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.
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union
1.2. Contact organisation unit
E1: Agriculture and fisheries
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
ESTAT FARM SURVEYS
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
6 June 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
6 June 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
6 June 2025
3.1. Data description
Standard Output Coefficients (SOC) are collected under the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) legislation: Council Regulation (EC) No 1217/2009 setting up a network for the collection of accountancy data on the incomes and business operation of agricultural holdings in the European Union, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1198/2014 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/220 amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1975.
AT, EL, FI and SE provided further information in their national quality reports.
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.
3.3. Coverage - sector
The statistics cover agricultural holdings undertaking agricultural activities in the context of Union agricultural surveys and censuses. See for more information Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 and the Integrated Farm Statistics (IFS) 2023 national quality reports, concept 3.3.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
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 euro 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.
AT, CY, IE and SI provided further information in their national quality reports.
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. See for more information Regulation (EU) 2018/1091, article 2(a) and the IFS 2023 national quality reports, concept 3.5.1.
Normally, the standard output coefficients (SOC) are expressed in euro per unit (i.e. euro/hectare or euro/head), with the following exceptions:
• SOCs for mushrooms are calculated per 100 m2 (1 are) regardless of the number of harvests, i.e. the output includes all the successive harvests in a year. In case of multi-level shelves, the total area of all shelves should be considered to calculate the quantity of the production in 100 m2.
• SOCs for animals are calculated per head, except for poultry, for which SOs are calculated per 100 heads.
• For beehives the SOCs are calculated per hive.
3.6. Statistical population
The statistical population is the population covered by the data collection in IFS 2023. These farms cover all farms that are part of agricultural production across animals and crops.
CZ, EE, IE and RO provided further details in their national quality reports.
3.7. Reference area
The 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 standard output coefficients are calculated, from SOC 2007 onwards, as 5-year average:
The 2004SOC were calculated using the average of 2003, 2004 and 2005 prices. They are applied to 2007 Farm structure survey data and has been applied to 2005 Farm structure survey to allow comparability over the time periods.
The SOC2007 were calculated using the average of 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 prices. They are applied to the 2010 Farm structure survey data.
The SOC2010 were calculated using the average of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 prices. They are applied to the 2013 Farm structure survey data.
The SOC2013 were calculated using the average of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 prices. They are applied to the 2016 Farm structure survey data.
The SOC2017 were calculated using the average of 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 prices. They are applied to the 2020 Farm structure survey data.
The SOC2020 were calculated using the average of 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 prices. They are applied to the 2023 Farm structure survey data.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable
- Units of measurement for the plants:
• Euro per hectare
• Euro per 100 m2 (mushrooms)
- Units of measurement for animals:
• Euro per head
• Euro per 100 heads
• Euro per 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 2023 this means that the Standard output coefficients required will be those calculated on the period of 5 years that spans from 2018 to 2022 (SOC2020).
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/220 lays down rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1217/2009 setting up a network for the collection of accountancy data on the incomes and business operation of agricultural holdings in the European Union and is supplemented by the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1198/2014 (namely the thresholds, reference period, types of farming and collection of accountancy data).
BE, CY, CZ, EE, ES, FI, IE, RO, SK, CH and NO provided further information in their national quality reports.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
SOC data are delivered to Eurostat that validates them and then, after completion of the post validation process, sends them to DG Agri as further questions may rise. The data and related metadata are then published.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Data is aggregated and cannot be referred back to individual data.
More details on the confidentiality policies at national level can be found in the countries quality reports.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
No confidential data are provided at FADN level. Individual data are protected as only aggregated data are published.
More details on the confidentiality policies at national level can be found in the countries quality reports.
8.1. Release calendar
The standard output coefficients are published on Eurobase under the Additional data page on Agriculture statistics. The publication of the data normally takes place within N+1 year after the deadline for the data transmission. Nevertheless, updates of the data can occur, triggered by DG Agri and Eurostat revision and post-validation checks.
Countries like BE, CZ, HR and SE pointed out further information on the release calendar in their quality reports.
8.2. Release calendar access
Some countries like ES, HR, IE, NL, RO and SE provided the links to the national publications of the SO coefficients.
8.3. Release policy - user access
When it comes to the release policy, there is not a uniform methodology at European level; some countries do not foresee a country specific publication of the coefficients as these are already published online on Eurostat website, other countries as AT, CY, ES and SE point out the release policy of the data in their quality reports.
SOC data are published on Eurobase under the Additional data - Eurostat (europa.eu) 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
There is not a standardised procedure of press release of the SOC, nevertheless BE, ES, IE, LT, NL and RO did provide further information in their reports.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
A statistics explained article on SO coefficients is under preparation.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
SOC tables are published on Eurobase
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
data are available on Eurobase
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
SOC data collection does not foresee microdata
10.5. Dissemination format - other
not applicable
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
not applicable
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Typology Handbook RI/CC 1500 rev. 5, European Commission, July 2020 (Last amendment 15.December 2020).
ES provided the link to the SOC methodology on its quality report.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
The collection of SOC metadata is mandatory for countries, nevertheless as these were not published up until IFS2023 (SOC2020) the collection of metadata prior to this date was not published on Eurobase. The current SOC2020 metadata have been filled in to some extent, with information from SOC2017 updated in the light of the latest data collection.
This transition from offline to online metadata publication increased the completeness of the reports, but it is envisaged that the metadata completeness will remarkably increase with the next SOC2023.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
SOC quality management is assured by the joined efforts of the national FADN authorities, Eurostat, DG Agri and the NSIs. These actors make sure that the dataset is completed respecting the regulation criteria. A SOC handbook helps national statistical authorities to provide with the due requirements by pointing out the requirements for the computation of the coefficients and the tools for the data transmission and validation.
ES provided the references and the links to the national quality management methodology.
The definition of standard output (SO) and the calculation of standard output coefficients is described in the handbook of the Committee for the Farm Accountancy Data Network.
11.1. Quality assurance
In the light of a smoother data transmission Eurostat and DG Agri are updating the current SOC handbook that aims at better harmonising the concepts definitions and the methodology behind the computation of the SO coefficients.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The quality of statistics is assessed according to the following quality criteria: relevance, accuracy, timeliness, punctuality, accessibility and clarity, coherence and comparability. The quality indicators are assessed considering Eurostat's defined methodology and recommendations. Based on the above criteria, the statistics are assessed as being of very good quality. SE quality report provides with more country specific information on this matter.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The standard outputs are used to classify agricultural holdings by type of farming and by economic size.
Countries identified as main users: Eurostat (ESTAT), Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG Agri), national ministries, their subordinate authorities or institutions and universities, higher education institutions and associations. Further users are communities, chambers and offices of agriculture, agricultural holdings, media and press representatives, political parties and interested private individuals.
FADN and rural development departments are also pointed out as main users of the data collection, as well as farmers and private companies. SE pointed out more detailed information on its national quality report.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
In general terms few countries monitored users’ satisfaction of these statistics. FR, IT, PL and SE declared that their users are generally satisfied with these data. DE and IT gave some context in the way these assessments are carried out. LT declared that some farmers consider the SO figures as too small.
12.3. Completeness
Eurostat makes sure that all relevant data are recorded by the countries into their national quality reports, null SOC are accepted only in case of non-existing/non-significant products.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
The completion rate for the due variables is therefore 100%.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
For some countries the level of overall accuracy was judged between satisfactory to very good (CY, CZ, EE, EL, HR, IE, LT, LU, MT, SK, CH, NO). Few countries pointed out some limits to the accuracy in the SOC data (AT, BE, ES, SI). For the rest of the countries there was no assessment of overall accuracy.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable for the data collection.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable for the data collection.
13.3. Non-sampling error
BG, EE, ES and HU reported some information on the non-sampling errors encountered and how they are tackled in the data collection.
13.3.1. Coverage error
not assessed
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
not assessed
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
not assessed
13.3.2. Measurement error
not assessed
13.3.3. Non response error
not assessed
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
not assessed
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
not assessed
13.3.4. Processing error
not assessed
13.3.5. Model assumption error
not assessed
14.1. Timeliness
The SO coefficients data collection has a deadline set on the 31 December of the reference year of the relative IFS data collection; therefore, SOC2020 country data were delivered to Eurostat by the end of 2023.
Differences between early results and latter results may exist. This is due to two main reasons: from one hand countries may need to revise some of their delivered coefficients, as result of the post validation process implemented by Eurostat (together with DG Agri and FADN counterparts); on the other hand, it may happen that SO coefficient vary as result of the IFS data collection validation. This is because at that stage countries will be able to analyse the time series variation of the farm typology composition of their national farms. And being the farm typology breakdown a direct result of the SO coefficient, this analysis may generate further revisions.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
not assessed
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
not assessed
14.2. Punctuality
SO coefficients 2020 were delivered on time, major incompliance issues were recorded for the completion of the metadata reports.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
The SOC2020 national data have been transmitted within the due deadline of 31 December 2023 by all countries. The publication of the data has been achieved by mid-2024, while the publication of the SOC metadata is ongoing.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
In the post validation process, Eurostat assessed a geographical comparison of the SO coefficients: this was achieved by transmitting to all countries the SO coefficients of the neighbouring FADN regions to the ones of the country analysed. This enabled each country to be aware of the absolute and relative difference by SO of each product. As a result of this exercise, most of the countries confirmed their provided values, while some countries used this analysis to fine tune the SO coefficients values initially provided.
More information on the comparability is available in the national quality reports.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
not applicable
15.2. Comparability - over time
This task was assessed at Eurostat level in the post validation procedure: countries were provided with the time series analysis of their SO coefficients (basically SOC2020 were compared to SOC2017 and, sometimes, to SOC2013); countries could assess whether the differences (or the lack of differences) of the coefficients from the previous data collection were the result of a reliable evolution, or if there was the need of reviewing the transmitted data.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
They exist comparable time series for SOC from 2010, Eurobase currently reports SOC values from 2017 but publication of historical data is ongoing.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Eurostat performed a cross-domain comparison between SO coefficients by product and the price indices statistics of agricultural production, provided by the countries.
The rationale was to provide countries with an information of the evolution over the same time frame, of the prices of agricultural products, to monitor if there was a coherent trend with the time series evolution of the SO coefficients between the reference years of 2017 and 2020.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
EL and CH assessed the comparability with national accounts and confirmed it.
15.4. Coherence - internal
IE and IT monitored the internal consistency of the data provided as pointed out into their national reports.
Countries like AT, EL, ES, FI, PL, RO and SI did provide quantitative analysis of the cost and/or the burden in terms of workload for the preparation of the dataset. Some other countries as BE, DE, LT, CH declared that the data collection was burdensome in terms of workload, other countries either did not encounter extra costs and burden or did not assess them.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Eurostat performs the post-validation of the SOC and this may trigger data revisions. Also the delivery of IFS-related dataset may lead to some data review
17.2. Data revision - practice
Not relevant for this data collection.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
not assessed
18.1. Source data
The main sources of SO coefficients are the FADN survey data, as well as data from administrative registers (e.g. animal registers, honey from beekeepers’ registers). Other recurrent sources are price statistics, national statistical offices, and national accounts.
More country specific information on the source of the data is available in the national quality reports.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
The frequency of the data collection is strictly related to the reference IFS data collection. This means that SO coefficients are collected as 5-year averages every 3 years:
18.3. Data collection
FR, SK and NO provided some details on their data collection practices illustrated into their national reports.
18.4. Data validation
In general terms this is performed at national level and at Eurostat level.
The data validation is multi-level process that is firstly performed at national level and then a post-validation is performed by Eurostat. The standard procedure foresees:
- Analysis of internal consistency between measures like main quantity, unit value and standard output coefficients.
- Comparison of latter SOC values with previous SOC data set.
- Comparison of SOC values with neighbouring countries.
- Analysis of the minimum and maximum SO coefficients by product in order to spot any eventual outlier.
Ex-post analysis of the impact of the SO coefficients on the farm typology of the country in order to monitor if the provided results are coherent with the underlying trends.
18.5. Data compilation
Not relevant for this data collection.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
not applicable
18.6. Adjustment
Not relevant for this data collection.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
The SOC are 5-year averaged values therefore they do not foresee seasonal adjustments.
Standard Output Coefficients (SOC) are collected under the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) legislation: Council Regulation (EC) No 1217/2009 setting up a network for the collection of accountancy data on the incomes and business operation of agricultural holdings in the European Union, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1198/2014 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/220 amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1975.
AT, EL, FI and SE provided further information in their national quality reports.
6 June 2025
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 euro 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.
AT, CY, IE and SI provided further information in their national quality reports.
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. See for more information Regulation (EU) 2018/1091, article 2(a) and the IFS 2023 national quality reports, concept 3.5.1.
Normally, the standard output coefficients (SOC) are expressed in euro per unit (i.e. euro/hectare or euro/head), with the following exceptions:
• SOCs for mushrooms are calculated per 100 m2 (1 are) regardless of the number of harvests, i.e. the output includes all the successive harvests in a year. In case of multi-level shelves, the total area of all shelves should be considered to calculate the quantity of the production in 100 m2.
• SOCs for animals are calculated per head, except for poultry, for which SOs are calculated per 100 heads.
• For beehives the SOCs are calculated per hive.
The statistical population is the population covered by the data collection in IFS 2023. These farms cover all farms that are part of agricultural production across animals and crops.
CZ, EE, IE and RO provided further details in their national quality reports.
The SOC are collected under the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), by FADN regions in each country. FADN regions are mapped with NUTS regions. For more information on NUTS regions, see the NUTS classification.
Article 4 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1198/2014 states on the reference period for the standard output: “For the purposes of calculating standard outputs for the Union farm structure survey for year N, as referred to in Article 5b (2) of Regulation (EC) No 1217/2009, the reference period consists of the five successive years from year N-5 to year N-1. The standard outputs shall be determined using average basic data calculated over the reference period laid down in the first paragraph and commonly referred to as ‘N-3 standard outputs’. These N-3 standard outputs shall be updated to take account of economic trends at least each time a Union farm structure survey is carried out.”
For IFS 2023 this means that the Standard output coefficients required will be those calculated on the period of 5 years that spans from 2018 to 2022 (SOC2020).
For some countries the level of overall accuracy was judged between satisfactory to very good (CY, CZ, EE, EL, HR, IE, LT, LU, MT, SK, CH, NO). Few countries pointed out some limits to the accuracy in the SOC data (AT, BE, ES, SI). For the rest of the countries there was no assessment of overall accuracy.
- Units of measurement for the plants:
• Euro per hectare
• Euro per 100 m2 (mushrooms)
- Units of measurement for animals:
• Euro per head
• Euro per 100 heads
• Euro per hive
Not relevant for this data collection.
The main sources of SO coefficients are the FADN survey data, as well as data from administrative registers (e.g. animal registers, honey from beekeepers’ registers). Other recurrent sources are price statistics, national statistical offices, and national accounts.
More country specific information on the source of the data is available in the national quality reports.
SOC data are published on Eurobase under the Additional data - Eurostat (europa.eu) 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 SO coefficients data collection has a deadline set on the 31 December of the reference year of the relative IFS data collection; therefore, SOC2020 country data were delivered to Eurostat by the end of 2023.
Differences between early results and latter results may exist. This is due to two main reasons: from one hand countries may need to revise some of their delivered coefficients, as result of the post validation process implemented by Eurostat (together with DG Agri and FADN counterparts); on the other hand, it may happen that SO coefficient vary as result of the IFS data collection validation. This is because at that stage countries will be able to analyse the time series variation of the farm typology composition of their national farms. And being the farm typology breakdown a direct result of the SO coefficient, this analysis may generate further revisions.
In the post validation process, Eurostat assessed a geographical comparison of the SO coefficients: this was achieved by transmitting to all countries the SO coefficients of the neighbouring FADN regions to the ones of the country analysed. This enabled each country to be aware of the absolute and relative difference by SO of each product. As a result of this exercise, most of the countries confirmed their provided values, while some countries used this analysis to fine tune the SO coefficients values initially provided.
More information on the comparability is available in the national quality reports.
This task was assessed at Eurostat level in the post validation procedure: countries were provided with the time series analysis of their SO coefficients (basically SOC2020 were compared to SOC2017 and, sometimes, to SOC2013); countries could assess whether the differences (or the lack of differences) of the coefficients from the previous data collection were the result of a reliable evolution, or if there was the need of reviewing the transmitted data.
