Litostrojska 54

1000 Ljubljana

In Slovenia only two independent censuses of agricultural holdings, or farm structure surveys, were conducted before the year 2000 – the first one in 1930 and the second one in 1960. However, due to political and economic changes in this period, it is difficult to compare them. In 1969 a sample census of agricultural holdings was conducted, and in 1971, 1981 and 1991 censuses of agricultural holdings were conducted within population censuses. In 1997 the first Farm Structure Survey, harmonized with EU legislation, was carried out. 

After the Agricultural Census 2000 we followed the EC program of Farm Structure Surveys (FSS) regarding the list of characteristics as well as the timetable. We conducted sample FSS surveys in 2003, 2005 and 2007. In 2010 second agricultural census was conducted in Slovenia.

Based on the AC data from 2000, the Statistical Farm Register (SFR) was established in Slovenia in 2004. The SFR was later on updated with every statistical survey that was conducted in Slovenia and with all reliable administrative sources of data.

The legal bases for conducting the FSS are two acts:

• National Statistics Act (OJ RS No. 45/95 and No. 9/01);
• National Programme of Statistical Surveys (OJ RS No 89/15 and 32/16), which deals with all statistical surveys and work to be done in 2016.

 The National Statistics act defines the following fundamental principles:

• Professional and institutional independence;
• Statistical confidentiality;
• Availability, accessibility and clarity of information;
• International comparability;
• Transparency of methodology;
• Rational use of resources;
• Access to administrative data sources.

• SURS: Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia
• FSS: Farm Structure Survey
• LSU: Livestock unit
• MAFF: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food
• SFR: Statistical Farm Register

National definition of the holding is as according to the EU definition.
An agricultural holding is a single unit, both technically and economically, which has a single management and which undertakes agricultural activities within the economic territory of the European Union, either as its primary or secondary activity.

Also agricultural holdings, maintaining land in good agricultural and environmental conditions are included.

 Agricultural production includes:

- crop production:

• production of cereals, other arable crops and grassland,
• production of vegetables, ornamental plants, seeds and seedlings,
• wine and fruit growing,
• mushroom production;

• cattle,
• pigs,
• poultry,
• sheep,
• horses,
• beekeeping,
• breeding of other animals for human consumption.

 Agricultural production does not include:

• processing of agricultural products produced on agricultural holdings or agricultural products bought,
• agriculture services,
• forestry,
• fish farming and fishery,
• raising horses for recreation, if all fodder is bought.

• at least one hectare of utilised agricultural area (A_3_1), or
• less than one hectare of utilised agricultural area (A_3_1), but:

• at least 0.1 hectare of utilised agricultural area (A_3_1) and 0.9 hectare of forest (B_5_2), or
• at least 0.3 hectares of vineyards (B_4_4) and/or orchards (B_4_1), or
• 2 or more livestock units (LSU), or
• 0.15 to 0.3 hectare of vineyards (B_4_4) and/or orchards (B_4_1) and 1 or 2 LSU, or
• more than 50 beehives (C_7), or

• are market producers of vegetables, herbs, strawberries, mushrooms, flowers or ornamental plants, seeds and seedlings.

 All the statistics of agriculture correspond to these thresholds and they are consistent with Articles 2 and 3 of Regulation (EC) 1166/2008.

In 2016 there were three agricultural holdings with only fallow land and/or only kitchen gardens and/or only crops and animals for which standard output coefficients are not defined.

Those agricultural holdings are in the target population, since we consider them to have agricultural production and are likely to change crops in the future (to have production for sale).

National thresholds are lower than the EU threshold - so we meet the criteria.

In some specific cases, Slovenian threshold criteria would not meet EU criteria. The case would be when holding would have nothing else but:

      - 50 piglets - no such holdings

      - 0.5 ha of hops - no such holdings

The NUTS3 region was primarly determined as where the building for livestock or other production is situated.

If there was no agricultural building for livestock, or other available address, then the residence of the farmer (if it is not further than 5 km from the farm) was taken.

The reference day of the Farm structure survey was 1 June 2016.

For livestock characteristics the reference date was 1 June 2016.

For land characteristics, a period of 12 months ending on the reference day (1 June 2016) was taken.

For data on labor force characteristics, a period of 12 months ending on the reference day (1 June 2015 – 31 May 2016) was taken.

For data on rural development measures, a period of three years ending on the reference day (1 June 2013 – 31 May 2016) was taken.

The purpose of the FSS was to monitor and to show structural changes in agriculture in the last 3 years, i.e. since the previous FSS was in 2013.

SURS was also responsible for promotion of the FSS 2016 and is responsible for dissemination of the results.

We had CATI survey (computer assisted telephone interview) in combination with administrative data sources. Due to procedural restrictions, an external contractor was hired just to provide and organise the surveyors for phone interview.

Telephone interview started on 1st of June 2016 and ended at the end of July. 

For sampling, data verification, imputations and estimation of sampling errors, SAS program was used.

The Statistical Farm Register was established after the AC 2000 in order to have a stable sampling frame for all agricultural surveys. It has been operational since 2004.

After the 2010 census we managed to get a very clear list of agricultural holdings in Slovenia. Most of the duplicates were removed, and the connection with administrative data is now almost full (approximately 95% data can be directly linked with administrative sources). Because of the good connection with administrative sources, updating with national surveys and continuous checking of the summands, we believe the SFR is in very good shape for conducting samples.

The register is updated twice a year (February/September), which enables us to have an updated sampling frame for the surveys in June and December. Results of statistical surveys as well as IACS data are used for updating the register.

All the addresses of the holdings were updated using the Register of Territorial Units.

SURS put a lot of effort into using all available statistical and administrative sources for updating the SFR. We minimise errors for agricultural holdings applying for supports by using data from the IACS. All new farms from administrative sources are added just before any survey starts, so we are up to date.

The sampling frame is a list frame.

Single-stage stratified systematic random sample of holdings, which is probability sample.

Stratification variables:

- NUTS 2 regions;

- size classes defined in relation to certain values of a set of preselected variables.

Exhaustive strata are:

- all agricultural enterprises;

- all holdings from the first stratum i.e. which have at least one of a set of preselected variables greater than certain value.

Stratification criteria is done on NUTS2 level on the 4 size classes.

If at least one of the value of the variable meets the criteria, then the agricultural holding is placed into the suitable stratum.

The size classes limits are taken as "greater or equal". Example: if Utilised agricultural area (ares)= 30 ha then Stratum=1.

All agricultural enterprises are included in the sample survey, so they are in separate strata where weights are set as 1.

1. System for the Identification and Registration of Bovine Animals (Register of Bovine Animals)

• It is regulated with Regulation “OJ. RS, No. 16/2003”, legislation “OJ. RS, No. 45/2008” and “OJ. RS, No. 18/2002”.
• The register is updated all the time, when changes are reported.

2. Organic farming register

• It is regulated with Regulation Agricultural law (OJ RS, nb. 54/2000 , 16/2004, 45/2004-ZdZPKG, 20/2006, 51/2006-UPB1, 45/2008-ZKme-1).
• Rules on organic production and processing of agricultural products and food stuffs are set in Official Gazette of RS no. 8/2014.
• The register is updated when the holding is visited by the control organization.

3. Rural Development Measures

• The register included agricultural holdings that got the approved support for rural development.
• Administrative data were used instead of the survey and were put directly into the database.

4. Information from the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS)

• It is regulated with Regulation “(EC) No 1782/2003” and legislation “OJ. RS, No. 45/2008”.
• For the purpose of control of subsidies applications (and registers), Slovenia had to introduce graphical control of subsidies applications for areas. Since the Land Cadaster is not updated, Slovenia introduced in 2005 a new system of land use called GERK (graphical units of land use) – GERK refers to so called “farm’s block” in IACS legislation. All areas in registers are based on the GERK system.

5. Register of beehives

• It is regulated with the Regulation “OJ. RS, No. 117/2008”, legislation “OJ. RS, No. 45/2008” and “OJ. RS, No. 18/2002”.
• Definition: Number of hives occupied by bees (Apis mellifera) kept for the production of honey.
• In charge of the register is the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
• The data in register is filled twice a year, on 30 October and on 15 April.
• SURS already used data from register of beehives for the Farm structure survey in 2007, agricultural census 2010 and Farm structure survey 2013.

6. Production record of agricultural seeds and propagating material

• It is regulated with the regulations:  Zakon o zdravstvenem varstvu rastlin (“OJ. RS, No. 40/2014”) and Zakon o semenskem materialu kmetijskih rastlin (“OJ. RS, No. 90/2012”).

• In charge of the register is the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

• The data is reported for the seeds and propagating material planted on agricultural holding.
• The register is used only to check the data gathered from the field and perhaps for possible imputations.

7. Central Population Register

• It is regulated with the regulatios: Zakon o centralnem registru prebivalstva (“OJ. RS, No. 72/2006”) and Zakon o prijavi prebivališča (“OJ. RS, No. 9/2001”).
• In charge of the register is the Ministry of the Interior.
• The data in register is filled on daily basis.
• In register there are data on each person, living on the holding (number of persons on the holding, age and sex).
• The register is used only to check the data gathered from the field and perhaps for possible imputations.
• SURS already used data from central population register for Population Census 2011.

8. Register on equidae

• It is regulated with regulations: COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 504/2008 of 6 June 2008 implementing Council Directives 90/426/EEC and 90/427/EEC as regards methods for the identification of equidae.
• In charge of the register is the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
• The register is used to check the data gathered from the field and perhaps for possible imputations.
• The data in register is filled when a change occurs in the field.

In most cases SURS is notified before changes in administrative data occur and has the possibility to comment the revisions.

Characteristics have the same definition.

The data in register is probably still incomplete since it exists only for a few years; it will take some time to become the only source for the number of equidae.

IACS

There are still some agricultural holdings, that do not apply for any subsidies, or have some other purpose to register.

IACS:

the division of vegetables on open field and market gardening is missing.

the division of Permanent grassland and meadow on"pasture and meadow" and "rough grazing" is missing.

There is no information on wooded area and other land.

Since the data serves to check the collected data and only possible imputations, we will be able to estimate accuracy in the next survey.

Key for data linkage was ID of agricultural holding established by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food (MAFF). Each agricultural holding in the Statistical Register of Agricultural Holdings has also ID number of the MAFF.

For all registers, there were a few mismatching cases - those under the thresholds or those that were established in the period from updating the statistical farm register till survey date (cca. one month time).In addition, for Rural Development Measures, additional mismatches come from the fact that some holdings probably changed the ID number in the period of three years or they are not eligible any more.

Register of beehives

Records are matched by a unique identification number, used by “Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment”, which is also included in Statistical Register of agricultural holdings.

Production record of agricultural seeds and propagating material

Records are matched by a unique farm number, which is used also in administrative register of farms (is linked with Statistical Register of agricultural holdings).

Central Population Register

Records are matched by a unique identification number (household number), which is used also in administrative Register of farms (is linked with Statistical Register of agricultural holdings).

Register on equidae

Records are matched by a unique farm number, which is used also in administrative Register of farms (is linked with Statistical Register of agricultural holdings).

We took care that the list of farmers (names, etc.) was updated. Key units (large holdings) were called back more times than "normal size farms".

The farmers were informed about the FSS by a letter of notification sent to all family farms and agricultural enterprises with the basic information on the FSS:

• what is the AC and what is the purpose,
• when it will be carried out,
• who is responsible,
• which data will be collected,
• information about the protection of collected data and
• information about the legislation on which FSS is based.

Training staff in handling difficult respondents

Training of interviewers was carried out by SURS. Trainings pointed out methodological issues as well as good practices concerning handling difficult respondents and data protection.

SURS controlled the work done by interviewers

Since the data was inserted directly into database, several controls were made on daily bases, to disclose possible "bad interviewers".

In case of a census 1=3+4+5

Only for sample survey, in which case 2=3+4+5

This item is a subset of 3.

4>4.1+4.2

5=5.1+5.2

5.1>=5.1.1+5.1.2

6=5.2+5.1.2+4.2

• Chapter A: Address of the holding – questions enable us to update the address of the agricultural holding in the Statistical Register of Agricultural Holdings;
• Chapter B: Number of livestock;
• Chapter C: Land section, irrigation, manure treatment;
• Chapter D: Labour force on family farms, supplementary activities;
• Chapter E: Labour force in agricultural enterprises;
• Chapter H: Destination of the holdings production and economical importance of other gainful activities.

For controlling of the data, we used numerous administrative data and the previous FSS.

The data was checked on many ways: completeness checks, skip checks, outlier checks, relational checks, etc.

The data were checked also with Eurostat’s validation rules.

Some controls were added in the data entry program and also SAS program was used for data validation.

Data validation is done on the level of individual unit as well as on the level of the interviewer.

Final weights are product of selection weight and non-response weight at the level of strata (2 NUTS2 regions combined with 4 size classes).

Some of the characteristics were added to the questionnaire for national purposes only:

• some categories of livestock and crops are more detailed than needed in Eurofarm dataset;
• number of vines in vineyards – needed for calculation of production;
• cutting timber on family farms was implemented in FSS due to national needs.

Hence the definition of Energy crops: “the production area of energy crops benefiting from the following support schemes under Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003” and since the CAP health check (Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009) the area payment supports have been dropped from 2010, Energy crops were voluntary to collect in each country. We decided that data on “2.06.03 Energy crops” and “2.06.03.01 Energy crops on set-aside area” will not be collected. The characteristics are filled with zeros ("0"), because by the definition there were no such areas that benefited from schemes under Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003.

We meet all precision requirenments stipulated in Annex IV "Precision Requirements" of the Regulation 1166/2008.

Weighting factors were calculated on the basis of eligibility status of agricultural holdings, with the formula (responses + nonresponses)/responses - on the level of strata.

There were altogether 14% of not contacted farms (the holder could not be reached - there was no telephone number or no answer). The non-contacting of the person which could give response has been taken into account when calculating extrapolation factor.

We are aware of measurement errors and we try to avoid this kind of errors by training interviewers, supervisors, by data checking and validation process. Where inconsistency or extreme values were discovered, the data were checked with possible administrative data or there was also a “call-back” to the farmers, and the data were checked again. So extreme values of variables were checked and corrected if necessary. Since the data was inserted directly into the data entry program (controls were included), there was likely to have less mistakes caused by interviewer.

The main reasons for non-response were the following:

• holders consider themselves as “non-agricultural holding”,
• dissatisfaction with the current agricultural policy in Slovenia,
• problems with unsolved ownership (official procedures regarding succession can be very long),
• general refusal because of low economic conditions of living.

Agricultural enterprises: According to the National Programme of Statistical Surveys, reporting of data is obligatory for the enterprises (and voluntary for family farms).

Weighting factors were calculated with the formula (responses+nonresponses)/responses - on the level of strata.

The distribution of non-response across holdings' categories was checked and no significant discrepancies were found.

• Method of logical imputations (if some values were inconsistent with other values (we discovered there was clearly a typing error), we imputed the values with the “Method of logical imputations”).
• Hot deck method (if we had only some data from administrative registers and no data for some variables (from logical point of view), then we used the “Hot deck method” to get the data from similar farms (same UAA, same region, etc.)).
• Structural hot deck method (if we had data from administrative data only for totals, then we used the “Structural hot deck method” to get all the subcategories. The proportions were taken from similar farms (same UAA, same region, etc.)).
• Method of cut average (if the data were missing (from logical point of view), there was a possibility to input the mean value within a given variable (e.g. intra-regional or intra-county), whereby a certain percentage of the maximum and minimum values are removed from the average computation).

The descriptions of imputations were written (established) by methodologists in the Department for Agriculture, Forestry, Fishery and Hunting (SURS). They were based on national rules, validation rules in Eurofarm and different calculations.

The actual imputation was also made in SURS, in the Department for General Methodology and Standards.

The data set relating to labour force and gainful activities on agricultural holdings is methodologically complex. We therefore believe that for an adequate level of data quality it is not enough to put direct questions prescribed by Regulation into the questionnaire. For this reason we included more detailed and explicit questions into the questionnaire in order to obtain high-quality basic information on which further calculations of Eurofarm variables are based. It would therefore be incorrect for this set of variables to calculate imputed value of the shares of the Eurofarm variables in the same manner as for other variables which are collected directly from the data sources (primary or administrative). The range of imputed shares is from 0% to 30%, depending on the single variable.

Values taken from administrative data are not counted as imputed values.

58 agricultural holdings were imputed.

All publications and revisions, due to provisional data, are planned.

Data for FSS are firstly published as “provisional data” due to users' needs for timely information. The data became final 15 months after the publication of provisional data.

Final data (without typology and economic size) was published on 29.6.2017.

Final data on typology and economic size was published on 20.12.2017.

Provisional data for FSS were published 29.9.2016 (4 months after the reference day).

Time lag first results: 4 months after the survey reference day.

Final data on typology and economic size was published on 20.12.2017 (12 months from the last day of the reference period).

There are also no important changes in definitions of characteristics or reference time or measurement which would affect the comparability with previous census/FSS data.

When calculating Annual Work Unit, 1800 hours were taken for a full-time employee.

Organic kitchen garden area is included in the Total organic area (A_3_2_3_HA) even though it is not included in any sub-category under organic farming.

common land is included in the land use data of the agricultural holdings making use of the common land - “In proportion to the use by each holding".

The area of common land was not double counted, because the data on common land were gathered from administrative data, and divided in proportion to each holding (on the basis of the LSU). Holders reported land use without common land.

The area of common land consists only of pastures (rough grazing).

Until 2010 no common land was included in UAA that was sent to Eurostat. In the national publications there was always a comment about the area of common land in the country. It is very difficult to provide the data on common land on each agricultural holding when conducting sample surveys. That is why only the data at national level were published.

 The total common land in different FSS years (until it was counted in the FSS):

An average agricultural holding who had common land in 2013 (sample survey 8 733 ha) was using 4.8 ha.

An average agricultural holding who had common land in 2016 (sample survey 8 812 ha) was using 5.4 ha.

All surveys in agricultural statistics department can be combined and compared between themselves.

Comparison to other statistical domains can be done on macro level.

Final data (without typology and economic size) was published on 29.6.2017 - web publication + database.

Final data on typology and economic size was published on 20.12.2017 - web publication + database.

29.6.2017

20.12.2017

http://pxweb.stat.si/pxweb/Database/Environment/Environment.asp

Micro-data are not disseminated.

The micro-data are available according to special conditions to researchers for research purposes.  Basic instructions concerning the access and the use of statistically protected micro-data are available on the web page: http://www.stat.si/StatWeb/en/StaticPages/Index/For-Researchers

SURS decided that researchers could gain access to micro-data in "Eurofarm data-set" (without precise location of individual agricultural holding). There will also be a possibility to gain other data on individual holding that are not in the "Eurofarm data-set", but each request will be dealt with individually. Researchers must sign the contract with SURS, where confidentiality rules are included. Results intended for the export are later on reviewed by SURS concerning the statistical confidentiality.

In the National Statistics Act (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 45/95 and 9/01), article 50 ,is described that statistics published by SURS, are in a form and in a manner that does not allow identification of the reporting unit to which the data relates.

Regarding protection of final output tables, two confidentiality rules were applied:

• "Threshold rule" - the individual cell in the table is protected if there are fewer than "t" reporting units.
• "Dominancy, (n,k) rule" - if the "n" reporting units contribute more than "k"% of the whole value, then the individual cell is protected.

Researchers must sign the contract with SURS, where confidentiality rules are included. Results intended for the export are later on reviewed by SURS concerning the statistical confidentiality.

Not available.