Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic

Business Statistics Directorate / Agricultural Statistics Department

Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic

Lamačská cesta 3/C

P.O.BOX 17

840 05 Bratislava 45

Slovak Republic

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 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 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 3.6.2.

See sub-categories below.

The entire territory of the country.

Not applicable.

Not available.

Farm structure statistics in our country cover the period from 2001 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.

The 12-month period for the land variables ending on 31^th of October within the reference year 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 for the total irrigable area ending on 31^th of October within the reference year 2020.

The reference day 31^th of October within the reference year 2020.

The 12-month period ending on 31^th of October 2020. This period includes the reference day used for livestock and animal housing.

The 12-month period ending on 31^th of October within the reference year 2020.

The three-year period ending on 31^th of December 2020.

The reference day 31^th of October within the reference year 2020.

See sub-categories below.

Act No 540/2001 on State Statistic, Section 16 Integrated farm survey.

Decree of the Statistical Office No 250/2017, which issues the Program of state statistical surveys for the years 2018 -2020

https://www.slov-lex.sk/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/2001/540/

https://www.slov-lex.sk/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/2017/250/20200101 

2002 for the Act 540/2001 on State Statistic

2018 for the Decree of the Statistical Office No 250/2017.

The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic is the central state administration body for state statistics; it is responsible for its development, production and dissemination. It is established a Coordination Council for State Statistics to ensure the performance of the tasks related to the official state statistics. The members of the Coordination Council shall be representatives of all bodies carrying out state statistics. The Chairperson of the Coordination Council shall be the President of the Office. Other bodies carrying out state statistics shall perform the tasks of state statistics to the extent resulting for them from the programme of state statistical surveys. In the production of state statistics, another body carrying out state statistics shall be guided by the methodological instructions of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 

Data protection is governed by the following legislative act, internal directives (SME) and methodological direction (MET) of the Statistical Office of the SR:

• Act No. 540/2001 Coll. on State Statistics (sections 29-33);
• SME- 1/2021 - Protection of personal data within the scope of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic;
• SME 1/2015 - Protection of confidential statistical data
• MET-4/209 - Protection of confidential statistical data.

See sub-categories below.

See sub-categories below.

Data in output tables is disclosed if the data are the result of a sum of at least three non-zero values from at least three statistical units.

See sub-categories below.

The Act on State Statistics does not allow an access to confidential data for usual users. The Statistical Office of the SR may provide confidential data for scientific purposes to legal persons, who carry out scientific research as their basic mission and are able to ensure conditions for the data protection.

Data are provided in the form:

a) complete confidential data; those are provided only to the state authorities (for example ministries, national bank etc.) based on the mutual contract and within the data exchange through the secured FTP server,

b) anonymised data which do not allow direct identification of legal or physical persons; to other organisations than the state authorities.

Yes.

Release Calendar

Policy on dissemination of the statistical information of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter referred to as “Policy on dissemination”) is a fundamental document in the field of statistical information dissemination. It represents a set of principles applied by the Statistical Office of the SR in dissemination of the statistical information.

The Policy on dissemination is defined in accordance with the Act on State Statistics, the development strategy of the Statistical Office of the SR, the information dissemination strategy of Eurostat and European Statistics Code of Practice.

The principles of dissemination policy are reflected in the Principles of Publication and Provision of Statistical Information, which establish binding principles and procedures for the publication and provision of statistical information and the compilation of the Catalogue of Publications, taking into account existing requirements of the quality management system of the Statistical Office. The main principles of the dissemination policy are: we guarantee equal access to statistical information for all users. We provide standard statistical information free of charge. We publish timely statistical information according to the time schedule / calendar of the first issue. Only statistical criteria are decisive for the assessment of objectivity.

We have sole responsibility for deciding on statistical methods, standards and procedures, as well as on the content and timing of the publication of statistical information. We guarantee the protection of confidential data provided by survey units. Confidential data shall be provided exclusively under the conditions laid down by the  Act on the State Statistics in a form that does not allow direct or indirect identification of reporting agents. We communicate with users about the value of statistical information. The same principles apply to the publication of IFS2020 data.

Not applicable.

The frequency of dissemination of the agricultural census data is every 10 years. Every 3 - 4 years are disseminated the data on farm structural survey / integrated farm survey which are not collected on the census basis.

See sub-categories below.

No news releases.

See sub-categories below.

1) Integrated Farm Survey 2020 - complete results

2) Integrated Farm Survey 2020 - farm typology

See sub-categories below.

We do not have online data tables. The results are published at our website in the form of publications. The potential questions are replied in the moment when they come to the responsible department. 

Not applicable yet.

See sub-category below.

Not available.

Not requested.

See sub-categories below.

Not requested.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not available.

See sub-categories below.

The SOSR management commits to follow the Quality Policy based on requirements of users of statistics, on rules, principles, recommendations and requirements of the ISO 9001 standard for Quality Management Systems.

 For the successful implementation of this commitment, the management of the SO SR will ensure the following tasks:

• to set-up and maintain the Quality Policy and Quality Objectives of the SOSR,
• to ensure permanent maintenance and periodic review of the efficiency and effectiveness of the Integrated Quality Management System implemented in order to achieve these objectives,
• to ensure availability of all necessary resources,
• to make decisions on activities for improving the Quality Management System.

The improvement in the quality procedures is managed in compliance with the Code of Practice for the European Statistics

Not available.

The results of the IFS 2020 are very important for the following users:

• DG AGRI - the collection of the structural data will contribute to the improving of the decision-making process concerning the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and its future development. This data collection will  also provide the  framework  for  harmonised, comparable and  coherent agricultural statistics in the EU;
• Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic - the data are necessary for the main agricultural policy maker at the national level, who needs to be informed about the recent development in the agricultural sector and for the purposes of the FADN;
• agricultural professional associations - the data from the IFS will contribute to their better information as regards their member, which are the subject of this survey;
• research and development institutions in the agricultural sector - the data from the IFS2020 will serve as a basis for scientific purposes.

For national purposes, we have included into the IFS 2020 some variables concerning the vegetable categories and fruit trees grown by households (self-supply farms). 

All user needs are met.

Not applicable.

The Statistical Office of the SR conducts surveys on a regular basis focused on the key customers, where the aim is concentrated on their satisfaction with the released products and data. Based on the results of this surveys we take follow-up measures in the area of content and quality of published data.

2020

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.

We do not have cases where estimated RSEs are above thresholds.

For the purpose of the IFS2020 we did not calculate the relative standard error. In our case (census) it is not applicable.

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. 

Not available.

Not requested.

See sub-categories below.

8,00%

In the case of self-sufficient farms, we strived for obtaining more information from local authorities before IFS 2020 data collection.

As regards the types of holdings belonging to the population of the core but not included in the frame, there were the farms that refused to submit a questionnaire or could not be contacted due to inaccuracies in their addresses.

Not applicable.

See the point 13.3.1.3.3.

See sub-categories below.

Measurement errors may concern the employment characteristics of farms. These are mainly items related to hours worked in  the part LAFO: WH_Hld_AWU_PC, WH_MAN_AWU_PC, FLF_D_RFAM ......, FLF_D_RNFAM ...

The elimination of such errors was secured in two ways. In the first place, we embedded control algorithms to the software for recording data in order to detect the most important errors arising from relationships between workers on the farm. During the creation of the file for Eurostat, we built in further algorithms in order to help detect also other possible errors.

All data errors have been corrected, but the error rate cannot be documented.

The controls in software during the data processing and direct data validation with the survey units, which is extremely demanding.

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.

We analysed variables such as agricultural area and numbers of animals based on available data. As regards the unit non-response, the highest rate of non-response concerned the small and very small (family) farms.

We do not calculate item non-response. We tried to collect all the data concerning all pertinent variables that the survey units could provide us.

Not applicable.

Not available.

See sub-categories below.

During the data processing we used the built-in checks and after data uploading we compared the data to available registers. Identified errors during processing have been removed.

As regards making correction, authorisation for this activity was given to the main expert responsible for the IFS2020 at the Agricultural Statistics Department and the authorised staff at the regional offices. We did not use the software solutions for the error corrections.

As regards the other imputation, we used the data from the official registers - Farm Animal Central Register, orchard register, vineyard register and IACS.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

There will be no preliminary data (first results) published, only the final data.

The final data on IFS 2020 will be published in April 2022, that is 16 months after the reference period.

The final data will be published in April 2022, that is 16 months after the reference period.

See sub-categories below.

See sub-categories below.

Not requested.

220 days for the publication of the publication "Integrated Farm Survey 2020 - complete results"

334 days for the publication of the publication "Integrated Farm Survey 2020 - typology of farms"

See sub-categories below.

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

See sub-categories below.

For the purpose of the IFS 2020 we use the same definition as defined in the Regulation (EU) 2018/1091.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

No differences.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

There are no deviations in definitions and classification of variables compared to Regulation (EU) 2018/1091, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1874 and EU handbook.

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. 

For the purpose of the IFS 2020 we used the same livestock coefficients as the ones set in the Regulation (EU) 2018/1091.

There are no differences between the types of livestock we included under the heading “Other livestock n.e.c.” and the types of livestock that should be included according to the EU handbook.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

We used the same reference periods/days as the ones set up in the Regulation (EU) 2018/1091.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

No deviations in the national standards and rules for certification of organic products from Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007

Not applicable.

There are no differences in the methods used across regions within the country.

See sub-categories below.

The data are comparable since 2010, the change in the threshold values in 2020 will not significantly affect comparability.

See sub-categories below.

Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 newly considers agricultural holdings with only fur animals. However even if our country raises fur animals, holdings with only fur animals are not included in our data collection because they do not meet the thresholds.  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.

As regards the thresholds in FSS 2016, they were lower for UAA (1 ha) without any further conditions for ARA. Change to 5 ha in IFS2020 affected that farms with lower permanent grassland area fell out from the frame.

As for vineyards, the threshold in FSS2016 was higher (0,5 ha). The change to 0,1 ha slightly affected the area but significantly increased the number of respondents.

As for orchards, the threshold in FSS2016 was 0,5 ha. The change to 0,3 ha had no influence on the area neither the number of respondents. The result is more influenced by the high age of orchards.

As for vegetables, the threshold in FSS2016 was lower (0,1 ha) than in IFS2020 (0,5 ha). The impact on this variable is very difficult to assess because the area on the open land is decreasing and the area in greenhouses is increasing. The threshold for greenhouses in FSS2016 was higher (0.1 ha). The change to 0.01 ha in IFS2020 does not have a big impact on the result, the area increased due to higher cultivation efficiency.

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 trigger 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.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable.

Among the sharp variations of aggregates over time, it can be pointed out:

- The increase in area for cultivated mushrooms (U1000) is high but the total area is small (the increase is due to the fact, that former coal mines found their new business orientation in mushroom growing.

- Other wine (W1190T) is reported in accordance with the vineyard register.

- Other oilseeds (I1190T), in recent years there is a large interest in growing pumpkins solely for the purpose of pressing oil. 

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 made the analysis where we compared the results from IFS2020 with the annual crop statistics and animal production statistics. The results of the analysis confirms the coherence between the statistical surveys conducted in the crop, animal and farm structural sector.

See sub-categories below.

As regards the items at the regional level: comparability at the regional level is affected by different methods of statistical survey and aggregating data.
Regular statistical surveys are carried out at the regional level. The survey units (farms) submit data for every district in which they farm.
In the Eurobase aggregated data are based on the data reported by districts, in the IFS2020 are data aggregated by the prevailing place of farming.
Data reported to Eurostat (Table4 – Land use) for 2020 were assembled to represent overall agriculture data in the Slovak Republic.

The data also includes data for small farms below the threshold values, which is significantly reflected in the area of K0000-kitchen gardens and C0000-cereals, which are cultivated most often of all crops.
IFS2020 data contains data for farms that meet the threshold values for the farm and at the same time to meet the conditions enshrined in Article 3 “Coverage” in the European Parliament and of the Council Regulation (EU) 2018/1091.
As regards the item N0000 - this is an incorrectly reported figure in T4. The area of flowers and ornamental plants (excluding nurseries) in 2020 was 163,78 ha. We will send the revised data.

Data comparability is affected by several factors such as:

- the CROPS statistic values are harvest areas and the values for IFS are sown or planted areas;
- in regular crop statistics, the part of production for small farms and for subsistence farms is estimated, the data collection would be costly and inefficient, so this can also be a source of some inaccuracies;
- for permanent crops such as vineyards (W1000) and orchards (F0000), a comparison to the Table 4 (land use) under Regulation 543/2009 on crop statistics would be more accurate instead of the Table 3, which contains data only for production areas;
- The area of hemp (I2200) is difficult to estimate - there is no processing industry in the Slovak Republic and there are interest organisations that deal with folk art growing hemp for this purpose. The total area is insignificant;
- Tobacco area (I3000) - there is no processing industry in the Slovak Republic, these are small areas and some farms did not meet the threshold values for the farm. The total area is insignificant;
- Forage area: there is a wrong exchange in the database between items G9900 and G9100, we will correct the data in Crop production statistics and send it to Eurostat.

The regular statistical surveys (animal production statistics) are carried out at the regional level. Farms submit data for each district in which they farm separately.
In the Eurobase, aggregated data are based on data reported by districts, in the IFS according to the specified predominant place. Comparability is also worsened by the date of the animal survey. In the regular surveys, the number of animals present the situation in December, in the IFS it is the October situation.

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

See sub-categories below.

We analysed all agricultural statistical surveys and all available administrative data sources. We compiled the questionnaire of the IFS survey in such a way that respondents did not need fill in data which can be obtained from other sources.

Not available.

See sub-categories below.

1 hour and 32 minutes for the whole questionnaire (the modules "Labour force and other gainful activities" and "Animal housing and manure management" are included).

Not available (see the point 16.3.1 Core).

Not relevant. The data on the Rural development were taken over from the administrative source (Agricultural Paying Agency).

Not available (see the comment 16.3.1. Core).

The revision policy of the Statistical Office of the SR is governed by the internal directive SME-2/2021.

As regards Integrated Farm statistics, in case of changes in concepts, methodologies, classifications, code lists or corrections of fundamental errors, extraordinary (major) revisions are carried out within the deadlines for regular publication of definitive data.

We did not make any revision for Agricultural Census 2020.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

See sub-categories below.

The Farm Register.

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.

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 here 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.

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.

We used the tools involved directly in the electronic data collection system (controls, control questions, colour highlighting etc.) and the manual validation of the staff (at the headquarters and in the regional branches) directly participating in the IFS2020. For this purpose we used the documents and datasets received from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Slovak Republic, Agricultural Paying Agency, State veterinary and food service, Central control and testing institute in agriculture and the data from the previous FSS surveys.

We worked with the one data file. We did not apply the compilation of more data files.

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

SO SR - Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic

UAA – Utilised agricultural area

No additional comments.