article Farm structure survey - reference periods presents the changes between 2010 and 2013 in the countries where they occurred. The modifications undertaken by countries on the reference periods/days in 2013 compared to 2010 were mostly minor and most probably had only a negligible impact on the number of holdings. However, for specific variables such as pigs, the modification of the reference period/day, for example from 1 December 2010 to 31 December 2013 has some effect on data comparability over time. 2.5. Change in the list of characteristics 2.6. Change in concepts and classifications IFS 2020 brings the following changes:
From FSS 2009/2010 onwards, the classification of fruit and berry plantations changed from - Fruit and berry plantations temperate climate - Fruit and berry plantations subtropical climate to - Fruit species temperate climate - Fruit species sub-tropical climate - Berry species. FSS 1999/2000 introduced a new concept of "group holdings" with an impact on the classification between family and non-family labour force. 2.7. Changes in the geographical breakdowns Up to 1997, the geographical breakdowns of the countries are based on specific regions and districts. |
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15.2.1. Length of comparable time series | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not available. |
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15.3. Coherence - cross domain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eurostat undertakes cross-check analyses of IFS/FSS statistics against animal and crop (ACS) production statistics. The main reasons for the differences between FSS/IFS and the other data collections are:
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15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not applicable to Integrated Farm Statistics, because there are no sub annual data collections in agriculture. |
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15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not applicable, because Integrated Farm Statistics have no relevance for national accounts. |
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15.4. Coherence - internal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The data are internally consistent. This is ensured by the application of a wide range of validation rules and stable definitions of the variables/dimensions. The results of the structure surveys of agricultural holdings are disseminated through statistical tables on Eurostat website. A wide range of tables are available crossing various dimensions and variables of time, area size, economic size, or geographical breakdowns. All the tables are derived from the same sets of individual data, which guarantees their coherence. The following graph presents the share of countries that analysed the coherence at micro level for IFS 2020. The information for Iceland is provisional. |
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Some coordination exists between surveys in some countries to avoid that farms need to answer multiple questionnaires with the same kind of questions. More information for each country can be found in the national methodological reports/quality reports. Legislation is in place to provide financial support for national data collections. The following graphs present the national efficiency gains in IFS 2020 compared to FSS 2016. The information for Iceland is provisional. |
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17.1. Data revision - policy | |||
The general Eurostat revision policy applies to this domain. |
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17.2. Data revision - practice | |||
The data at farm level are validated by countries and Eurostat using strict rules. The aggregated data are checked and validated as well. The 2013, 2016 and 2020 data were disseminated as preliminary and then as final. Data may be published even if they are missing for certain data providers or flagged as provisional or of low reliability for certain data providers. They are replaced with final data once transmitted and validated; European aggregates are updated for consistency with new country data. All reported errors (once validated) result in corrections of the disseminated data. The data may be subject to subsequent revisions. Whenever new data are provided and validated, the already disseminated data are updated. Currently, the impact of major revisions is not analysed and the time series breaks caused by major revisions are not flagged. Major revisions are documented and are communicated through the explanatory notes. Regional data In ef_main tables, the 2007 data were revised to set the NUTS classification from NUTS 2006 version to NUTS 2010 version. |
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17.2.1. Data revision - average size | |||
Not available. |
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18.1. Source data | |||
Countries collect data through two kinds of statistical coverage:
However, for certain variables, the countries may use samples for every year. The sampling rate depends on country and year. It varies between 2.5% and 100% of the total population of agricultural holdings. In a few countries, every year is a census, see the data collections between 1999/2000 and 2016 in the Glossary: Farm structure survey. Countries complement the data from surveys with data from administrative sources. The use of administrative sources is for the first time enshrined in Regulation (EC) No 1166/2008. According to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1166/2008, provided that the information from the administrative source is of at least equal quality to information obtained from statistical surveys, countries are allowed to use information from:
Further on, Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 extends the list of administrative sources to:
Moreover, in case countries decide to use other administrative sources than those specified above, or decide to use innovative approaches and methods, they can do so on condition that the Commission will be informed in advance and will be provided with a description of the used sources/methods and of the quality of the data.
For 2013, the article Farm structure survey - administrative sources provides a description of the administrative sources used, of their purpose and quality, and of the difficulties and measures taken to overcome them. |
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18.2. Frequency of data collection | |||
The agricultural census is conducted every 10 years. The decennial agricultural census is complemented by sample or census-based data collections organised every 3-4 years in-between. |
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18.3. Data collection | |||
The methods used to collect the data vary in countries depending on national practices. The following graph presents the methods of data collection used by countries, for IFS 2020. The information for Iceland is provisional.
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18.4. Data validation | |||
Data at Eurostat are checked by successive steps on:
For the complete overview of the validation workflow in FSS 2016 and IFS 2020, see annexes Validation workflow FSS 2016 and Validation workflow IFS 2020. Only data and metadata having been entirely validated can be disseminated. The following graphs present the type of validation checks in countries, for IFS 2020. The information for Iceland is provisional.
Annexes: 18.4. Validation workflow FSS 2016 18.4. Validation workflow IFS 2020 |
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18.5. Data compilation | |||
The aggregation can be simple summing up, but in case of sample surveys, the extrapolation factors provided by the countries for each holding are taken into account. Some countries collected some variables (e.g. crop, livestock) from all holdings (census) while some other variables (e.g. labour force) from sample of holdings. In this case, the data from a table covering only crop and livestock variables will be slightly different from the same data from another table combining crop and livestock variables with labour force variables. For example, the total number of holdings from the first table will be slightly different from the total number of holdings from the second table. This is because in the second table, the number of holdings is an estimate based on a sample. In the first table, the number of holdings is more precise because it is based on census. The data discrepancies of the same total between the two tables increase the higher the level of detail of the data. |
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18.5.1. Imputation - rate | |||
The information is available in the national quality/methodological reports. |
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18.6. Adjustment | |||
A few countries apply calibration (based on administrative sources) to improve the coverage and the data quality. For FSS 2013, see article Farm structure survey - administrative sources. See also 18.5. Data compilation. |
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18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment | |||
Not applicable to Integrated Farm Statistics, because it collects structural data on agriculture. |
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List of abbreviations CAP – Common Agricultural Policy CAPI – Computer Assisted Personal Interview CATI – Computer Assisted Telephone Interview CAWI – Computer Assisted Web Interview FSS – Farm Structure Survey IACS – Integrated Administration and Control System IFS – Integrated Farm Statistics LSU – Livestock units NACE – Nomenclature of Economic Activities NUTS – Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics PAPI – Paper and Pencil Interview SO – Standard output UAA – Utilised agricultural area |
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