Archive:Farm structure in Luxembourg - 2007 results
- Data from December 2008, most recent data: Further Eurostat information, Main tables and Database.
This article is part of a series of country-specific publications on the results of the European Union (EU) Farm structure survey (FSS) 2007. It provides a brief but nevertheless comprehensive insight into the farm structure in Luxembourg.
2 300 agricultural holdings were recorded in Luxembourg in the 2007 Farm Structure Survey, which represents a 6% decrease since 2005. In particular, farms under 5 ha fell by 16%.
Main statistical findings
In 2007, about 2 200 agricultural holdings had an economic size of at least 1 ESU, compared to 2 350 in 2005 (a 6% reduction). They made use of 130 000 ha of utilised agricultural area (UAA), (1% more than 2005), which is on average about 58 ha per holding; These holdings employed 3 700 AWUs (annual work units), the equivalent of 3 700 people working full time, revealing a decrease of 6% since 2005; They had 161 000 livestock units (LSU) in 2007, 2% more than in 2005. Amongst these 2 200 agricultural holdings: 21 % made use of less than one AWU, while another 45% made use of 2 or more AWUs; 32% used less than 20 ha, while 19% used 100 ha or more; 62% of Luxembourgish farms specialize in livestock; - 29% were specialist in dairy farming; - 17% were specialists in vineyard; - 12% were specialist cattle – rearing and fattening. Amongst the sole holders: 21% were women in 2007; 39% were aged 55 or more and 5% were younger than 35 years; 17% had another gainful activity in 2007; In Luxembourg in 2007, 43% of the agricultural area was owned by the holders. The family labour force is 85% of the total labour force (a 2% increase since 2005). The area organically farmed increased by 10% but remains a small share of the total UAA (2%) and of the total number of farms (also 2%). The percentage of farms with livestock has dropped from 81% in 2005 to 77% in 2007. Almost half (49%) of the holdings in Luxembourg have dairy cows, with an average of 37 cows per farm.
Data sources and availability
Due to the different coverage of the FSS across Member States, the total number of farms is not comparable between countries. This is why the present analysis, including Tables 1-4 and the graphs focus on holdings of at least one European size unit (ESU).
The survey on the structure of agricultural holdings in Luxembourg was carried out in May 2007 on an exhaustive base, by STATEC (the Central Statistical and Economic Studies Office) in collaboration with the 116 municipalities of the country and the Rural Economy Office (Service d'Economie Rurale -SER). The agricultural census has been conducted yearly since 1953. The reference date of the FSS 2007 was the 15 May 2007, however for farm labour force characteristics the reference period covers the 12 preceding months. The FSS relates to holdings whose utilised agricultural area is one hectare or more and those whose area is less than one hectare but produce for sale (including the livestock) or have at least 100 m2 under vineyard. The target population was all the farms with an operating base located in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The list of holdings was updated and completed at municipality level prior to the census; data from SER were also used to check the completeness of the population. Administrative sources from SER were used to determine agricultural areas and livestock. The organic farming data were also checked by using data from the Administration of the technical services of agriculture. The data have been checked several times during their processing: at municipality level (when collecting the questionnaires and when compiling the data) and then at a national level using software. The national data are checked against the municipal lists and tables from previous years. The non-response rate is not significant (0.5%) and the missing data are imputed from previous surveys. Between FSS 2005 and 2007 "maintaining land in good agricultural and environmental conditions" (GAEC) became an agricultural activity and the concerned land has been included in the agricultural area. In Luxembourg it covers 260 ha, 96% being in farms with at least 1 ESU. For each activity (`enterprise`) on a farm (for instance wheat, dairy cow or vineyard), a Standard Gross Margin (SGM) is estimated, based on the area (or the number of heads) and a regional coefficient. The sum of such margins in a farm is its economic size, expressed in European Size Units (ESU, 1 ESU is a 1200-euro SGM). An Annual work unit (AWU) is equivalent to a worker employed on a full time basis for one year. In Luxembourg it is 2200 hours (275 working days of 8 working hours per day) provided the person is between 15 and 80 years.
A Livestock unit (LSU) is equivalent to a dairy cow. The number of animals (number of heads) is converted into LSU using a set of coefficients reflecting the feed requirements of the different animal categories.
Context
Rural development policy aims to improve competitiveness in agriculture and forestry, improve the environment and countryside, improve the quality of life in rural areas and encourage the diversification of rural economies. As agriculture modernised and the importance of industry and services within the economy increased, agriculture became much less important as a source of jobs. Consequently, more and more emphasis is placed on the role farmers can play in rural development, including forestry, biodiversity, diversification of the rural economy to create alternative jobs and environmental protection in rural areas. The FSS continues to be adapted to try to provide the necessary data to help analyse and follow these types of developments.
Further Eurostat information
Publications
- Farm Structure Survey in Luxembourg - 2007 - Statistics in focus 96/2008
- National Methodological Report – FSS 2007 Luxembourg (available on request)
Main tables
- Agriculture, see:
- Structure of agricultural holdings (t_ef)
Database
- Agriculture, see:
- Structure of agricultural holdings (ef)