Service d'Economie Rurale (SER)

Division of agricultural statistics, agricultural markets and external relations

BP 2102, L-1021 Luxembourg

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 Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 and have a new structure, consisting of a core data set and several modules. The regulation covers the data collections in 2020 (the agricultural census), 2023 and 2026. The data are as comparable and coherent as possible with the other European countries.

Data are arranged in tables using many classifications. Please find below information on most classifications.

The classifications of variables are available in Annex III of Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 and in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1874.

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.

The territorial classification uses the NUTS classification to break down the regional data. The regional data is available at NUTS level 2.

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.

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 2020 are set in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1874.

The following groups of variables are collected in 2020:

• for core: location of the holding, legal personality of the holding, manager, type of tenure of the utilised agricultural area, variables of land, organic farming, irrigation on cultivated outdoor area, variables of livestock, organic production methods applied to animal production;
• for the module "Labour force and other gainful activities": farm management, family labour force, non-family labour force, other gainful activities directly and not directly related to the agricultural holding;
• for the module "Rural development": support received by agricultural holdings through various rural development measures;
• for the module "Animal housing and rural development module":  animal housing, nutrient use and manure on the farm, manure application techniques, facilities for manure.

See sub-category below.

The agricultural holding is a single unit, both technically and economically, that has a single management and that undertakes economic activities in agriculture in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006 belonging to groups:

- A.01.1: Growing of non-perennial crops

- A.01.2: Growing of perennial crops

- A.01.3: Plant propagation

- A.01.4: Animal production

- A.01.5: Mixed farming or

- The “maintenance of agricultural land in good agricultural and environmental condition” of group A.01.6 within the economic territory of the Union, either as its primary or secondary activity.

Regarding activities of class A.01.49, only the activities “Raising and breeding of semi-domesticated or other live animals” (with the exception of raising of insects) and “Bee-keeping and production of honey and beeswax” are included.

See sub-categories below.

The thresholds of agricultural holdings are available in the annex.

The same population of agricultural holdings defined in item 3.6.1. The above answer holds for the modules ‘Labour force and other gainful activities’ and ‘Rural development’. The module ‘Machinery and equipment’ is not collected in 2020.

The same population of agricultural holdings defined in item 3.6.1. We sent records also on holdings without animals. Information on animal housing and manure management is however only available for holdings with at least one of the following: bovine animals, pigs, sheep, goats, poultry.

See sub-categories below.

The entire territory of the country.

Not applicable.

The main criteria to establish the geographical location of the holding was the main production building. If there was no information, the grid with the most utilised agricultural area was used. In some cases, the residence of the farmer was used when there was no other reliable information.

Farm structure statistics in our country cover the period from 1953 onwards. Older time series are described in the previous quality reports (national methodological reports).

The 2020 data are processed (by Eurostat) with 2017 standard output coefficients (calculated as a 5-year average of the period 2015-2019). For more information, you can consult the definition of the standard output.

Two kinds of units are generally used:

• the units of measurement for the variables (area in hectares, livestock in (1000) heads or LSU (livestock units), labour force in persons or AWU (annual working units), standard output in Euro, places for animal housing etc.) and
• the number of agricultural holdings having these characteristics.

See sub-categories below.

Even though land is measured at the reference date April 1 2020, the measurement covers the crop year is the 12 months period covering the whole cultivation period (from seed to harvest) of the main arable crops cultivated in Luxembourg. The cultivation period lasts from autumn 2019 to autumn 2020. It lasts from September 1, T to August 31, T+1.

Variables on soil management practices are not part of the IFS2020 collection. The same applies to variables on irrigation with the exception of "Irrigable utilised agricultural area-outdoor". This variable is flagged as NSNE for Luxembourg. Thus, a reference period is not applicable for LU.

The reference day of 1 April within the reference year 2020.

The 12-month period ending on 1 April 2020. This period includes the reference day used for livestock and animal housing.

The 12-month period ending on 1 April within the reference year 2020.

The three-year period ending on 31 December 2020.

The reference day 1 April within the reference year 2020.

See sub-categories below.

Law of the SER, Law of the NSI & Grand-ducal regulation on the public statistics committee.

Law of the SER (only available in French): https://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/loi/1980/02/25/n2/jo

Law of the NSI (only available in French): https://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/loi/2011/07/10/n5/jo

Grand-ducal regulation on the public statistics committee (only available in French): https://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/rgd/2013/03/12/n2/jo

Law of the SER: 1980

Law of the NSI: 2011

Grand-ducal regulation on the public statistics committee: 2013

All data required for IFS 2020 is available in the SER or in the ministry of agriculture, so no data sharing arrangement necessary. An agreement with the National Statistical Institute (NSI, STATEC) on the exchange of former microdata respectively microdata of other data collections however exists.

According to article 16 of STATEC's law, the dissemination of confidential data is forbidden and subject to criminal penalty. The definition of confidential data is in line with the Regulation (EC) 223/2009 on European Statistics. As a member of the Luxemburgish Statistical System, the SER applies this article in all respects. In addition, all employees of the SER are public servants engaging them for confidentiality in every aspect.

See sub-categories below.

See sub-categories below.

Tabular data are protected using the following approaches:

- table design: very detailed tables are avoided (e.g. data published by municipality) unless the data is not confidential (e.g. number of agricultural holdings, total UAA, etc.). On a national level, almost any data (i.e. low occurrence variables) can be published. Problems arise with national data broken down by one or more spanning variables (farm type, size class, municipality, etc.). The table design usually results in a compromise between relevance and confidentiality;

- In case of confidentiality problems, tables are either redesigned or cells are suppressed. This is case-dependent.

See sub-categories below.

No microdata dissemination.

No release calendar available. Aggregated data are published as soon as possible.

Not applicable.

No release policy. Aggregated data are published as soon as possible.

Not available.

Yearly dissemination of aggregated data.

See sub-categories below.

Not available.

See sub-categories below.

Not available.

See sub-categories below.

Not available.

Link to database of the NSI:

https://lustat.statec.lu/?lc=fr&pg=0&fs[0]=Th%C3%A8mes%2C1%7CEntreprises%23D%23%7CAgriculture%20et%20foresterie%23D2%23&fc=Th%C3%A8mes

See sub-category below.

Not available.

Not requested.

See sub-categories below.

Not requested.

Not available.

Not available.

Not available.

Not available.

See sub-categories below.

Regular participation in peer review as Other National Authority within the peer review of the NSI by the European Commission.

None to report.

Not available.

The final data is used for policy measures. Data on land and livestock are used to monitor the agricultural evaluation. General variables and variables on labour force are used for the Economic Accounts in Agriculture. Data on animal housing and manure management are essential for the calculation of emissions in agriculture. Data on land are additionally used for crop production statistics.

To satisfy national needs, SER surveyed questions on direct marketing. Furthermore, other gainful activities related or not to the agricultural holding are asked for all regular personnel types. Finally, questions on animal housing and manure management were collected in a more detailed manner for quality reasons and emission calculation.

All relevant user needs are met.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Information on low- and zero prevalence variables is available on Eurostat's website.

Not applicable for Integrated Farm Statistics as the not collected variables, not-significant variables and not-existent variables are completed with 0.

See categories below.

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable. The data collection was based entirely on census.

The data meets the precision requirements in Regulation(EU) 2018/1091.

Not applicable. A census is conducted.

See sub-categories below.

See sub-categories below.

The over-coverage rate is available in the annex. The over-coverage rate is unweighted.
The over-coverage rate is calculated as the share of ineligible holdings to the holdings designated for the core data collection. The ineligible holdings include those holdings with unknown eligibility status that are not imputed nor re-weighted for (therefore considered ineligible).
The over-coverage rate is calculated over the holdings in the main frame and if applicable frame extension, for which core data are sent to Eurostat. 

The population frame consists of all holdings listed in IACS. All these holdings receive an IFS questionnaire, but some of them are below all thresholds, have ceased activities, merged with another holding or temporarily stopped production. However, this information is not available before the start of the data collection.

Not requested.

See sub-categories below.

No rate available. There could be some units of the population to be covered by IFS that do not apply for payments within CAP and thus are not listed in IACS. As the IACS serves as basis for the frame, these units are not covered in this case. However, the under-coverage is assumed to be minor to inexistant.

None.

There might be some new farms or new units derived from splits being listed in IACS afterwards but not when starting data collection. Data from administrative sources are then available, however data collected by questionnaires might miss. In addition, data on bovine animals are collected through the bovine animal register (SANITEL). Some units are not part of the frame as they are not listed in IACS. However, they are part of the core when they hold more than 1.7 livestock units (e.g. livestock dealers).

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

There were some difficulties detected when it came to animal housing and manure management variables as no administrative sources were available. Considering animal housing, especially data collection on the housing of other bovine animals posed some problems as we tried to divide this category in several animal types to generate more precise data. Considering manure management, the storage of solid manure in heaps or compost piles turned out to be complicated because of definition issues.

Not available.

See sub-categories below.

The unit non-response rate is in the annex of item 13.3.1.1. The unit non-response rate is unweighted.
The unit non-response rate is calculated as the share of eligible non-respondent holdings to the eligible holdings. The eligible holdings include those holdings with unknown eligibility status which are imputed or re-weighted for (therefore considered eligible).
The unit non-response rate is calculated over the holdings in the main frame and if applicable frame extension, for which core data are sent to Eurostat.

Most non-respondents are either small farms or livestock dealers. Some small farms do not apply for payments within CAP and do not answer any questionnaires. Some livestock dealers do not consider themselves as agricultural holding and thus refuse to participate.

One has to emphasise that parts of the information are drawn from administrative sources (e.g. IACS). Only information surveyed by questionnaire are not available and need to be imputed.

Item non-response is very low to inexistant. Half of the respondents participated by online questionnaire containing only mandatory questions. On paper questionnaire, a few questions remained unanswered a little more often.

Those were mostly questions for national needs. A somewhat higher item non-response rate was observed for the number of months a farm can store its manure. This seemed difficult to answer for some units.

In case some answers were missing, the unit was contacted by telephone. This reduced item non-response to an absolute minimum.

See sub-categories below.

In future data collections, questionnaires will be online only. This will increase data quality as the questionnaire's structure can be improved strongly.

Data processing is done by using STATA. Corrections are only done by qualified statisticians.

Not available.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

No publication of first results. However, a first dataset is ready for use in the end of the reference year serving as input in preliminary economical agricultural accounts (approx. 7 months after the end of the data collection period).

The final results were published in the end of March 2022. This results in a time lag of 15 months from the end of the reference period.

Generally, final results on land, animals and labour force are ready 10 months after the end of the data collection period for annual national data collections. However, for 2020, final results are only ready 22 months after the end of the data collection period given the many additional characteristics as well as the SO data. This is still within the limits. For future data collections in "Eurostat years", a faster data processing is however envisaged.

See sub-categories below.

See sub-categories below.

Not requested.

As data is not officially published, the time lag between the actual publication date and the target date for data publication is not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable, because there are no mirror flows in Integrated Farm Statistics.

See sub-categories below.

None.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

No differences between thresholds. However, Luxembourg lowered the threshold for utilised agricultural area to 3 ha to be in line with national legislation.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

See subcategories. No other deviations than those discussed in the subcategories.

The information is available in the annex. 
The number of working hours and days in a year for a full-time job correspond to one annual working unit (AWU) in the country. One annual work unit corresponds to the work performed by one person who is occupied on an agricultural holding on a full-time basis. Annual working units are used to calculate the farm work on the agricultural holdings.

The information is available in the annex of item 15.1.4.1.1. 

The information is available in the annex of item 15.1.4.1.1. 

LU applies the coefficients set in Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 on integrated farm statistics. However, there might be small differences in the characteristics of the animals:

• We include other chicken and cocks in the coefficient for laying hens as we cannot clearly distinguish them. This has only minor influence as these only represent approx. 500 animals.
• We include sows between 30 and 50kg in the category of breeding sows over 50kg, as they are considered as sows on a national level. This again has only minor influence as they only represent 100 animals.

In "other livestock n.e.c." we include equidae, rabbits (except breeding females) and other livestock (without detail, only very few animals).

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

No deviations from Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 on integrated farm statistics.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

No deviations.

Not applicable.

No deviations.

See sub-categories below.

Time series are comparable for 67 years.

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

Adaptation of the thresholds in accordance with the entrance into force of Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 on integrated farm statistics.

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

Equidae is not part of the LSU anymore and is listed in "other livestock". There were some adaptations of the thresholds in the regulation. There might be further minor classification differences in some crop or animal subcategories.

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable. No common land in Luxembourg.

Evolution of the holdings breakdown by farm type classification:

The increase of holdings without LSU from 2016 to 2020 is mostly due to the fact the equidae is not part of the LSU anymore. The exclusion of equidae from 2020 census entailed differences also in the SO and Farm type classification.
This led to a sharp decrease of FT48. Farms with equidae are now not classified as FT48 anymore but as FT16 (if they do not hold bovine animals) or FT46 (if they do so).

Rural Development Measures

RDM data was not sent to Estat in 2016 due to national legislation issue. Therefore the sharp increase of holding benefitting of RDM measures fro  2016 to 2020 is explaned by the lack of 2016 data. 

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable to Integrated Farm Statistics, because there are no sub annual data collections in agriculture.

Not applicable, because Integrated Farm Statistics have no relevance for national accounts.

See sub-categories below.

The IFS serves as basis for most other data collections in agriculture. An analysis of coherence with other data collections is impossible or very complicated.

See sub-categories below.

In the cross-domain comparison they were identified few variations in the cultivated area, between IACS and IFS. For V0000_S0000, there is a difference in the methodology as it uses harvested area.

The data are internally consistent. This is ensured by the application of a wide range of validation rules. Minor inconsistencies might be the results of different item non-response imputations.

See sub-categories below.

The survey questionnaire was sent at the same time as the subsidy application package sent by the SER. The idea is to avoid agricultural holdings having to delve twice into their reporting systems and thus to accelerate the response. Moreover, the questionnaires are specialised such that double counting of characteristics is practically minimised.

In 2020, approx. half of the questionnaires were answered by an online application.

See sub-categories below.

No separate average duration available for core or single modules. An average duration is only available for the entire questionnaire. It is around 40 minutes.

Not available.

Not relevant. Rural development module is collected via administrative sources.

Not available.

No data revision policy.

Several data sets are produced in order to meet provisional data need (e.g. economic accounts for agriculture). Possible errors or updates are implemented little by little until one final data set is disseminated.

Not requested.

See sub-categories below.

See sub-categories below.

The frame is created based on the IACS register.

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable for 2020.

Not applicable for 2020.

Not applicable for 2020.

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

The information is available on Eurostat's website.

See the attached Excel file in the Annex.

The information on innovative approaches and the quality methods applied is available on Eurostat's website.

Luxembourg conducts a yearly census including land, animal and labour force variables. Other variables are added if needed (e.g. variables on production methods for emission calculations). In every Eurostat year, Luxembourg further implements all requested modules on a census base.

See sub-categories below.

Please find the questionnaire in annex.

See sub-categories below.

Ordinary consistency checks with STATA. Use of the VIFS flow.

Not applicable.

Find here below the approx. imputation-rates for some block of questions:

• LAFO Module and information on manager of core module: 6%
• Bovine housing: 9%
• Bovine grazing: 13%
• Pig housing: 0.1%.
• Laying hens housing: 3%
• Manure facilities: 7%
• Manure application techniques: 4%

Covered under Data compilation.

Not applicable to Integrated Farm Statistics, because it collects structural data on agriculture.

See sub-categories below.

CAP – Common Agricultural Policy

IACS – Integrated Administration and Control System

IFS – Integrated Farm Statistics

LSU – Livestock units

SO – Standard output

UAA – Utilised agricultural area

SER - Service d'économie rurale

NSI - National statistical institute

STATEC - Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg

No additional comments.