Swedish Board of Agriculture

Statistics Division

Jordbruksverket
SE-551 82, JÖNKÖPING
Sweden

The data describes the structure of agricultural holdings providing the general characteristics of farms and farmers and information on their land, livestock and labour force. It also describes production methods, rural development measures and agro-environmental aspects that look at the impact of agriculture on the environment.

The data is used by the 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 follows up the changes in the agricultural sector and provides 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 is 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 is as comparable and coherent as possible with the other European countries.

Data is 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 2019/2020 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 subset of 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 subset of the population of agricultural holdings defined in item 3.6.2 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.

Not available.

The records of agricultural statistics in Sweden date back to the beginning of the nineteenth century. In the first half of the twentieth century, established statistical methods were introduced for production of statistics on agricultural holdings, crop areas, crop production, livestock etc. In 1968, in order to improve the coordination of the statistics within the agricultural sector, Sweden established a farm register which was updated annually. The register covered:

- all agricultural holdings with more than 2 hectares of arable land,

- holdings with a large number of livestock but with less than 2 hectares of arable land, and

- holdings with horticultural production. 

Since its establishment the farm register has been used as a sample frame for both farm structure surveys and other agricultural statistical surveys. 

During the 1990s, the farm structure surveys were subject to few methodological and technical changes. The substitution of some censuses with sample surveys, together with the processing of statistics in PC-environment, led to a reduction of the costs for producing agricultural statistics. However, the substitution of some censuses with sample surveys inevitably led to lack of agricultural statistics on municipality level for the years the substitution occurred. 

The Swedish accession to the European Union in 1995 created the need for adapting national agricultural statistics to the EU legislation. Until 2001, Sweden conducted farm structure surveys annually, switching every year between the EU and the national legislation. The main difference between these two surveys, consisted on the number of the characteristics surveyed. The national farm structure surveys met primarily national requirements and therefore were far less extensive than the ones based on the EU legislation. In 2001, national farm structure surveys were abandoned, thus embracing the surveys based on EU legislation as the sole farm structure survey. 

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.

The use of land refers to the reference year 2020 and the period November 1, 2019 - October 31, 2020. In the case of successive crops from the same piece of land, the land use refers to a crop that is harvested during the reference year, regardless of when the crop in question is sown.

The 12-month period from June 01, 2019 to May 31, 2020.

The reference day is June 4, 2020. 

The 12-month period starting on June 01, 2019 and ending on May 31, 2020. This period includes the reference day used for livestock and animal housing. 

The 12-month period starting on June 01, 2019 and ending on May 31, 2020.

The three-year period ending on December 31, 2020.

The 12-month period starting on June 01, 2019 and ending on May 31, 2020.

See sub-categories below.

Statens jordbruksverks föreskifter om statistisk undersökning av strukturen i jordbruket, SJVFS 2020:3

https://lagen.nu/sjvfs/2020:3

2020

The Official Statistics Ordinance (2001:100) regulates how data can be shared between institutions. Article 13 of the regulation states that all data, free of charge, shall be shared with Statistics Sweden and other institutions. Institutions can either obtain data from each other or from the Statistics Sweden. Statistics Sweden has a web form for ordering micro data. See the link: https://www.scb.se/vara-tjanster/bestall-data-och-statistik/bestalla-mikrodata/.

The confidentiality of the data was kept in accordance with Act 24, 8 § of the Swedish confidentiality law on statistics (SFS 2009:400). According to this Act, the data provided by the holdings must be used for only statistical and research purposes. In both these cases, information that could identify the holder and the holding itself should be hidden.

The questionnaires sent in by the farmers were disclosed only for the staff of the Statistics Division, and could not be shown to anyone outside of the division. All the personnel working within the Statistical Division of the Swedish Board of Agriculture (including the ones employed to work with the FSS 2020) had to sign a statistical confidentiality form which guaranteed the use and the storage of the data in accordance with the confidentiality law.

See sub-categories below.

See sub-categories below.

The Swedish confidentiality law on statistics (SFS 2009:400) applies during the dissemination of the results. To ensure non-identification of individual holdings in the dissemination, the number of holdings within a region or municipality is not disclosed if the region or the municipality in question has less than three agricultural holdings. In such cases the symbol [..] is given in the table cell.

See sub-categories below.

Microdata is made available to external users for research purposes only after ensuring that all identification information on the holder and the holding has been removed.

The release calendar is sent to Statistics Sweden on November 5, and published on the website of the Swedish Board of Agriculture in December, every year.

Link to the release calendar at the Swedish Board of Agriculture:

https://jordbruksverket.se/om-jordbruksverket/jordbruksverkets-officiella-statistik/publiceringsplan

All statistics are published on the website of the Swedish Board of Agriculture and are described in our statistic reports. The statistics are released at 9:30 A.M. on the publication date stated on the release calendar. 

Release of data is made available to all users at the same time. No users can access the data before it has been released at 9:30 A.M. on the predefined release date.

The quality rating system that we use is based on the values of coefficients of variation. If the coefficients of variations are 35 % or more, the data in seen as too unreliable and will therefore not be published. 

Some of the statistics are collected and disseminated on the years the farm structure surveys are conducted, while others are collected and disseminated on yearly bases. 

Statistics disseminated every FSS-year:

- Type of farming, Swedish typology

- Holdings and holders

- Other gainful activities on agricultural holdings 

- Farm labour force 

- Full-time farming in Sweden

Statistics disseminated on yearly bases:

- Livestock in June, preliminary results

- Livestock in June, Final results

- Use of agricultural land, Final results

See sub-categories below.

Livestock in June 2020, Preliminary results

Link: Antalet lantbruksdjur minskar | Jordbruksverket (mynewsdesk.com)

Livestock in June 2020, Final results

Link: Färre djur på svenska gårdar | Jordbruksverket (mynewsdesk.com)

Type of farming 2020. Swedish typology

Link: Färre djurföretag men större arbetsbehov inom jordbruket | Jordbruksverket (mynewsdesk.com)

Holding and holders 2020

Link: Antal män med jordbruk i enskild firma minskar | Jordbruksverket (mynewsdesk.com)

Other gainful activities on agricultural holdings 2020

Link: Kombinationsverksamhet viktig del av jordbruket | Jordbruksverket (mynewsdesk.com)

Farm labour force 2020

Link: Antal sysselsatta i jordbruket fortsätter att minska | Jordbruksverket (mynewsdesk.com)

Full-time farming in Sweden 2020

Link: Antal heltidsjordbruk minskar | Jordbruksverket (mynewsdesk.com)

See sub-categories below.

Livestock in June 2020, Preliminary results, (JO0103), Anders Grönwall, 2020

Link: https://jordbruksverket.se/om-jordbruksverket/jordbruksverkets-officiella-statistik/jordbruksverkets-statistikrapporter/statistik/2020-10-15-lantbrukets-djur-i-juni-2020---preliminar-statistik

Use of agricultural land 2020. Final results (JO0104), Ylva Olsson, 2021

Link: https://jordbruksverket.se/om-jordbruksverket/jordbruksverkets-officiella-statistik/jordbruksverkets-statistikrapporter/statistik/2021-02-03-jordbruksmarkens-anvandning-2020.-slutlig-statistik

Livestock in June 2020, Final results (JO0103), Anders Grönwall, 2021

Link: https://jordbruksverket.se/om-jordbruksverket/jordbruksverkets-officiella-statistik/jordbruksverkets-statistikrapporter/statistik/2021-01-29-lantbrukets-djur-i-juni-2020-slutlig-statistik

Type of framing 2020. Swedish typology (JO0105), Anders Grönwall, 2021

Link: https://jordbruksverket.se/om-jordbruksverket/jordbruksverkets-officiella-statistik/jordbruksverkets-statistikrapporter/statistik/2021-04-13-jordbruksforetagens-driftsinriktning-2020.-svensk-typologi

Holding and holders 2020 (JO0106), Kristin Gustafsson, 2021

Link: https://jordbruksverket.se/om-jordbruksverket/jordbruksverkets-officiella-statistik/jordbruksverkets-statistikrapporter/statistik/2021-04-28-jordbruksforetag-och-foretagare-2020

Other gainful activities on agricultural holdings 2020 (JO0108), Kristin Gustafsson, 2021

Link: https://jordbruksverket.se/om-jordbruksverket/jordbruksverkets-officiella-statistik/jordbruksverkets-statistikrapporter/statistik/2021-06-17-jordbruksforetagens-kombinationsverksamheter-2020

Farm labour force 2020 (JO0401), Kristin Gustafsson, 2021

Link: https://jordbruksverket.se/om-jordbruksverket/jordbruksverkets-officiella-statistik/jordbruksverkets-statistikrapporter/statistik/2021-06-15-sysselsattning-i-jordbruket-2020

Full-time farming in Sweden 2020 (JO0109), Ylva Olsson, 2021

Link: https://jordbruksverket.se/om-jordbruksverket/jordbruksverkets-officiella-statistik/jordbruksverkets-statistikrapporter/statistik/2021-06-23-heltidsjordbruket-i-sverige-2020

See sub-categories below.

During 2020, we had the following number of consultations in each area:

• Livestock: 4 651
• Agricultural holdings and holders: 1 881 
• Use of agricultural land: 5 552
• Labour force: 270

During the period January to September 2021, we had the following number of consultations in each area:

• Livestock: 7 520
• Agricultural holdings and holders: 3 059
• Use of agricultural land: 7 671
• Labour force: 451

https://statistik.sjv.se/PXWeb/pxweb/sv/Jordbruksverkets%20statistikdatabas/?rxid=5adf4929-f548-4f27-9bc9-78e127837625

See sub-category below.

The results from the Farm Structure Survey are also published together with other agricultural statistics in the Agricultural Statistics Yearbook.

Not requested.

See sub-categories below.

Not requested.

Not applicable. 

The quality policy handbook is based on the principles for European statistics and can be found here: https://jordbruksverket.se/download/18.253bcdf017276898a3097b36/1591277780138/Kvalitetspolicy-for-officiell-statistik.pdf

We also have a production process handbook based on the principles laid down on the Code of Practice, which can be found here: 

https://jordbruksverket.se/download/18.253bcdf017276898a3097b0f/1591277711892/Produktionsprocess-for-produktion-av-officiell-statistik-vid-jordbruksverket.pdf

All statistical reports published have a methodological paper called "Statistical production" and a "Quality Declaration" attached. 

Livestock in June 2020, Preliminary results, (JO0103), Anders Grönwall, 2020

Link to the methodological paper: https://jordbruksverket.se/download/18.17c40b4517529a9c50016d0a/1602747396255/Statistikens%20framst%C3%A4llning_StaF_djur%202020.pdf 

Link to the quality declaration:https://jordbruksverket.se/download/18.17c40b4517529a9c50016d08/1602747396151/Kvalitetsdeklaration_djur2020.pdf

Use of agricultural land 2020. Final results (JO0104), Ylva Olsson, 2021

Link to the methodological paper:  https://jordbruksverket.se/download/18.5cdf34181775f59264f5c10d/1612340999389/Statistikens%20framst%C3%A4llning%20f%C3%B6r%20arealer%20slutliga%20och%20prelimin%C3%A4ra%202020.pdf

Link to the quality declaration:  https://jordbruksverket.se/download/18.5cdf34181775f59264f5c10b/1612340999330/Kvalitetsdeklaration%20arealer%20slutlig%20statistik%202020.pdf

Livestock in June 2020, Final results (JO0103), Anders Grönwall, 2021

Link to the methodological paper:  https://jordbruksverket.se/download/18.17c40b4517529a9c50016d0a/1602747396255/Statistikens%20framst%C3%A4llning_StaF_djur%202020.pdf

Link to the quality declaration:https://jordbruksverket.se/download/18.38d764e917737562099cfaab/1611828959430/Kvalitetsdeklaration_djur20_def.pdf

Type of framing 2020. Swedish typology (JO0105), Anders Grönwall, 2021

Link to the methodological paper: https://jordbruksverket.se/download/18.65466980178bb64ed706f92c/1618218987182/STAF.pdf

Link to the quality declaration: https://jordbruksverket.se/download/18.65466980178bb64ed706f92a/1618991192016/Kvalitetsdeklaration.pdf

Holding and holders 2020 (JO0106), Kristin Gustafsson, 2021

Link to the methodological paper:  https://jordbruksverket.se/download/18.5a37fdcd17911114c2317753/1619531967511/Statistikens%20framst%C3%A4llning%202020.pdf

Link to the quality declaration: https://jordbruksverket.se/download/18.6fd027ca17bbdfeef114b218/1631089482161/Kvalitetsdeklaration%202020_2.pdf

Other gainful activities on agricultural holdings 2020 (JO0108), Kristin Gustafsson, 2021

Link to the methodological paper:  https://jordbruksverket.se/download/18.107ffd9617a0d68f61253b41/1623852793863/Statistikens%20framst%C3%A4llning%202020.pdf

Link to the quality declaration:https://jordbruksverket.se/download/18.107ffd9617a0d68f61253b3d/1623852793811/Kvalitetsdeklaration%202020.pdf

Farm labour force 2020 (JO0401), Kristin Gustafsson, 2021

Link to the methodological paper:  https://jordbruksverket.se/download/18.e56ece0179ff763f087a3c4/1623677403627/Statistikens%20framst%C3%A4llning%202020.pdf

Link to the quality declaration: 

https://jordbruksverket.se/download/18.e56ece0179ff763f087a3c2/1623677390437/Kvalitetsdeklaration%202020.pdf

Full-time farming in Sweden 2020 (JO0109), Ylva Olsson, 2021

Link to the methodological paper:  https://jordbruksverket.se/download/18.30a1c8ec17a317ca98155bd7/1624460962449/Statistikens%20framst%C3%A4llning,%20Heltidsjordbruk%202020.pdf

Link to the quality declaration: 

https://jordbruksverket.se/download/18.30a1c8ec17a317ca98155bd6/1624460962427/JO65SM2101_kvalitet.pdf 

We work in accordance with the principles laid down on the Code of Practice.

For each publication made, we have an advanced documentation, describing in-depth all the steps required from initiating a survey until the final publication of data.

See sub-categories below.

We follow the Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM) for the statistical production. Our quality management group consists of professionals within different statistical areas (statistical methods, statistical production and data dissemination). During the stage of statistical production, we also use checklists derived from the principles laid down on the Code Of Practice (COP).

The GSBPM production process requires analysis and evaluation of the statistics after each delivery. 

For example, there is a constant ongoing work in farm structural statistics in using and linking administrative data in order to ensure good quality of data, to lower response burden and to make better use of existing administrative sources.

There has also been work (on variable levels) on differences in data quality depending on ways of collecting data. Differences between data collected from paper questionnaire and from web-questionnaire. This to ensure that both the paper and the web questionnaire is developed in the best possible way.

We produce our statistics in accordance with the Quality Declaration of the European Statistical System (QDESS).

Our principles of quality are based on: relevance, accuracy, timeliness and punctuality, accessibility and clarity, as well as comparability and coherence. In accordance with the QDESS, our statistics are developed, produced and disseminated based on sound methodologies, the best international standards and appropriate procedures that are transparent and well documented.

In our work we strive to minimise the burden on our respondents and establish a good cooperation with data providers and data users. 

We work systematically with identifying our strengths and weaknesses but also with modernising and innovating the statistical production in order to improve our statistics and the statistical quality framework. 

Internationally, the biggest users are the European Union, FAO and the OECD.

Nationally, the biggest users are state institutions/policy makers, county administrative boards, the Federation of Swedish farmers, municipalities, media and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. 

In 2012, the Swedish Board of Agriculture (SBA) conducted a user survey. According to the survey, the county administrative boards were great users of the agricultural statistics produced by the SBA. They used our statistics on agricultural land, livestock and statistics on holding and holders. According to the survey, 18 county administrative boards needed statistics in municipality level. The Federation of Swedish Farmers also needed more statistics in municipality levels, mainly statistics on livestock and statistics on agricultural holdings.

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences was in need of more micro data. 

The Ministry of Trade and Industry and other departments at the Swedish Board of Agriculture are also big users of our statistics. These users require data on regional level. 

During the years the farm structure surveys are conducted, all users’ needs are met. 

The user survey can be found at:

https://jordbruksverket.se/download/18.5d49241918a87210fa39ebb/1694506239761/Anv%C3%A4ndarstudien%202012-10-11.pdf

The FSS 2020 was carried out as a combination of variables collected for national purposes and variables surveyed in accordance with the requirements laid down on the Regulation (EC) No 1166/2008. The agricultural census 2020 included the following variables:

a) information about the holding: holder’s name, address, personal or organisational number, telephone number, e-mail address, client number in the administrative register for single farm payment, client number in the register of organic farming (at the control body), and production location number for bovine animals,

b) areas of different types of land,

c) areas of different crops,

d) set-aside areas under the EU aid programme,

e) number of livestock of different kinds,

f) organic farming: utilised agricultural area (converted and under conversion) and organic production methods in animal production,

g) farm labour force,

h) other gainful activity,

The statistical characteristics b)-h) were collected in order to produce the customary annual national statistics of farm structure as well as to fulfil the EU requirements on agricultural statistics.

All users’ needs are met during the years the farm structure surveys are conducted.

Not applicable.

We conduct user surveys and have yearly meetings with users in order to measure the user satisfaction.

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.

Please find the relative standard errors for the main variables in the annex.

Not applicable as data meets the precision requirements in the Regulation (EU) 2018/1091.

The extrapolation factor was calculated using Horvitz-Thompson estimation in each stratum. The extrapolation factor was N/n in each stratum. The Relative Standard Error (RSE) is for some main characteristics presented in the tables attached, even though these characteristics are collected from each population unit, in order to illustrate the overall quality of the sample. The RSE concerns extrapolation from the sample. The RSE is calculated using formula ∑N_h(N_h-n_h)s_h²/n_{h .}

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. 

Over coverage - holdings which are not part of the 2020 target population (mainly holdings which have recently closed down) have been identified and removed from the register and have not been included in the processing. The over-coverage in the survey is therefore negligible. These are not included in the calculation of weights.

Not requested.

See sub-categories below.

Newly created holdings, belonging to the 2020 target population, and, which did not apply for subsidies in 2020 (and thus were not included in IACS), or were not found in the poultry-, sheep- or pig registers, but were above the threshold values for inclusion in the target population, were not included in the survey. 

See the information under 13.3.1.3.1

Not available. 

Sweden uses extractions from constantly updated registers (IACS and different animal administrative registers). If a holding is misclassified in the frame it will be reclassified with the new data. The holding will not change its stratum though. We also have low standard errors.

In very few cases we identified that some of the addresses to the holders were incorrect. The correct addresses were found manually in most of these cases. 

See sub-categories below.

The total measurement errors from the questionnaires are estimated to be of insignificant magnitude. Farm structure censuses/surveys have been conducted annually in Sweden and therefore most of the holders/respondents are well acquainted with these surveys and the questionnaires used.

Not available.

See sub-categories below.

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.

See 13.3.1.1 for the rate. 

Some of non-responding holdings have probably been closed down, while others have been impossible to reach despite efforts with reminders by post and telephone calls. Only a few, 164 respondents, refused to fill in the questionnaire or give information when contacted. For part of these non-respondents, information about crops and bovines were found in IACS or CDB, which confirmed that these holdings still existed. The holdings where no information was found in administrative registers were closed down due to the risk of double counting, e.g. of crop areas.

Due to the low non-response we did not do any further analysis in the bias from the non-respondents.

The weights were recalculated for the unit non-response on the sample characteristics.

Partial non-response was most frequent in the farm labour force section and other gainful activity section.

The partial non-response has been considered to be the most serious type of non-sampling errors.

To avoid bias from partial non-response, much work has been done to create new imputation methods minimizing the risk for bias from imputation.

In the farm labour force section, about 72 % of the respondents had values that were imputed. However, only about 13 % had missing values for all characteristics in the labour force section.

In the section other gainful activities, there was a non-response on 27 % of the respondents.

In the section farm safety plan, we had a non-response rate of 10.8 %.

Due to the low non-response we did not do any further analysis in the bias from the non-respondents.

See sub-categories below.

In order to minimise processing errors, much work has been done to create new imputation methods, thus minimizing the risk for bias from imputation.

The corrections were primarily made using SAS, by the staff of the Statistics division at the Swedish Board of Agriculture.

Overall, the errors from data processing are estimated of non-significant magnitude, even though some errors can still exist on individual holdings.

Not applicable. 

See sub-categories below.

Time lag, first results: 4 months

Time lag, final results: 12 months.

See sub-categories below.

See sub-categories below.

Not requested.

Three publications were delayed.

- Form labour force 2020 (JO0401) was published with a delay of 14 days,

- Other gainful activities on agricultural holdings 2020 (JO0108) was published with a delay of 15 days, and 

- Full-time farming in Sweden 2020 (JO0109) was published with a delay of 7 days. 

See sub-categories below.

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

See sub-categories below.

There are no deviations. 

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

Please see the attached file.

Sweden has higher national thresholds when compared to the Regulation (EU) 2018/1091. However, the same thresholds are used both for the data collected and published at national level and the data sent to Eurostat. Thus, there are no differences between the national thresholds and the thresholds used for the data sent to Eurostat. 

Not applicable. 

See sub-categories below.

No differences. 

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

There are no deviations from the Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 and the EU handbook. 

Equidae are included in "Other livestock n.e.c."

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

There are no deviations. Data is collected, published and sent to Eurostat in compliance with the reference periods/days set in Regulation (EU) 2018/1091.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

There are no deviations from Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007.

Not applicable. 

There are no differences. 

See sub-categories below.

The length of comparable time series is over 30 years. 

See sub-categories below.

Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 includes agricultural holdings with only fur animals. Sweden has holdings raising only fur animals but these are too small and do not meet the thresholds for the survey.

The thresholds for animals are expressed in livestock units (LSU) and fur animals are not associated LSU coefficients. We did not add thresholds related to fur animals; there is no reason for it (fur animals do not contribute towards 98% of the total LSU).

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

Legal personality of the agricultural holding

In IFS, there is a new class (“shared ownership”) for the legal personality of the holding compared to FSS 2016, which triggers fluctuations of holdings in the classes of sole holder holdings and group holdings.

Other livestock n.e.c.

In FSS 2016, deer were included in this class, but in IFS they are classified separately.

Also in FSS 2016, there was a class for the collection of equidae. That has been dropped and equidae are included in IFS in "other livestock n.e.c."

Livestock units

In FSS 2016, turkeys, ducks, geese, ostriches and other poultry were considered each one in a separate class with a coefficient of 0.03 for all the classes except for ostriches (coefficient 0.035). In IFS 2020, the coefficients were adjusted accordingly, with turkeys remaining at 0.03, ostriches remaining at 0.35, ducks adjusted to 0.01, geese adjusted to 0.02 and other poultry fowls n.e.c. adjusted to 0.001.

Organic animals

While in FSS only fully compliant (certified converted) animals were included, in IFS both animals under conversion and fully converted are to be included.

See sub-categories below.

The first Thursday in June every FSS-year is the reference day for the livestock characteristics. For livestock characteristics, in 2016, the reference day was June 2, 2016, while in 2020, the reference day was set to June 4, 2020. 

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable.

Evolution of animal statistics:

- A2300F –  The number of dairy cows is falling continuously, which is confirmed by the annual statistics on livestock.

- A4120 – The number of sheep was significantly reduced after 2018. Probably due to the drought in Sweden in recent years. This is verified by livestock; there has been a sharp increase of holdings without LSU in 2020 compared to 2016. This is mostly due to the fact that horses (equidae) were reported in FSS2016 but not in IFS2020. This had also an impact in the change of Farm type classes.

Evolution of crops statistics:

- A5140 – The number of broilers has been increasing over the years. However, the significantly increase since 2016 is also due to a change in method. In 2016 the numbers was the number of broilers on the reference day. In IFS2020 the number of broilers for those holdings where the number on the reference day was 0 due to sanitary break the recorded figure is the number just before the break.

- C1200T – The trends for rye record a combination of extremely low values for 2016 and high values for 2020.

- G3000T – The areas of maize has been increasing every year. 

- I1140T – The areas of lineseed has decreased. Low figures. 

- I1190T – Extremely few areas that fluctuate between years. 

- SRCAA – The areas of salix in 2020 is almost half of the area in 2010. 

- V0000_S0000TO – Consists of green peas and there was a sharp decrease when a big player moved its production from Sweden, nevertheless, in recent years it is increasing again.

There has been a remarkable drop of the holdings having benefited from RDM in 2020, compared to  2016. There are 2 explanations for this remarkable change:

1. In the figures for 2016 they overlapped two different CAP-periods and as we measured the existence of support for rural development from 2014-2016 this has an impact.
2. After reviewing the data from 2016 it appeared a mistake retrieving data from administrative register according rural development. In the data there has been payments included that is not included in the rural development program. 2020 data result correct, 2016 data are currently under review.

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.

We use administrative registers for data on agricultural area and cattle. For these variables, there is no difference between our national and the FSS results.

See sub-categories below.

F0000 – The value from Eurobase seems to be the production area and should be more comparable to the main area. There is also a small difference in the target population where the figures probably includes some areas for holdings not active in fruit production.

G3000 – The value from Eurobase is only areas that has been threshed. The excess area in IFS2020 is areas that have been harvested as green fodder.
G9100 – The areas in the eurobase includes cereals harvested as green fodder.

The data are internally consistent. This is ensured by the application of a wide range of validation rules.

See sub-categories below.

We do coordinate the farm structure survey with the survey on livestock.

The questionnaires include only variables that can not be obtained from administrative registers. Further, Sweden has adjusted the questionnaires to the different types of the holding surveyed. We have three different questionnaires. The small questionnaire (L) is sent to 41 000 agricultural holdings. It includes pre-printed general information on the holding, and questions on agricultural area and on livestock that can not be obtained from registers. The bigger questionnaires (SJ) and (SF) are sent to the rest of the population and include questions on labour force and other gainful activities. The SJ questionnaire is sent to 3 400 legal agricultural holdings and SF to 19 600 larger agricultural holdings. 

Further, Sweden has developed a statistical model for calculating the variables within the module ´Animal housing and manure management´. No questions from this module were sent to agricultural holdings during the FSS 2020. The statistical model was developed based on register data from different organisations in Sweden. In 2010, these variables were included in the questionnaire and were sent to 8 700 agricultural holdings.

Sweden has further developed the IT-system used for statistical surveys making it easier for holdings to answer the questionnaires electronically on the website of the Swedish Board of Agriculture. 

See sub-categories below.

We estimate it takes about 7 minutes for the farmers to fill in the questionnaire with all the core variables, including the time for them to send the questionnaire to the Swedish Board of Agriculture.

We estimate it takes about 9 minutes for the farmers to answer all the questions in the questionnaire on the module Labour force and other gainful activities.

This information is obtained from a register at the Swedish Board of Agriculture. The farmers do not answer this module on their questionnaire. Thus, answering time is 0.

Sweden has developed a statistical model for calculating the variables within this module. No data from this module is collected from the farmers. Thus, the answering time is 0. 

If there are errors in data already published, then the errors have to be documented and the data has to be updated. Updated information together with a comment will be published.

Some data are published as “preliminary results” clearly informing that these can deviate from the final statistics to be published later in accordance with the publication schedule set for national official statistics.

Not requested.

See sub-categories below.

See sub-categories below.

The statistical farm register, which has been in use since 1968 as a frame for different agricultural surveys, was the frame for the FSS 2020.

The FSS 2020 frame population consisted of holdings from the FSS 2016 updated with information from holdings in the livestock survey for the years 2018 and 2019, and holdings applying for subsidies in 2018, 2019 and 2020 (IACS). The frame was also updated with information from the poultry-, sheep- and pig registers. The last update of the frame was conducted in April 2020.

We combine IACS with the cattle register, and the last known value for other animal and horticulture production.

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable for 2019/2020.

Not applicable for 2019/2020.

Not applicable for 2019/2020.

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

See sub-categories below.

Stratified random sampling is used. 

There was a number of full coverage strata, mostly based on hectares and on the number of different type of animals. These criteria was met for full coverage strata:

- More than 100 ha of cereal or
- more than 100 sheep or
- more than 200 cattle or
- more than 800 pigs or
- more than 10 awu in last survey or
- more than 100 ha of irrigation 2016 or
- more than 30 ha of fruit or
- more than 1000 poultry or
- more than 100 turkeys or
- more than 100 sows or
- more than 10 boars or
- new holdings with more than 10 ha of pasture and no animals in register or
- included in 2019 survey on manure or
- high number of slaughtering according slaughtering register or
- more than 20 ha of sugar beets or oilseeds

The sample size was determined by doing 6 different Neyman allocations based on 6 different variables (pasture, livestock units, sheep, cattle, cereals and pigs). In each strata the highest sample size based on the 6 allocations was chosen. The total number (n) was iterated to a level where all RSEs according to Annex V of Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 were met.

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

Stratified random sampling is used. 

There was a number of full coverage strata, mostly based on hectares and on the number of different type of animals. These criteria was met for full coverage strata:

- More than 100 ha of cereal or
- more than 100 sheep or
- more than 200 cattle or
- more than 800 pigs or
- more than 10 awu in last survey or
- more than 100 ha of irrigation 2016 or
- more than 30 ha of fruit or
- more than 1000 poultry or
- more than 100 turkeys or
- more than 100 sows or
- more than 10 boars or
- new holdings with more than 10 ha of pasture and no animals in register or
- included in 2019 survey on manure or
- high number of slaughtering according slaughtering register or
- more than 20 ha of sugar beets or oilseeds

The sample size was determined by doing 6 different Neyman allocations based on 6 different variables (pasture, livestock units, sheep, cattle, cereals and pigs). In each strata the highest sample size based on the 6 allocations was chosen. The total number (n) was iterated to a level where all RSEs according to Annex V of the Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 were met.

SAS.

See sub-categories below.

The information is available on Eurostat's website.

See the attached Excel file in the Annex.

We have administrative registers in Sweden that cannot be used to obtain data from because of problems related to the quality of the data in them. For sheep for example, the administrative register, has another reference date than the one used for the IFS. The data in the register is collected in December (when few or no lambs are born), while the IFS is conducted in June and a huge number of lambs are registered. 

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

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.

See sub-categories below.

Please find the questionnaire in annex.

See sub-categories below.

The software used in this part of the process was SAS, and Excel.

Data validation has been done at central collection centre.

Methodology for determination of weights (extrapolation factors) 

1. Design weights

The extrapolation factor was calculated using Horvitz-Thompson estimation in each stratum. The extrapolation factor was N/n in each stratum.

2. Adjustment of weights for non-response

The weighing scheme was produced on the units that responded. Weights are only used for those variables included in the sample survey.

3. Adjustment of weights to external data sources

No adjustments of weights to external data sources have been done.

4. Any other applied adjustment of weights

No other adjustments of weights.

In the land characteristics, the imputation rate was between 0 to 18 % depending on the variables collected. 

In the livestock characteristics, there was no imputation on cattle (A2010,A2020,A2120,A2220,A2130,A2230_2300,A2230,A2300,A2300F,A2300G) as this data was taken from the cattle register. For other animals(A4100,A4110K,A4120,A4200,A4210K,A4220,A3110,A3120,A3130,A5140,A5110O,A5000X5100), there was an imputation rate in general between 0% and 6%. For turkeys  (A5230) the imputation rate was 36 %. 

In the farm labour force section, about 72 % of the respondents had at least one missing value. However, only about 13 % had missing values for all characteristics.

In the section on other gainful activities, there was an imputation rate of 27%.

In the section on support for rural development, all characteristics were collected from administrative data and therefore no data was imputed.

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

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

No additional comments.