Specific definitions and concepts
Mixtures of crops
Mixtures of crops usually have to be recorded in the respective crops or in the pre-defined mixture classes. Mixtures of crops should as far as possible be recorded elsewhere, either according to the definitions of the respective variable, or if nothing is mentioned, under the crop with the highest economic value.
Combined crops
In the case of combined crops the utilised agricultural area is allocated among the crops pro rata to the use of the ground by the crops concerned. If one crop has no significance for the holding, it is ignored in the breakdown of the areas. Areas of agriculture combined with woodland are similarly split up. This principle does not apply to mixed crops (these are crops grown and harvested together on the same ground, e.g. mixed corn), or to successive crops (e.g. barley under-sown with clover for later harvesting).
An exemption from the principle of pro rata allocation may be made where the results would not be satisfactory, provided that the rules established by the Member States in agreement with the Commission are respected.
Grouping of crops
If a crop cannot be recorded separately, it should be grouped with crops of the same kind rather than with other crops of a different category.
An example of grouping of crops Small areas with oil-flax should not be included in 'other arable land', but rather under 'other oil seed crops' |
Successive crops and main crop
Successive secondary crops are not recorded separately in UAA for IFS. In utilised agricultural area, the area of each successive crop is not calculated, but the area is allocated to only one crop taken as the main crop. Where during one harvest year several crops are grown in succession on an area, the main crop is the crop that has the highest value of the production. If the value of production does not determine what the main crop is, then the main crop is taken as the one that occupies the ground for the longest time.
Dual purpose crops
Dual purpose crops, such as cotton, have several uses. Cotton, for instance, is cultivated for the seed (oil and oilcake) and fibre.
The area under cultivation for dual purpose crops should be recorded only once. For the area statistics (such as IFS), cotton is recorded only under cotton fibre, in line with Annual Crop Statistics.
Other dual purpose crops such as soya seed (oil and protein) are reported only under I1130 'Soya', because the seed can be used only for one of these products and the farmer may not know for which of the products it will be used. Cereals which are grown for the production of grain, but which also produce straw that can be used for energy purposes or other uses, are not considered as a dual purpose crop, as (long as) no data are requested for the by-product (straw).
Crops which can be used for food feed and energy purposes are classified under the main heading (e.g. G3000 Green maize).
Other (…) n.e.c
In the tables presenting the data and in the Eurostat databases, the heading 'Other products, n.e.c. (not elsewhere classified)' comprises all species in a group of products that have not previously been broken down, even if they are mentioned in detail in the national statistics. It usually includes species which are produced in minor quantities throughout the EU or species with particular importance for a small number of countries. This heading's content is very variable and it contains crops which are often not comparable from one country to another.
Energy crops
The classification of energy crops has posed some problems in the past. The following guidelines have been mutually agreed by Integrated Farm Statistics (IFS) and Annual Crop Statistics (ACS). Most of the crops used for energy purpose are classified in the same class as the same crop used for food or feed, e.g.:
- Maize for energy purpose into class G3000 'Green maize'
- Rape for energy purposes in class I1110 'Rape and turnip rape seeds'
- Fibre crops in class I2000, etc.
The specific class I6000 'Energy crops n.e.c.' is defined as follows:
- It includes only specific energy crops not used for other purposes than energy production and cultivated on arable land, such as miscanthus and canary reed
- This item should not include any other crops reported under other items (e.g. maize for biogas), which means that double counting is not allowed
- It is part of the aggregate 'Industrial crops'
- If the practice in a Member State differs from these definitions and the data is transmitted as used in the MS, an explanation is needed in the quality report
Short-rotation coppices
- Land on which the short rotation coppices are grown is not considered as UAA, although this is the case in legal bases of some Member States. They are collected in IFS as a sub-category of wooded area; in Annual Crop Statistics they are not at all collected
Plants harvested green from arable land
The important time limit between grasslands on arable land and permanent grassland is 5 years. Grasslands are considered as permanent if they stay at least 5 years on the ground.
Green manure
Green manure crops are grown, cut and ploughed into the soil to enhance the soil fertility. Mustard, radish and some leguminous crops are used as green manure. The situation for green manure is clarified as follows:
- If green manure use is not the sole use of the plants, then the area is classified according to the main use.
- In IFS the area that is used exclusively as green manure is included under Q0000 'Fallow land'.
Crops under glass or high accessible cover
'Crops under glass or high (accessible) cover' refers to crops that are covered by accessible greenhouses for the whole period of growth or for the predominant part of it.
Includes
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Excludes
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Systems to protect crops
In practice there are two main objectives for the crop protection systems:
The purpose of shade houses is to protect plants from excessive heat, light, hail, frost or dryness. They provide shelter from the elements, and the material is normally a sheet of shade cloth which is available in different colours and shading percentages.
Greenhouses have an opposite objective: they have glass or plastic roofs (and walls) that allow the light to enter the structure. The greenhouse heats up as the incoming solar radiation heats the plants and soil (or substrate) faster than the heat is able to escape from the structure. In addition, they can also protect plants from wind, rain and animals. Glasshouses and greenhouses have the same objectives, and the difference is related only to the material they are made of (as in the past only glass was suitable for the purpose of creating a greenhouse, which can also be called "hothouse").
Systems to protect crops The following systems are used to protect crops Crops are considered under glass or high accessible cover
Crops can either be considered as under high accessible cover or as outdoor
Crops are considered outdoor or in open field
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Glasshouse (GL)
It is a walk-in, static, closed shelter with glass roof and walls, of variable size from small sheds to very large buildings. Normally glasshouses are more technologically advanced than greenhouses, but the two terms are considered synonyms (in the sense that in the past only glass was used to make a greenhouse).
Figure 3 – Glasshouse
Greenhouse (GR)
It is a walk-in, static, closed shelter with glass or plastic roof (rigid or flexible) and walls with variable size from small sheds to very large buildings. It can be fixed or mobile.
Figure 4 – Greenhouse
Shade house (SH)
It is an unheated shelter used to protect plants (normally ornamentals) from excessive heat and/or light and against insects and/or birds. It is covered by permeable fabric (net) with different shade percentage (up to 80%). For the purpose of IFS, accessible shade houses are always considered under "high accessible cover", regardless of the shade level offered by the net.
Figure 5 – Shade house
Walk-in tunnel (WT)
It is an unheated shelter used for growing plants. It is composed of a single layer of plastic supported by plastic/metal arches. This structure is large enough to walk and work in. Normally they are temporary shelters and are removed at the end of cultivation.
Figure 6 – Walk in tunnel
Plastic house (PL)
It is an unheated shelter used to protect plants, especially fruit crops such as table grapes, from cold or rain and to extend the harvest period (to anticipate or postpone fruiting). The cover may be discontinuous. This system may either be considered as "high protective cover" (namely if the plants are covered by the plastic most of the growing or ripening time) or as a simple protection (equivalent to a low tunnel) and therefore the crop would be considered as "outdoor".
Figure 7 – Plastic house – high accessible cover, the plants are accessible without destroying the shelter
Low tunnel (LT)
It is a simple plastic cover, generally associated to mulching. Covering may be provided also by nonwoven fabric. It is a temporary cover (removed well before harvest).
Figure 8 – Low tunnel
Reporting areas under glass or high accessible cover
For mobile greenhouses or high cover, the area reported is the total area of arable land actually covered during the preceding 12 months (summing them up to calculate the total area covered), not merely the area of arable land covered by the installation at any one time.
If the same area under glass is used more than once it is reported once only.
Only the base area of multi-storeyed greenhouses is counted.
Note that while in Annual Crop Statistics the area under glass or high accessible cover is reported together with the area of open field crops, in IFS the areas are reported separately.
Hydroponics
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil, by using mineral nutrient solutions in water. Plants can be grown on this solution directly or be supported by inert materials such as perlite or gravel. Where significant, crops in hydroponics can be counted as "crops under glass or high accessible cover".
Cultivated mushrooms
Mushrooms belong botanically to fungi and not to plants as vegetables do. Their production method differs also very much from vegetables. Because of these reasons 'cultivated mushrooms' are not included in the main aggregate 'Vegetables, melons and strawberries'. It is a stand-alone item in the crop statistics and in IFS.
Normally mushrooms are not produced on arable land but in special buildings or cellars. The production takes place in layered structures and for some species/varieties even not on a plain ground but e.g. on tree logs. As most of the mushroom cultivation takes place on such layered structures in buildings, and the production surface differs between the mushroom species, calculation instructions are needed.
The harvested area of mushrooms in annual crop statistics differs from the 'main area' (production surface) counted in IFS. In IFS it includes the surface of all layers covered with mushroom substrate and used for the production, not regarding how often the substrate/nutrient medium is changed during the crop year. When mushrooms are cultivated on tree logs on grassland the entire area of tree logs (apart from each other) is to be recorded.
Mushrooms which have the main growing phase on a used substrate/nutrient medium during the year before the survey year, but are mainly harvested in the survey year, have to be included. Those which will be harvested mainly in the following year shall not be included. The harvest is defined as a full harvest of one substrate/nutrient medium.
Truffles
Normally truffles (Tuber spp.) are a wild product and therefore, as the production of other wild mushrooms, they are not collected in Annual Crop Statistics or in IFS. Although they are a kind of mushroom, they are cultivated in a very different way from the other mushrooms and should not be included in the same class as other mushrooms.
Note however that in some countries there are now truffle farms, where the truffles are grown on trees (usually of the genus Quercus, Castanea or Corylus) specially planted for the purpose of producing the mushroom.
The common advice both for ACS and IFS is that the cultivated truffles should be included in class PECR9_H9000T - 'Other permanent crops including other permanent crops for human consumption n.e.c'. (H9000 – 'Other permanent crops for human consumption n.e.c.' in ACS).
If the truffles are cultivated together with nut trees, and if the production of nuts is also used, the production of both should be recorded while the area is recorded only once according to the main use (which normally would refer to the truffle, as they are very valuable).
Seeds and seedlings
The classification of seeds and seedlings is complex and varies between crops. In general seed and seedling production takes place in specialised farms, as it is often subject to authorisation. Table 7, which is aligned with the classification of the ACS, gives details of the classification of seeds and seedlings.
Table 7 – Seeds and seedlings
Seeds and seedlings | IFS |
- Cereals | Always included under their main classes |
- Grasses (temporary and permanent) | Always included under 'Seeds and seedlings' |
- Sugar beet | Always included under 'Seeds and seedlings' |
- Vegetables (including melons) and strawberries | Included under 'Seeds and seedlings' if for sale use. |
Plants harvested green, other than grasses (G1000), such as cereals and leguminous plants (G2000), cannot be used for seed production. Their seeds are thus included in the corresponding class harvested as dry grain/pulses, which for the case of Annual Crop Statistics is their respective class in P1000 to P9000 and in IFS is P0000.
Young ligneous plants grown for subsequent transplantation (such as fruit trees and berry bushes) are classified under nurseries.
Kitchen gardens
Kitchen gardens are areas of an agricultural holding devoted to the cultivation of agricultural products not intended for selling but for consumption by the farm holder and his household.
Kitchen gardens in NACE
In general NACE does not differentiate between market and non-market activities even if this distinction is an important feature of the System of National Accounts. Division T98 of NACE includes the undifferentiated subsistence goods and service producing activities of households. NACE T98.10 includes activities such as hunting, gathering or farming when goods are produced by the household for its own subsistence.
If households are also engaged in the production of market goods, they are classified to the appropriate goods-producing industry of NACE.
Christmas trees
Christmas trees are defined as trees planted for commercial purposes, to be sold as Christmas trees (planted pines, firs, etc., including the use as fir sprigs). They are classified according to the following principles:
- Christmas trees planted for commercial purposes, outside woodland, on the utilised agricultural area (land regularly cultivated), are part of permanent crops, therefore to be classified under PECR9_H9000T. (In crop statistics they belong to class PECR9 'Other permanent crops')
- Christmas tree plantations which are no longer maintained belong to wooded area (WA) in IFS. (They are not counted in crop statistics.)
General variables
Agricultural holding
Code | Label | Unit |
HLD_ID | Agricultural holding identifier | integer |
Agricultural holding identifier (HLD_ID)
The agricultural holding unique identifier is a unique numeric identifier for transmitting the data. The holding id is a unique integer within a dataset sent by one data supplier.
The maximum length allowed is 11 digits. The maximum holding id which can be accepted is 99 999 999 999. As the ID is an integer, do NOT start a holding ID with a 0 (zero).
Data providers are asked to keep the same holding ID for the same holding throughout all the revisions of the file. This allows the identification of changes between different versions. Even if desirable, there is no obligation to keep the same holding ID between campaigns.
Agricultural holding
An agricultural holding, holding, or farm is a single unit, both technically and economically, operating under a single management and which undertakes economic activities within the economic territory of the European Union either as its primary or secondary activity. The holding may also provide other supplementary (non-agricultural) products and services.
An agricultural holding is then defined by the following criteria:
- It is a single unit both technically and economically; in general this is indicated by a common use of labour and means of production (machinery, buildings or land, etc.);
- It has single management; there can be single management even though this is carried out by two or more persons acting jointly;
Carries out at least one of the following activities defined in the European Statistical Classification of Economic Activities (NACE Rev. 2) for crop and animal production, and related service activities:
- Growing of non-perennial crops (NACE A01.1)
- Growing of perennial crops (NACE A01.2)
- Plant propagation (NACE A01.3)
- Animal production (NACE A01.41 to A01.47 and parts of A01.49)
- Holdings raising and breeding ostriches or emus (NACE A01.49)
- Holdings raising and breeding rabbits (NACE A01.49)
- Holdings with bee-keeping, production of honey and beeswax (NACE A01.49)
- Holdings raising animals for the production of fur (NACE A01.49)
- Mixed farming (NACE A01.5)
- Holdings exclusively maintaining agricultural land in good agricultural and environmental condition (NACE A01.61)
Has its activity in the economic territory of the European Union as defined in the Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 or, where applicable, the most recent legislation.
Includes
- Agricultural holdings that have utilised agricultural area (or livestock) in different regions; the holding is treated as one unit as long as it remains a "single unit both technically and economically (common use of the means of production) and operates under single management"
- Holdings that for tax or other reasons are split up among two or more persons, but still have a single management (one common manager) and are therefore considered to be one economic unit (single holding)
- Two or more separate holdings, each having previously been an independent holding, that have been integrated into the hands of a single holder, are considered to be a single holding if they now have a common manager or if they use the same labour and equipment (single management and technical and economic unity)
- Agricultural holdings growing non-perennial crops (NACE A01.1)
- Agricultural holdings growing perennial crops (NACE A01.2) including
- those that produce wine from self-produced grapes
- those that produce olive oil from self-produced olives
- Plant propagation (NACE A01.3)
- Animal production (NACE A01.4 with some exceptions in A01.49)
- Raising and breeding of semi-domesticated or other live animals such as
- Holdings raising and breeding ostriches or emus (NACE A01.49)
- Holdings raising and breeding rabbits and animals for the production of fur (NACE A01.49)
- Holdings with bee-keeping, production of honey and beeswax (NACE 01.49)
- Raising and breeding of semi-domesticated or other live animals such as
- Mixed farming (NACE A01.5)
Holdings exclusively maintaining agricultural land in good agricultural and environmental conditions as defined in Article 94 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 (NACE A01.61)
- Bull, boar, ram and billy-goat breeding stations and studs
- Hatcheries
- Agricultural holdings of research institutes, sanatoria and convalescent homes, religious communities, schools and prisons
- Agricultural holdings which form part of industrial enterprises
Common land consisting of pasture, horticultural or other utilised agricultural area, provided that such utilised agricultural area is operated as an agricultural holding by the local authority concerned (e.g. by the taking in of another persons' cattle to graze as in "taking of animals into assignment")
Common land units (a virtual entity created for the purposes of data collection and recording, consisting of the utilised agricultural area used by agricultural holdings but not belonging directly to them)- Livestock holdings with no animals present on the reference day, due to temporary breaks in the production cycle (e.g. regular sanitary cleaning of animal houses, disease outbreaks, or similar reasons)
- "Single-product group-holdings" if they are independent of the "parent" holdings and they mainly use their own factors of production and do not rely mainly on the factors of production of the "parent" holdings
Migrating herds, which do not belong to holdings using agricultural areas (independent holdings)|
Excludes
- Holdings with the activities covered by NACE code A01.49 that are not mentioned above, such as
- worm, mollusc or snail farms
- raising of silk worms
- raising of pet animals
- operation of frog farms, crocodile farms or marine worm farms
- operation of fish farms
- raising of diverse animals
- Single-product group-holdings in the case that they are not independent from the parent holding
- Riding stables, racing stables, gallops (i.e. land used for exercising racehorses), if they do not have breeding activities
- Kennels
- Markets
- Slaughterhouses (without rearing)
- Game reserves growing crops only for the purpose of feeding the wild animals or maintaining the land in good environmental condition (but not receiving agricultural support for it)
- Holdings having only kitchen gardens (no market activity)
- Holdings producing farming goods only for its own subsistence, without market activity (NACE T98.10) (see also 2.2 Coverage)
- Holdings that carry out support activities to agriculture and postharvest crop activities (NACE A01.6) when they are undertaken exclusively (exception applies to NACE A01.61)
Hunting, trapping, and related service activities (NACE A01.7)
Is it the same holding?
If two holdings use the same equipment but different labour force, are they still one unit?
The key solution for deciding if such a holding is one holding only, is finding whether these holdings have "single management". As mentioned in the FAO definition of agricultural holding, single management may be exercised by an individual or household, jointly by two or more individuals or households, by a clan or a tribe, or by a juridical person such as a corporation, cooperative or government agency. In single management, it is expected that the resources are pooled, and that there is a common budget. It can happen that a single holding may have land parcels in more than one region. If they are too far apart, it is no longer possible that they share the agricultural inputs and therefore they should not be considered as the same holding. Additional analyses and information from interviewers may be needed to make a final decision.
Single product holding-groups
Separate holdings may put resources for one particular farm activity together to form a distinct joint enterprise that is run separately from the holdings behind it (the parent holdings). These enterprises can be, for example, common orchards, common cattle lots, and common dairy buildings. It is a case of partial fusion and these joint enterprises are here called "single-product group-holdings". These "single-product group-holdings" are treated as agricultural holdings independent of the "parent" holdings if they mainly use their own factors of production and do not rely mainly on the factors of production of the "parent" holdings. In the case that they are not independent, the crops/livestock are recorded on the "parent" holding in relation to the ownership ratio.Livestock holdings without animals
Livestock holdings with no animals present on the reference day, due to temporary breaks in the production cycle (e.g. regular sanitary cleaning of animal houses, disease outbreaks, or similar reasons) are still to be recorded, in order to keep them in the census population.Good agricultural and environmental conditions (GAEC)
Good agricultural and environmental conditions (GAEC), refers to a set of European Union (EU) standards (described in Annex II of Council Regulation 1306/2013) defined at national or regional level, aiming to achieve a sustainable agriculture. Keeping land in good agricultural and environmental conditions is directly related to issues such as:
- minimum level of maintenance
- protection and management of water
- soil erosion
- soil organic matter
- soil structure
These standards are to be respected by European farmers receiving direct payments or some of the rural development payments.
Common land
Common landallotted under "utilised agricultural area for share farming or other modes" and common land which has been rented out under "utilised agricultural area for tenant farming" is to be included as part of the holding which is renting (or using) the land.Location of the holding
Code | Label | Unit |
GEO_LCT | Geographical location | code |
REGION | NUTS3 region | code |
REGL_1305_2013 | Areas facing natural constraints | code |
The agricultural holding is located where the farm carries out its main agricultural activity. The location of land (or livestock) in different regions is not a criterion for splitting one holding into several ones. The data regarding such holding is not split by region, and a single agricultural holding has a single location placed in one region.
How do we handle animals belonging to the holding but located in another country? A farm located in the Netherlands has a number of bovine animals grazing in Belgium on the reference day of the survey. Should they be counted as part of the holding or not? |
Geographical location (GEO_LCT)
The cell code of the 1 km INSPIRE Statistical Units Grid for pan-European usage (see Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services) where the farm is located. This code will be used only for transmission purposes.
For data dissemination purposes, in addition to the normal disclosure control mechanisms for tabular data, the 1 km grid will be used only if there are more than 10 agricultural holdings in the grid; failing that, nested 5 km, 10 km or larger grids will be used as required. For geocoding of agricultural holdings, the Statistical Units theme in accordance with Annex III to Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council should be used. Note that even if a cell has less than 10 holdings, no re-allocation should be done a-priori. The confidentiality treatment is made by Eurostat.
The INSPIRE Directive
The INSPIRE Directive (Directive 2007/2/EC, Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010) aims to create a European Union spatial data infrastructure for the purposes of EU environmental policies and policies or activities which may have an impact on the environment. This European Spatial Data Infrastructure will enable the sharing of environmental spatial information among public sector organisations, facilitate public access to spatial information across Europe and assist in policy-making across boundaries.
INSPIRE is based on the infrastructures for spatial information established and operated by the Member States of the European Union. The Directive addresses 34 spatial data themes needed for environmental applications.
The Directive came into force on 15 May 2007 and will be implemented in various stages, with full implementation required by 2021. The Statistical Units are one of the themes listed under Annex III of INSPIRE. To be INSPIRE compliant, statistical information at pan-European level (if geo-referenced and if based on a grid) shall use the Equal Area Grid defined in Section 2.2.1 of Annex II of the Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 (the INSPIRE implementing act).
Note that INSPIRE does not state which resolution is to be used to present the statistical data, and even multi-resolution is allowed, even if not common for statistical reporting.
The statistical units theme
The INSPIRE statistical units theme is used to inform on the location of statistical data and information. The principle of this theme is to provide stable and identified representations of the statistical units and statistical data refers to these objects through their identifier.
INSPIRE provides recommendations on how to give stable identifiers to statistical unit and use these identifiers to attach statistical information on them. This is particularly important if the responsibility for geometry and statistical data are shared between different institutions e g mapping agency and statistical offices. Other INSPIRE data specifications such as Population Distribution use this referencing mechanism.
The data model does not intend to harmonise all existing specific statistical units, like census districts, management zones, environmental reporting units, etc.
The philosophy of INSPIRE is to provide an abstract model of statistical units that can then be specialised for specific statistical units (if needed).
The statistical units grid
The Statistical Units Grid is defined in section 1.4 of Annex IV of Regulation (EU) No 1253/2013 of 21 October 2013 amending Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services. As mentioned in 1.5 (2), for pan-European usage it uses the ETRS89 Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area coordinate reference system as defined in section 2.2.1 of Annex II.
Spatial features of any INSPIRE application schema can be considered as a statistical unit, because all can be used as spatial reference. This class is provided to represent features that are used only to disseminate statistical information and that are not included in another INSPIRE application schema, which is the case of the agricultural holding for which IFS is collecting data.
The INSPIRE data model provides two specialisations of the statistical unit class: statistical grid cells, described in the grid package, and vector statistical units, described in the vector package. This means that for obtaining INSPIRE compliant representations, statistical units can be represented either as grid cells or as vector geometries (point, line and polygon).
However, when studying socioeconomic and environmental phenomena such as flooding, commuting, mobility or leisure, a system of grids with equal-size grid cells has many advantages (see SE article on population grids:
- grid cells all have the same size allowing for easy comparison
- grids are stable over time
- grids integrate easily with other scientific data (e.g. meteorological information)
- grid systems can be constructed hierarchically in terms of cell size thus matching the study area and
- grid cells can be assembled to form areas reflecting a specific purpose and study area (mountain regions, water catchments)
The statistical units grid for pan-European applications
Because an important requirement of statistical grids is to be composed of equal area cells, grids based on non-projected coordinate reference systems should be used only on small spaces for which the cells keep comparable sizes.
Because IFS is a pan-European initiative, non-projected coordinate systems are not adequate. For pan-European applications, INSPIRE recognised the need to specify common European grids. The recommended statistical grids follow the recommendation of the INSPIRE data specification document on geographical grid systems ( D2.8.I.2 ) as far as possible.
The data specification document for statistical units (v3.0) states a requirement stemming from the INSPIRE implementing act:
For pan-European usage, the Equal Area Grid defined in Section 2.2.1 of Annex II (of Commission Regulation (EU) N0 1089/2010) shall be used (see box below).
Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010
Annex II
Requirements for spatial data themes listed in Annex I to Directive 20072EC
2.2 Grids
The grid specified in section 2.2.1 shall be used in INSPIRE, unless one of the conditions specified in section 2.2.2 holds.
2.2.1. Grid for pan-European spatial analysis and reporting
The grid defined in this Section shall be used as a geo-referencing framework where grids with fixed and unambiguously defined locations of equal-area grid cells are required. The grid is based on the ETRS89 Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area (ETRS89-LAEA) coordinate reference system with the centre of the projection at the point 52° N, 10° E and false easting: x 0 = 4 321 000 m, false northing: y 0 = 3 210 000 m. The origin of the grid coincides with the false origin of the ETRS89-LAEA coordinate reference system (x=0, y=0). Grid points of grids based on ETRS89-LAEA shall coincide with grid points of the grid. The grid is hierarchical, with resolutions of 1m, 10m, 100m, 1 000m, 10 000m and 100 000m. The grid orientation is south-north, west-east. The grid is designated as Grid_ETRS89-LAEA. For identification of an individual resolution level the cell size in metres is appended. The reference point of a grid cell shall be the lower left corner of the grid cell. For the unambiguous referencing and identification of a grid cell, the cell code composed of the size of the cell and the coordinates of the lower left cell corner in ETRS89-LAEA shall be used. The cell size shall be denoted in metres ('m') for cell sizes up to 100m or kilometres ('km') for cell sizes of 1 000m and above. Values for northing and easting shall be divided by 10n, where n is the number of trailing zeros in the cell size value.
2.2.2. Other Grids
Exceptions, where other grids than that specified in section 2.2.1 may be used, are:
1. Other grids may be specified for specific spatial data themes in this Annex. In this case, data exchanged using such a theme-specific grid shall use standards in which the grid definition is either included with the data, or linked by reference.
2. For grid referencing in regions outside of continental Europe, Member States may define their own grid based on a geodetic coordinate reference system compliant with ITRS and a Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area projection, following the same principles as laid down for the grid specified in section 2.2.1. In this case, an identifier for the coordinate reference system shall be created.
Coding the statistical grid cell
For the purpose of INSPIRE, statistical grid cells are squares, identified by a single code. The code shall be composed of:- (1) A coordinate reference system part, represented by the word CRS, followed by the EPSG code.
- (2) A resolution and position part:
- if the coordinate reference system is projected, the word RES followed by the grid resolution in meters and the letter m. Then, the letter N followed by the northing value in meters, and the letter E followed by the easting value in meters (CRS<EPSGcode>RES<size>(m | km)N<northing>E<easting>)
- if the coordinate reference system is not projected (which is not the case for statistical grids), the word RES followed by the grid resolution in degree-minute-second, followed by the word dms. Then the word LON followed by the longitude value in degree-minute-second, and word LAT followed by the latitude value in degree-minute-second (CRS<EPSGcode>RES<d> - <m> - <s>dmsLON<d> - <m> - <s>LAT<d> - <m> - <s>)
- For both cases, the given position shall be the position of the lower left cell corner.
SRID and the EPSG Code
A Spatial Reference System Identifier (SRID) is a unique value used to unambiguously identify projected, unprojected, and local spatial coordinate system definitions. INSPIRE refers to the specific SRID implementation of EPSG (European Petroleum Survey Group).
The recommended grid for pan-European statistical units is based on the ETRS89 Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area (ETRS89-LAEA) coordinate reference system with the centre of the projection at the point 52° N, 10° E and false easting: x 0 = 4 321 000 m, false northing: y 0 = 3 210 000 m.
The EPSG code for this coordinate system is 30 35 .
For the purposes of IFS, the ISO-2 code of the country is added as a prefix.
Example of codification for a Portuguese cell:
PT_CRS3035RES1000mN1760000E2635000
The GEOSTAT 2 project
GEOSTAT 2 "A Point-based Foundation for Statistics" was conducted between 2014 and 2016, with the main objective of proposing a model for point-based geocoding infrastructure for statistics, based on geocoded address, building and dwelling. Before this, the Eurostat task force on integration of geography and statistics had already concluded that statistical-geospatial data integration should start at the level of individual statistical records. The project results are to be understood as the implementation guidance for NSI's, mainly as regards principles 1 (use fundamental geospatial infrastructure and geocoding), 2 (geocoded unit record data in a data management environment) and 4 (interoperable data and metadata standards) of the Global Statistical Geospatial Framework (SGF).
In a fundamental sense, a point-based geocoding infrastructure for statistics can be understood as a production setting where a record with X, Y (and Z) coordinates of a location, along with a unique identifier (ID), can be linked to a record with statistical or administrative data which belongs to this point. This process is called "geocoding" of statistics or other data. The actual purpose of the point-based approach is to assign a single coordinate location to each unit record. The term "point-based" should be understood in contrast to "area-based" which appears in traditional surveys and censuses where the population surveyed is assigned to a fixed output area, such as an enumeration district. It should be stressed that the proposed shift from an area-based to a point-based approach, only refers to the geocoding infrastructure itself and hence to the collection and processing of statistics. The area-based approach is, and will continue to be, the primary method for the dissemination of statistics.
The characteristics of a point-based geocoding infrastructure encompass the following three generic principles:
- Use of high quality point-based location data, regularly updated with time stamps
- Geocoding of statistical unit, and related statistical information, at unit record level
- Use of standardised identifiers-geocodes to link unit record data with location data
The project authors recognise the special situation of the agricultural holdings, where the simple use of address or building locations risks the production of a non-appropriate spatial representation.
Agricultural holdings may be inappropriately geocoded by using address information when the address location refers to the dwelling of the farmer, rather than to the farm site of the holding. Typically, the farm site and the place of residence of the farmer coincide, but in case the farm site is very different from the residence of the farmer, address geocoding of the agricultural holding may produce erroneous results. Another problem with agricultural holdings is that they represent the "site" of the holding rather than the spatial envelope of the farmstead. In that way, all area features, such as the agricultural land belonging to the holding, will be linked to a single point location. This may potentially cause erroneous outputs if, for example, administrative data on agricultural land linked to point locations is aggregated to grid cells, as a result of which the whole land will be assigned to the grid cell of the holding. The geocoding of agricultural holdings may therefore require alternative location strategies, using Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) or the collection of location data specifically for the purpose of geocoding the holdings (EFGS & Eurostat, 2017).
Establishing the geographic location of the holding in the frame
High quality point-based location data should be understood as geospatial information that accurately represents the geographic location of a given phenomenon. The accurate point-based representation of an individual or a dwelling typically requires the use of a geocoded address or building data. Depending on various traditions throughout Europe, the rationale for choosing one of the categories over another may vary between countries. The GEOSTAT 2 project has concluded that it is of less importance whether the geocoding infrastructure is built on address data, building data or cadastral parcel information, as long as it can produce harmonised output with equal quality cross countries.
Hence, the choice of location data objects should rather be guided by the principles of authoritativeness and maturity of the location data, as well as by the potential for long-term temporal maintenance. According to the GEOSTAT 2 survey temporal accuracy and well-managed maintenance policies are rated even higher than the spatial accuracy of location data.
In some Member States, location data frameworks comprise integrated combinations of address information, building or dwelling data and cadastral parcels. Ideally, these objects are consistently and hierarchically linked to each other, enabling a flexible choice of the location data objects to be used, depending on the purpose of the task and the scope of output data.
Geocoding of statistical information at the unit record level means that each statistical unit record included in a dataset should be assigned a high accuracy geocode, i.e. without previous data aggregation or grouping. The geocodes assigned to each statistical unit record need to match the address codes or building codes found in the corresponding location data framework (EFGS & Eurostat, 2017).
Establishing the geographic location of the holding for transmission to Eurostat
Taking into account the above mentioned limitations for the location of an agricultural holding over a point based infrastructure, for the purposes of IFS the geographical location of a holding is established according to the following criteria, in order of preference:
The location of the main agricultural building. For livestock farms it should be where the livestock is located.
For crop and mixed farms it should be the main building of the holding which is usually located close to the agricultural activities.- If there is no agricultural building to which a location of the holding could be attributed:
- The location of the majority of the area of the holding
- The location of the most important parcel chosen by physical size.
The physical size will be calculated on the number of hectares belonging to that parcel which also belongs to the holding located in a particular area. - The location of the most important parcel chosen by economic size. The economic size will be calculated on the economic significance of the agricultural production on that parcel.
This criterion is more complex due to the variability over the time on the crop sown or to be sown in the selected parcel and should be avoided as IFS is a structural survey and not a production survey. The following order can be used to decide on the significance of the parcel: intensive production on arable land, permanent crops (fruit trees, berries or olive plantations, vineyards) and finally grassland.
- The location of the farmer's residence if it is not further than 5 km straight from the farm
- A combination of the above referred criteria
- None of the above referred criteria
- The criteria are not applicable (e.g. only one NUTS3 region in the country)
In any case Member States shall provide to Eurostat more detailed information regarding this issue in their quality reports.
Figure 9 – Location of the holding
NUTS 3 regions (REGION)
The code of the NUTS 3 region (according to Regulation (EC) No 1059/200 of the European Parliament and of the Council) in which the holding is located.
The list of valid NUTS 3 regions codes is provided with the DSD.
The method for determining the NUTS 3 regions shall be the same method that is used to determine the geographical location.
The agricultural holding has areas designated as facing natural constraints under Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 (REGL_1305_2013)
Information on areas facing natural constraints (ANC) is to be provided in line with Article 32 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council or where applicable the most recent legislation.
- L - the agricultural holding is in an area other than a mountainous area, facing significant natural constraints
- M - the agricultural holding is in a mountainous area
- O - the agricultural holding is in another area affected by specific constraints
- N - the agricultural holding is not part of an area facing natural constraints
To classify the status of holdings under this item, the following rules are established
- If there is less than 50% of all UAA under areas facing natural constraints, then the holding is assigned to (N) (non-ANCLFA).
- If there is 50% or more of all UAA under ANCLFA, then the holding is assigned to the respective code.
- (M) if the area of "less favoured mountainous area" is equal or larger than the area under other constraints
- (L) or (O) if the area of "less favoured mountainous area" is less than the area under other constraints
Legal personality of the holding
Code | Label | Unit |
LEG_FORM | Legal personality of the agricultural holding | code |
The legal personality of the agricultural holding depends on the holder's status. The legal and economic responsibility for the holding is defined according to Member States' own documented rules. U
ntil survey year 1997, only two types of legal personality of the holding were distinguished: sole holder holdings and legal entities. From 2000 onward, some countries have introduced a third type of holding: holding-groups. For the 2020 census of agriculture a new type of holding (with shared ownership) was added.
Holder
The holder of the agricultural holding is the natural person, group of natural persons or legal person on whose account and in whose name the holding is operated and who is legally and economically responsible for the holding, i.e. who takes the economic risks of the holding. If the holder is a legal person, data on age, sex and farm labour is not collected for the holder. The laws of certain Member States treat for fiscal and/or legal reasons a "legal" person (company) as if it were a "natural" person or a group of "natural" persons. These are generally any forms of enterprises where one or all of the members have full personal liability for the debts of the enterprise. In such cases, Member States may attribute such a "legal" person to the classes "sole holders" or "holding-groups". These choices have to be made using documented rules that are explicit and consistent.
The holder can own the holding outright or rent it or be a hereditary long-term leaseholder or a usufructuary or a trustee.
The holder may have delegated to a manager all or part of the power of the decision-making regarding the normal daily financial and production routines of the holding. In such case it is said to be "holder/not manager". In the cases where the holder is also the manager it is said to be "holder/manager".
Figure 10 – Legal personality of the holding and status of the holder and manager
Holdings Depending on whether the holder is a "natural" or a "legal" person the holdings are classified under one of the following groups:
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Legal personality of the agricultural holding (LEG_FORM)
The data for legal personality of the holding is to be coded using one of the following options:
- FARM_HLD – Sole holder who is the single manager (1a)
- FARM_HLD_SPOUFAM - Holder is co-manager with spouse or a family member (1d)
- FARM_SPOU - Sole holder holding and the holder's spouse is the manager of the holding (2a)
- FARM_FAM - Sole holder and the manager is a member of the holder's family, but not his spouse (2b)
- FARM_NFAM - Sole holder who is not the manager, and the manager is not a member of the holder's family (3)
- PER_LEG_NEG - The agricultural holding is a legal person which is not part of an enterprise group (4a)
- PER_LEG_EG - The agricultural holding is a legal person which is a part of an enterprise group (4b)
- HLD_GRP - The agricultural holding is a holding-group (5)
- UNIT_CML - The holding is a common land unit (6)
Natural persons
Manager
Manager of the agricultural holding is the natural person responsible for the normal daily financial and production activities of the agricultural holding.
There can either be one manager on the holding or the holding can have a holder who is a co-manager with a spouse or family member. The manager is generally, but not necessarily, also the holder. The holder who is a natural person and the sole holder of an independent holding is generally, but not necessarily, also the manager. In cases where the holder is not the manager, they pass the responsibility of managing the holding to someone else, for example a member of the family, maybe a spouse, or a person with no family ties to the holder.
Holder or manager? Holder manager Holder not manager Manager not holder |
Spouse
For the purpose of IFS, two people living together as conjugal partners, without being married, are also treated as spouses. Member States own national rules on recognising people living together as spouses should be followed.
Partners of a holding-group
Partner(s) of a holding-group are natural persons owning, renting or otherwise managing together one agricultural holding (shared ownership excluded) or managing together their individual holdings as if they were one holding. Such cooperation must be either in conformity with the law or by written agreement.
If on one holding two or more natural persons carry out the functions of the holder only one of them is shown as such (e.g. the one who bears the greatest share of the risk or who takes the main part in managing the holding. If such criteria still fail, in order to pick out one individual, the choice should be based on some other criteria, such as age).
Legal persons
Legal person
A legal person is a legal entity other than a natural person but having the normal rights and duties of an individual, such as the ability to sue or to be sued (a general legal capacity of its own).
Legal personality
Sole holder holding
The legal and economic responsibility of the holding is assumed by a single individual and natural person who is the holder of a holding which is not linked to any holdings of other holders, either by common management or similar arrangements.
This holder can take any decisions regarding the holding by him/herself.
The following, inter alia, are to be regarded as sole holders: siblings, joint beneficiaries under a will or intestate, if they have not made an agreement and are not fiscally and/or legally treated as a group holder or as a legal entity according to the laws of the Member State.
If a company (legal person) is owned by only one natural person and is treated as a natural person by the Member State (see explanation of legal personality), it is considered to be a holding with a sole holder.
If only one person has the full legal and economic responsibility for the holding, he/she is considered to be the sole holder, even if the holding otherwise meets the criteria of a holding-group.
Shared ownership
Shared ownership refers to natural persons, who are the sole holders of an agricultural holding which is not linked to any agricultural holdings of other holders, and who share the ownership and management of the agricultural holding. This includes spouses or close family members (such as siblings or joint beneficiaries under a will or interstate) who own or rent and manage a holding together.
Shared ownership excludes the cases where family members are managing "as a group". Such arrangements no longer form a "sole holder holding" and should be classified as "holding-group".
Holding-group
A holding group is a company owned, rented or otherwise managed by more than one natural person. Partners can also manage together their individual holdings as if they were one holding. Such cooperation must be either in conformity with the law of a Member State or by written agreement.
If a company (legal person) is owned by more than one natural person and is treated as a natural person by the Member State, it is considered to be a holding-group.
"In conformity with the law" may include oral agreement or "de facto" association depending on the national laws.
Member States who choose not to record information on holding-groups collect all information on all holdings where the holders are natural persons and the holder is also manager, regardless of whether they are "holding-groups" as defined here.
Holding-groups in Germany Exceptionally, in Germany it is possible for holdings with only one holder to choose a legal personality of "holding-group" |
Common land agricultural unit
'Common land agricultural unit' means an entity of land on which common rights apply.
For the purposes of data collection and recording, a 'common land unit' agricultural holding is an entity consisting of the utilised agricultural area (UAA) which is used under common rights by other agricultural holdings. Common land units are normally under the responsibility of a public authority (state, parish, etc.) over which another person is entitled to exercise rights of common, and these rights are generally exercisable in common with others.
Common land units are found across Europe, in Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Portugal, Austria, Norway, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Montenegro, Serbia, Ireland, United Kingdom, Iceland and Germany.
Common land consists mainly of permanent grassland, although it could also consist of horticulture or arable land. A large percentage of these areas are used for grazing animals.
Legal holding
The legal and economic responsibility of the holding is assumed by a legal entity other than a natural person but having the normal rights and duties of an individual, such as the ability to sue or to be sued (a general legal capacity of its own).
Includes
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Excludes
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Enterprise group
An 'enterprise' is the smallest combination of legal units that is an organisational unit producing goods or services, which benefits from a certain degree of autonomy in decision-making, especially for the allocation of its current resources. An enterprise carries out one or more activities at one or more locations. An enterprise may be a sole legal unit.
According to Council Regulation (EEC) No 696/93 an enterprise group is an association of enterprises bound together by legal and/or financial links and controlled by the group head. A group of enterprises can have more than one decision-making centre, especially for policy decisions on production, sales and profits. It may centralize certain aspects of financial management and taxation. It constitutes an economic entity which is empowered to make choices, particularly concerning the units which it comprises.
The group head is a parent legal unit which is not controlled either directly or indirectly by any other legal unit. The subsidiary enterprises of a subsidiary enterprise are considered to be subsidiaries of the parent enterprise.
Legal units include legal persons whose existence is recognized by law independently of the individuals or institutions which may own them or are members of them, such as general partnerships, private limited partnerships, limited liability companies, incorporated companies etc. Legal units as well include natural persons who are engaged in an economic activity in their own right, such as the owner and operator of a shop or a garage, a lawyer or a self-employed handicrafts-man.
A multinational enterprise group is defined as an enterprise group composed of at least two enterprises or legal units located in different countries.
Who to choose as holder or manager? There are different cases where it is possible to have more than one manager in an agricultural holding. Holding-groups Shared ownership |
EU Support
Code | Label | Unit |
BNF_EU_IACS | Holder is beneficiary of EU support for land or animals on the agricultural holding and thus included in the integrated administration and control system (IACS) | code |
BNF_CAP_YFARM | Holder is a young farmer or new entrant into farming who has received financial support under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the previous 3 years | code |
Holder is beneficiary of EU support for land or animals on the agricultural holding and thus included in the integrated administration and control system (BNF_EU_IACS)
The holder is an active farmer within the meaning of Article 9 of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council or, where applicable, the most recent legislation and the application for a subsidy has been accepted.
- 1 - Yes
- 0 - No
As long as at least one application for subsidy (for any kind of CAP support scheme) was submitted in the past three years, choose 1.
Holder is a young farmer or new entrant into farming who has received financial support for this purpose under the common agricultural policy (CAP) in the previous 3 years (BNF_CAP_YFARM)
The financial support can refer to direct payments under Articles 50 and 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 or support provided by rural development programs under Article 19(1)(a) – business start-up aid for young farmers of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 or where applicable the most recent legislation.
- 1 - Yes
- 0 - No
Farm work of the manager of the holding
Code | Label | Unit |
Y_BIRTH_MAN | Year of birth of the manager of the agricultural holding | date |
SEX_MAN | Sex of the manager of the agricultural holding | Code |
WH_MAN_AWU_PC | Farm work on the agricultural holding (apart from household work) of the manager of the agricultural holding | %bands AWU |
Y_FARM_MAN | Year when classified as manager of agricultural holding | date |
Year of birth of the manager of the agricultural holding (Y_BIRTH_MAN)
The year of birth of the manager of the agricultural holding in the format YYYY.
Sex of manager of the agricultural holding (SEX_MAN)
The sex of the manager of the agricultural holding:
- M – Male
- F – Female
For the purposes of IFS, the sex of the manager refers to the sex assigned at birth, which may or may not be aligned with their sex and gender at the time of completing the survey. The sex assigned to each person at birth is typically based on their physical characteristics such as their reproductive system.
Sex should be distinguished from gender, which refers to the socially constructed characteristics associated to a person of male or female sex. Gender identity (an internal feeling a person has of being male or female) and gender expression (the way a person shows to others that they identify with being male or female) may or may not be aligned with the sex of the person.
The sex and gender of a person can also change over time. While gender generally takes as reference the categories of male and female, it can also be perceived as a non-binary spectrum between these two references.
Agricultural statistics do not include a category "Other"/"Non-binary" for sex. This is because only two options ("Male" and "Female") have been used in previous collections, and maintaining these makes it possible to maintain comparability of agricultural data over the decade (2020 – 2023 – 2026).
Farm work on the agricultural holding (apart from household work) of the manager of the agricultural holding (WH_MAN_AWU_PC)
Percentage band of annual work units (AWU) of arm work carried out by the manager of the agricultural holding.
- > 0 < 25
- ≥ 25< 50
- ≥ 50< 75
- ≥ 75< 100
- 100
Farm work
Farm work is considered as every type of work on the holding which contributes to either
- the activities defined in Article 2 a) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1091
- maintaining the means of production, or
- activities directly derived from these productive actions,
The time spent on farm work on the agricultural holding is the working time actually devoted to farm work for the agricultural holding, excluding work in the households of the holder or manager.
Includes
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Excludes
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Year when classified as manager of agricultural holding (Y_FARM_MAN)
The year in which the manager of the agricultural holding took up this role
Training of the manager of the holding
Code | Label | Unit |
TNG_MAN | Agricultural training of the manager | code |
VT_MAN_M12 | Manager took vocational training in the last 12 months | code |
Farm managers' agricultural training is thought to have among others an influence on the environmental impact of farming.
Agricultural training of manager (TNG_MAN)
The highest agricultural education level that was obtained by the manager:
- PRACT - only practical agricultural experience; if the manager's experience was acquired through practical work on an agricultural holding.
- BASIC - basic agricultural training; if the manager took any training courses completed at a general agricultural college and/or an institution specialising in certain subjects (including horticulture, viticulture, silviculture, pisciculture, veterinary science, agricultural technology and associated subjects); a completed agricultural apprenticeship is regarded as basic training.
- FULL - full agricultural training; if the manager took any training course continuously for the equivalent of at least 2 years full-time training after the end of compulsory education and completed at an agricultural college, university or other institute of higher education in agriculture, horticulture, viticulture, silviculture, pisciculture, veterinary science, agricultural technology or an associated subject.
Vocational training undertaken by manager during the last 12 months (VT_MAN_M12)
If the manager took vocational training, a training measure or activity provided by a trainer or a training institution which primary objective is the acquisition of new skills related to the farm activities or activities related directly to the agricultural holding or the development and improvement of existing ones.
- M12 – Yes, in the last 12 months
- NVR_NM12 – Never or not in the last 12 months
Type of tenure
Code | Label | Unit |
OWN_UAA | Farming on own land | hectares |
RENT_UAA | Farming on rented land | hectares |
SHROTH_UAA | Share farming or other tenure modes | hectares |
CMNL_UAA | Common land | hectares |
The type of tenure of the UAA (in relation to the holder) depends on the situation on a reference day of the year of the survey.
Special cases
When single-product holding-groups are treated as independent holdings, the total utilised agricultural area of the single-product holding-group is attributed to the person named as "holder" but given the type of tenure under which it is held by the 'parent' holding.
Utilised agricultural area in co-ownership or leased and worked by several holdings but which does not constitute a single-product holding-group is treated as relating to the parent holding, in accordance with to the ownership ratio.
The type of tenure depends on the current situation: if the area is co-owned by the parent holdings, then it will be recorded as "owner farming", if the area is rented as "tenant farming".
Farming on own land (OWN_UAA)
Hectares of utilised agricultural area farmed by the agricultural holding and held by the holder as a property or farmed by the holder acting as a usufructuary or heritable long-term leaseholder or under some other equivalent type of tenure.
The utilised agricultural area allotted to a farm worker (for his own cultivation) as part of his wage:
- is allocated to the holding making the allotment if the farm worker uses the means of production of that holding,
- is allocated to the holding of that farm worker if they use their own means of production.
If a parcel has been retained by the former holder when transferring the holding to his successor (heir, tenant, etc.), it is:
- included with the successor's holding if the retained utilised agricultural area is worked in conjunction with the rest of the holding and if in general the same labour force and means of production as for the rest of the holding are employed;
- attributed to the previous holder's holding if normally worked with the labour force and means of production of that holding.
Farming on rented land (RENT_UAA)
Hectares of utilised agricultural area rented by the agricultural holding in return for a fixed rent agreed in advance (in cash, kind or otherwise), and for which there is a (written or oral) tenancy agreement. The utilised agricultural area is allocated to only one agricultural holding. If the utilised agricultural area is rented out to more than one agricultural holding during the reference year, it is normally allocated to the agricultural holding with which it is associated on the survey reference day or which used it for the longest period during the reference year.
The rented area can consist of:
- a complete holding
individual parcels of utilised agricultural area
Includes
- Area of the parcels of the utilised agricultural area rented by the holder from members of the holder's family if this area is farmed as part of the holding being surveyed in question
- Utilised agricultural area belonging to another holding but worked by the surveyed holding in question in return for a certain number of hours of labour. A tenancy agreement of the type envisaged here will specify not only the utilised agricultural area concerned but also where it is and its exact boundaries
Area of parcels of "common land" which are recorded for the surveyed holding, but only if this holding pays for its use.
Excludes
- Utilised agricultural area put at the disposal of a farm worker as a form of wage (which generally remains within the crop rotation system of the holding). This is to be recorded under "owner farming" (Check the referred item for information about the holding to which this area is attributed)
- Utilised agricultural area which has been sublet by the surveyed holding in question to a third party. This is to be included as a part of this third party's holding, as area under "tenant farming"
- Utilised agricultural area rented and used by the surveyed holding in question for which a rent is not fixed in advance. This is to be recorded under "Share farming or other modes" in particular "other modes"|
Share farming or other tenure modes (SHROTH_UAA)
Hectares of utilised agricultural area which is:
- shared, meaning farmed in partnership by the landlord and the sharecropper under a written or oral share-farming contract. The output (either economic or physical) of the share cropped area is shared between the two parties on an agreed basis
- under other modes of tenure not covered elsewhere under the previous items
Share farming
Share-farmed agricultural area is the utilised agricultural area (which may constitute a complete holding) farmed in partnership by the landlord and the sharecropper under a written or oral share-farming contract. The output (either economic or physical) of the share cropped area is shared between the two parties on an agreed basis.
Includes
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Other tenure modes
Utilised agricultural area used under other modes of tenure is the utilised agricultural area not covered elsewhere under the previous items.
Includes
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Common land (CMNL_UAA)
Hectares of utilised agricultural area used by the agricultural holding but not belonging directly to it, i.e. on which common rights apply. For the purposes of IFS, common land is utilised agricultural area (UAA) owned by a public authority (state, parish, etc.) over which another person is entitled to exercise rights of common, and these rights are generally exercisable in common with others.
As the land of common land units can also be used by other agricultural holdings for agricultural production, in such cases it should be allocated to the respective holdings (in the same manner that rented land is no longer considered as part of the holding of the owner, but as part of the holding of the tenant).
Includes
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Excludes
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At the FSS Working Group in October 2017, Eurostat proposed that the utilised agricultural area from the common land units should be allocated to the agricultural holdings using this land (in case such information is lacking also allocation to neighbouring farms would be possible) in order that the "virtual" common land units could be removed from data dissemination. The Working Group could not conclude on the proposal; however Eurostat strongly encouraged Member States to implement it before submitting data.
An example of allocation of land from common land units using proportional allocation on the basis of number of livestock at the lowest available geographical breakdown is given in Annex II.
The methods to assign the hectares to a holding using common land are the following:
- Proportionally to the use by each holding. This is the preferred method to measure the common land. In this option, the area of common land used by a specific holding should be included in the UAA area of this holding. The area assigned to a particular holding should be determined proportionally (on acreage or LSU basis). This option can be used if there is a guarantee of no double counting of the area. An example on how to allocate common land is given in Annex II.
- Assigned to the common land unit as long as this unit fulfils the other criteria defining an agricultural holding.
- Common land units with no agricultural activity of their own are not to be collected (see definition of agricultural holding).
Countries will explain in detail the methods and sources used to collect the data on common land in their quality reports.
Organic farming and other certification schemes
Code | Label | Unit |
ORG | Organic farming | code |
UAAXK0000_ORGF | UAA fully converted to organic farming | hectares |
UAAXK0000_ORGU | UAA in conversion to organic farming | hectares |
ENVCERT_OTH | Participation in other environmental certification schemes | code |
Organic farming (ORG)
The agricultural holding has production which falls under agricultural practices according to certain set standards and rules specified in Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 or Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council or, where applicable, in the most recent legislation, and (ii) the corresponding national implementing rules for organic production (including crop and livestock production).
- Yes
- No
The regulation sets up a harmonised framework for the labelling, production and control of agricultural products bearing or intended to bear indications referring to organic production methods. According to Article 11 of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 , (or again in Article 9 (7) of Regulation (EU) 2018/848) a holding may be split up into clearly separated units which are not all managed under organic production. As regards animals, different species shall be involved. As regards plants, different varieties that can be easily differentiated shall be involved.
Where not all units of a holding are used for organic production, the operator shall keep the utilised agricultural area, animals, and products used for, or produced by, the organic units separate from those used for, or produced by, the non-organic units and keep adequate records to show the separation.
In the case where organic farming production methods are only applied on part of the utilised agricultural area or livestock of the holding, only those specific areas and livestock are to be recorded here.
National standard and rules are allowed if they respect Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 . If it is the case, the Member State shall provide Eurostat with the description of such differences in their quality reports.
The total UAA of the agricultural holding on which organic farming production methods are applied and certified according to national or European Union rules (UAAXK0000_ORGF)
Hectares of the utilised agricultural area of the agricultural holding on which the production method applied is fully compliant with the principles of organic production at farm level, as set out in:
- Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 or
- Regulation (EU) 2018/848 or
- where applicable, in the most recent legislation
- the corresponding national implementing rules for certification of organic production
Both Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 and Regulation (EU) 2018/848 distinguish between utilised agricultural areas that are in full compliance with the specified rules and those that are still in a conversion period. Only products that originate from utilised agricultural areas that have been fully converted to the principles of organic production can be marketed with a label that refers to the organic production methods.
Under this item only the utilised agricultural area that has completed the conversion period is recorded.
Organic kitchen gardens are not included in the totals.
The total UAA of the agricultural holding that is under conversion to organic farming production methods to be certified according to national or European Union rules (UAAXK0000_ORGU)
Hectares of the utilised agricultural area of the agricultural holding on which organic farming methods are applied during the transition from non-organic to organic production within a given period ('conversion period') as set out in:
- Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 or,
- Regulation (EU) 2018/848 or,
- where applicable, in the most recent legislation
- the corresponding national implementing rules for certification of organic production.
Under this item is recorded only the utilised agricultural area that has not gone through the whole conversion period but is allowed according to article 17 of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 .
Figure 11 - Differences in total organic area excl. kitchen gardens depending on the way variables are collected
Figure 11 displays that the sum of UAA fully converted and UAA under conversion can be greater or equal to the sum of UAA outdoor organic area and organic vegetables/strawberries under glass. An agricultural holding might have other organic areas under glass (UAASXV0000_S0000S_ORG) that do not appear in the right-hand side of the tree, but they are included in the left-hand side.
Participation in other environmental certification schemes (ENVCERT_OTH)
The agricultural holding participates in national or regional environmental certification schemes such as those referred to in Article 43, paragraphs 2 and 3(b) or in Annex IX of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing rules for direct payments to farmers under support schemes within the framework of the common agricultural policy ("current certification schemes equivalent to the greening payment of CAP") or, where applicable, the most recent legislation, and the application for a subsidy has been accepted.
- Yes
- No
The measures mentioned in Annex IX of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 include practices which are equivalent to crop diversification and crop rotation, coverage of soil in winter, catch crops, management of meadows or pastures, extensive grazing systems, and ecological focus areas (set-aside, buffer zones for high nature value areas, uncultivated buffer strips and field margins, borders managed for wildlife or specific fauna, management of landscape features, keeping peaty or wet soils under grass, production without use of fertilisers and/or plant protection products, conversion of arable land into extensively used land).
Variables of land
Area of the agricultural holding
Total area of the agricultural holding
The total area of the holding (or total farm area) consists of the utilised agricultural area (arable land, permanent grassland, permanent crops and kitchen gardens), special agricultural holding areas and other farmland (unutilised agricultural land, wooded area and other land not elsewhere classified).
Figure 12 – Total farm area (FA) general hierarchy
Utilised agricultural area
Code | Label | Unit |
UAAT | Utilised agricultural area | hectares |
Utilised agricultural area (UAAT)
Hectares of utilised agricultural area. The utilised agricultural area is the total area taken up by arable land, permanent grassland, permanent crops and kitchen gardens used by the holding, regardless of the type of tenure or of whether it is used as a part of common land.
It refers only to utilised agricultural area outdoors.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Arable land
Code | Label | Unit |
ARAT | Arable land | hectares |
Figure 13 – Arable land hierarchy
Arable land (ARAT)
Hectares of land worked (ploughed or tilled) regularly, generally under a system of crop rotation. For the purpose of IFS the arable land outdoor and the arable land under glass or high accessible cover are collected separately.
Crop rotation
Crop rotation is the practice of alternating crops grown on a specific field in a planned pattern or sequence in successive crop years so that crops of the same species are not grown without interruption on the same field. In a rotation the crops are normally changed annually, but it is possible to have a crop rotation with multi-annual crops.
Although there is no limit to the number of crops that are used in a rotation, nor in the amount of time that a rotation takes to complete, it is commonly accepted to use a threshold of 5 years to separate arable land from permanent crops or permanent grassland. This means that if a plot is used for the same crop for 5 years or more, without in the meantime removing the preceding crop and establishing a new one, then this plot is not considered to be in crop rotation and therefore is not to be taken as part of arable land.
Special cases
There are crops that do not fit this pattern, and that are treated differently. For example hops has been chosen to always be an arable crop, despite being perennial and often being renewed at intervals beyond 5 years, and berries are considered permanent crops despite being renewed sometimes annually.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Cereals
Code | Label | Unit |
C0000T | Cereals for the production of grain (including seed) | hectares |
C1110T | Common wheat and spelt | hectares |
C1120T | Durum wheat | hectares |
C1200T | Rye and winter cereal mixtures (maslin) | hectares |
C1300T | Barley | hectares |
C1400T | Oats and spring cereal mixtures (mixed grain other than maslin) | hectares |
C1500T | Grain maize and corn-cob-mix | hectares |
C1600T | Triticale | hectares |
C1700T | Sorghum | hectares |
C1900T | Other cereals not elsewhere classified (buckwheat, millet, canary seed, etc.) | hectares |
C2000T | Rice | hectares |
Figure 14 – Cereals hierarchy
Cereals for the production of grain (including seed) (C0000T)
Hectares of all cereals harvested dry for grain, regardless of use. Cereals are annual plants, generally of the graminaceous family, yielding grains used for food, feed, seed and industrial purposes such as production of ethanol.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Common wheat and spelt (C1110T)
Hectares of Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori et Paol., Triticum spelta L. and Triticum monococcum L.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Durum wheat (C1120T)
Hectares of Triticum durum Desf.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Rye and winter cereal mixtures (maslin) (C1200T)
Hectares of rye (Secale cereale L.) sown any time, mixtures of rye and other cereals and other cereal mixtures sown before or during the winter (maslin).
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Barley (C1300T)
Hectares of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Oats and spring cereal mixtures (mixed grain other than maslin) (C1400T)
Hectares of oats (Avena sativa L.) and other cereals, sown in the spring and grown as mixtures and harvested as dry grain, including seed.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Grain maize and corn-cob-mix (C1500T)
Hectares of maize (Zea mays L.) harvested for grain, as seed or as corn-cob-mix.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Triticale (C1600T)
Hectares of triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack)
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Sorghum (C1700T)
Hectares of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Conrad Moench or perennial sorghum (Sorghum x sudanense (Piper) Stapf.)
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Other cereals not elsewhere classified (buckwheat, millet, canary seed, etc.) (C1900T)
Hectares of cereals, harvested dry for grain, and which are not recorded elsewhere under the previous items such as millet (Panicum miliaceum L.), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Mill.), canary seed (Phalaris canariensis L.) and other cereals not elsewhere classified (n.e.c.).
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Rice (C2000T)
Hectares of rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Refers to all rice, regardless of having longer grains, or short and roundish grains.
Includes
|
Dry pulses
Code | Label | Unit |
P0000T | Dry pulses and protein crops for the production of grain (including seed and mixtures of cereals and pulses) | hectares |
P1000T | Field peas, beans and sweet lupins | hectares |
Dry pulses are crops sown and harvested mainly for their protein content.
This heading should be limited to crops harvested for dry grain only and excluding crops harvested green for forage, used as grazing or as green manure.
Figure 15 – Dry pulses and protein crops hierarchy
Dry pulses and protein crops for the production of grain (including seed and mixtures of cereals and pulses) (P0000T)
Hectares of dried pulses and protein crops harvested dry for grain, regardless of use
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Field peas, beans, and sweet lupins (P1000T)
Hectares of all varieties of field peas (Pisum sativum L. convar. sativum or Pisum sativum L. convar. arvense L. or convar. speciosum) harvested dry for grain, plus hectares of all varieties of broad or field beans (Vicia faba L. (partim)) harvested dry for grain, plus hectares of all sweet lupins (Lupinus spp.) harvested dry for grain, including seed, regardless of their use.
Sweet lupins mean those varieties of lupins producing seed comprising not more than 5 % bitter seeds. The bitter seed content shall be calculated in accordance with the test set out in Annex II to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1121/2009 or, where applicable, the most recent legislation.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Root crops
Code | Label | Unit |
R0000T | Root crops | hectares |
R1000T | Potatoes (including seed potatoes) | hectares |
R2000T | Sugar beet (excluding seed) | hectares |
R9000T | Other root crops n.e.c. | hectares |
Figure 16 – Root crops hierarchy
Root crops (R0000T)
Hectares of crops cultivated for their root, tuber or modified stem. It excludes root, tuber and bulb vegetables such as carrots, beetroots or swedes, among others.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Potatoes (including seed potatoes) (R1000T)
Hectares of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.)
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Sugar beet (excluding seed) (R2000T)
Hectares of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) intended for the sugar industry and alcohol production.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Other root crops n.e.c. (R9000T)
Hectares of fodder beet (Beta vulgaris L.) and plants of the Brassicae family harvested mainly for animal feed, regardless of whether it is the root or the stem, and other plants cultivated mainly for their roots for fodder, not elsewhere classified.
Excludes
|
Industrial crops
Code | Label | Unit |
I0000T | Industrial crops | hectares |
I1100XI1150T | Oilseeds (excluding cotton) | hectares |
I1110T | Rape and turnip rape seeds | hectares |
I1120T | Sunflower seed | hectares |
I1130T | Soya | hectares |
I1140T | Linseed (oilflax) | hectares |
I1190T | Other oil seed crops | hectares |
I2000T | Fibre crops | hectares |
I2100T | Fibre flax | hectares |
I2200T | Hemp | hectares |
I1150_2300T | Cotton | hectares |
I2900T | Other fibre crops | hectares |
I3000T | Tobacco | hectares |
I4000T | Hops | hectares |
I5000T | Aromatic plants, medicinal and culinary plants | hectares |
I6000T | Energy crops n.e.c. | hectares |
I9000T | Other industrial crops n.e.c. | hectares |
Figure 17 - Industrial crops hierarchy
Industrial crops (I0000T)
Hectares of industrial crops, which are normally not sold directly for consumption because they need to be industrially processed prior to final use.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Oilseeds (excluding cotton) (I1100XI1150T)
Hectares of rape (Brassica napus L.) and turnip rape (Brassica rapa L. var. oleifera (Lam.)), sunflower seed (Helianthus annus L.), soya (Glycine max (L.) Merril), linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.), mustard (Sinapis alba L.), poppy (Papaver somniferum L.), carthame (Carthamus tinctorius L.), sesame seed (Sesamum indicum L.), peanuts (Arachis hypogea L.), pumpkins for oil (Cucurbita pepo L. var. styriaca) and hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) grown for the production of oil, harvested as dry grains, except cotton seed (Gossypium spp.).
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Rape and turnip rape seeds (I1110T)
Hectares of rape (Brassica napus L.) and turnip rape (Brassica rapa L. var. oleifera (Lam.)) grown for the production of oil, harvested as dry grains.
Includes
|
Sunflower seed (I1120T)
Hectares of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), harvested as dry grains.
Includes
|
Soya (I1130T)
Hectares of soya (Glycine max L. Merril), harvested as dry grains, both for oil and protein use.
Includes
|
Linseed (oilflax) (I1140T)
Hectares of linseed varieties (Linum usitatissimum L.) grown mainly for producing oil, and harvested as dry grains.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Other oil seed crops n.e.c. (I1190T)
Hectares of other crops grown mainly for their oil content, harvested as dry grains, which are not elsewhere classified (except cotton seed (Gossypium spp.)).
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Fibre crops (I2000T)
Hectares of fibre flax (Linum usitatissimum L), hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), cotton (Gossypium spp.), jute (Corchorus capsularis L.), abaca alias manila (Musa textilis Née), kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) and sisal (Agave sisalana Perrine).
Fibre flax (I2100T)
Hectares of fibre flax varieties (Linum usitatissimum L.), grown mainly for producing fibre.
Excludes
|
Hemp (I2200T)
Hectares of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) grown for straw.
Excludes
|
Cotton (I1150_2300T)
Hectares of cotton (Gossypium spp.), harvested for fibre and/or oilseed use There are four products of cotton: the lint (fiber), the seed, the stalk and the leaves.
The fibre is the main product. The seed (kernel), which is used for the production of oil is considered a by-product. To avoid duplication of areas, only one single area for cotton is to be collected. It shall also include the seeds that are used for sowing the next crop.
Includes
|
Other fibre crops n.e.c. (I2900T)
Hectares of other plants grown mainly for their fibre content, not elsewhere classified, such as jute (Corchorus capsularis L.), abaca alias manila (Musa textilis Née), sisal (Agave sisalana Perrine), and kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus, L.)
Includes
|
Tobacco (I3000T)
Hectares of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) grown for leaves.
Hops (I4000T)
Hectares of hops (Humulus lupulus L.) grown for seed cones.
Includes
|
Aromatic plants, medicinal and culinary plants (I5000T)
Hectares of aromatic, medicinal and culinary plants, cultivated for pharmaceutical purposes, perfume manufacture or human consumption. Culinary plants are distinguished from vegetables in that they are used in small amounts and provide flavour rather than substance to food. Amongst culinary plants certain edible flowers can be found, which are produced mostly for salads or other dishes.
Generally medicinal and aromatic plants are not sold directly for consumption because they need to be industrially processed prior to final use; however, some of the culinary plants can be used directly (e.g. parsley).
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Energy crops n.e.c. (I6000T)
Hectares of energy crops used exclusively for renewable energy production, not elsewhere classified, and cultivated on arable land.
This heading includes only specific energy crops not used for other purposes than energy production (non-food energy crops) and cultivated on arable land. These crops can vary depending on the country. With the change of agricultural policy, it is expected that new plants used exclusively for energy production will be taken into production
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Other industrial crops n.e.c. (I9000T)
Hectares of other industrial crops not elsewhere classified.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Plants harvested green from arable land
Hectares of Plants harvested green from arable land.
Code | Label | Unit |
G0000T | Plants harvested green from arable land | hectares |
G1000T | Temporary grasses and grazings | hectares |
G2000T | Leguminous plants harvested green | hectares |
G3000T | Green maize | hectares |
G9100T | Other cereals harvested green (excluding green maize) | hectares |
G9900T | Other plants harvested green from arable land n.e.c. | hectares |
Figure 18 – Plants harvested green hierarchy
Plants harvested green from arable land (G0000T)
Hectares of all arable land crops harvested 'green' and intended mainly for animal feed, forage or renewable energy production, namely cereals, grasses, leguminous or industrial plants and other arable land crops harvested and/or used 'green'.
The crops should be grown in rotation with other crops, occupying the same parcel for less than 5 years (annual or multi-annual fodder crops).
'Green crops' (as opposed to those 'for dry grain') are normally used for allowing animals to graze or are harvested green, but can be also harvested dried, like hay.
Generally, the whole plant, except the roots, is harvested and used for fodder, forage or renewable energy production (for example, production of bio-mass from green maize).
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Temporary grasses and grazings (G1000T)
Hectares of grass plants for grazing, hay or silage included as a part of a normal crop rotation, lasting at least one crop year and normally less than 5 years, sown with grass or grass mixtures.
The areas are broken up by ploughing, other tilling or the plants are destroyed by other means such as by herbicides before they are sown again.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Leguminous plants harvested green (G2000T)
Hectares of leguminous plants grown and harvested green as the whole plant mainly for fodder, or energy use.
Mixtures of predominantly leguminous (normally > 80 %) crops and grass plants, harvested green or as dried hay are included.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Green maize (G3000T)
Hectares of all forms of maize (Zea mays L.) grown mainly for silage (whole cob, parts of or whole plant) and not harvested for grain.
Refers to maize harvested as a whole plant with 65% to 70% moisture content and when the fruit is non-mature. This range of moisture content works well for fodder or renewable energy and for its preservation in silos.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Other cereals harvested green (excluding green maize) (G9100T)
Hectares of all cereals (excluding maize) grown and harvested green as the whole plant used for fodder or for the production of renewable energy (production of biomass).
Includes |
Excludes
|
Other plants harvested green from arable land n.e.c. (G9900T)
Hectares of other annual or multi-annual (less than 5 years) crops intended mainly for animal fodder and harvested green. Also the remainders of crops not elsewhere classified when the main harvest was destroyed, but the residues could still be used (as fodder or renewable energy).
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Fresh vegetables and strawberries
Code | Label | Unit |
---|---|---|
V0000_S0000T | Fresh vegetables (including melons) and strawberries | hectares |
V0000_S0000TK | Fresh vegetables (including melons) and strawberries grown in rotation with horticultural crops (market gardening) | hectares |
V0000_S0000TO | Fresh vegetables (including melons) and strawberries grown in rotation with non-horticultural crops (open field) | hectares |
Figure 19 – Fresh vegetables hierarchy (extract, full hierarchy can be found in Eurostat's glossary)
Fresh vegetables (including melons) and strawberries (V0000_S0000T)
Hectares of all brassicas, leafy and stalked vegetables, vegetables cultivated for fruit, root, tuber and bulb vegetables, fresh pulses, other vegetables harvested fresh (not dry) and strawberries grown on arable land outdoor in rotation with other agricultural or horticultural crops.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Fresh vegetables (including melons) and strawberries grown in rotation with horticultural crops (market gardening) (V0000_S0000TK)
Hectares of fresh vegetables, melons and strawberries grown outdoors on arable land in rotation only with other horticultural crops.
The basic element to take into account is the rotation system on the parcel of the holding, namely if the utilised agricultural area occupied by vegetables is rotated only with other horticultural crops.
The harvested production from the market gardening is generally used for fresh consumption rather than for industrial processing, but because the intended use of the products can change from year to year and not be known at the time of harvest, the rotation system should be taken into account as a distinguishing element.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Fresh vegetables (including melons) and strawberries grown in rotation with non-horticultural crops (open field) (V0000_S0000TO)
Hectares of fresh vegetables, melons and strawberries grown outdoors on arable land in rotation with other agricultural crops.
The basic element to take into account is the rotation system on the parcel of the holding, namely if the utilised agricultural area occupied by the vegetables is rotated with agricultural crops other than the horticultural crops.
In case of strawberries and perennial vegetables such as asparagus or rhubarb no annual crops rotation is necessary.
The harvested production from the open field is generally used for industrial processing rather than directly for fresh consumption, but because the intended use of the products can change from year to year and not be known at the time of harvest, the rotation system should be taken into account as a distinguishing element.
Flowers and ornamental plants
Code | Label | Unit |
N0000T | Flowers and ornamental plants (excluding nurseries) | hectares |
Flowers and ornamental plants (excluding nurseries) (N0000T)
Hectares of all flowers and ornamental plants intended to be sold as cut flowers (e.g. roses, carnations, orchids, gladioli, chrysanthemum, foliage cut and other cut products), as potted, bedding and balcony flowers and plants (e.g. rhododendrons, azaleas, chrysanthemum, begonia, geranium, impatiens, other potted, bedding and balcony plants) and as bulb and corm flowers and other ornamental plants (tulips, hyacinths, orchids, narcissi and others).
Areas of plants which are grown temporarily under glass and temporarily in the open air are reported as entirely under glass, unless the period under glass is of extremely limited duration.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Seeds and seedlings
Code | Label | Unit |
E0000T | Seeds and seedlings | hectares |
Seeds and seedlings (E0000T)
Hectares of seeds of roots (except potatoes and other plants where the roots are also used as seeds), fodder crops, grasses, industrial crops (except oilseeds) and seeds and seedlings of vegetables and flowers.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Other arable land crops n.e.c.
Code | Label | Unit |
ARA99T | Other arable land crops n.e.c. | hectares |
Other arable land crops, n.e.c. (ARA99T)
Hectares of arable crops not elsewhere classified.
This class includes only crops of low economic importance and should contain only crops that cannot be classified under any other item.
This can be e.g. buffer strips on field margins with different flowers, etc., if they are not the same crops as on the main field and cultivated with extensive farming methods for habitat creation or crops only sown as habitat creation and offering cover for wild animals and with no other use (and if not signed as fallow land).
Fallow land
Code | Label | Unit |
Q0000T | Fallow land | hectares |
Fallow land (Q0000T)
Hectares of all arable land either included in the crop rotation system or maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition (GAEC, see Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council), whether worked or not, but which will not be harvested for the duration of a crop year. The essential characteristic of fallow land is that it is left to recover, normally for the whole of a crop year.
On land lying fallow there shall be no agricultural production. Land lying fallow for more than 5 years for the purpose of fulfilling the ecological focus area shall remain arable land.
Fallow land Fallow land may be:
|
Includes
Excludes
|
Permanent grassland
Code | Label | Unit |
J0000T | Permanent grassland | hectares |
J1000T | Pasture and meadow, excluding rough grazings | hectares |
J2000T | Rough grazings | hectares |
J3000TE | Permanent grassland no longer used for production purposes and eligible for the payment of subsidies | hectares |
Figure 20 – Permanent grassland hierarchy
Permanent grassland (J0000T)
Hectares of land used permanently (for several consecutive years, normally 5 years or more) to grow herbaceous fodder, forage or energy purpose crops, through cultivation (sown) or naturally (self-seeded), and which is not included in the crop rotation on the holding.
The grassland can be used for grazing, mown for silage and hay or used for renewable energy production.
Grassland must have fodder interest, i.e. they include vegetal species of fodder interest.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Pasture and meadow, excluding rough grazing (J1000T)
Hectares of permanent pasture, on good or medium quality soils, which can normally be used for intensive grazing.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Rough grazing (J2000T)
Hectares of low yielding permanent grassland, usually on low-quality soil, for example on hilly land and at high altitudes, usually unimproved by fertiliser, cultivation, reseeding or drainage. These areas can normally be used only for extensive grazing and are not normally mown or are mown in an extensive manner as they cannot support a large density of animals.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Rough grazing or wooded area? It is possible that a combination of rough grazing and wooded area co-exist in the same plot. In such case use the rule for combined crops (see combined crops above): area is allocated among the crops pro rata to the use of the ground by the crops concerned. If one crop has no significance for the holding, it is ignored in the breakdown of the areas. |
Permanent grassland no longer used for production purposes and eligible for the payment of subsidies (J3000TE)
Hectares of permanent grassland and meadows no longer used for production purposes which, in line with Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 or, where applicable, the most recent legislation, are maintained in a state which makes it suitable for grazing or cultivation without preparatory action going beyond usual agricultural methods and machinery and are eligible for financial support.
Eligible for financial support
Eligible for financial support means that the application of the farmer/holder (holding) for a single payment subsidy according to the rules maintaining the permanent pastures with no economic use in good agricultural and environmental conditions has been accepted. The time reference used for this application should coincide with the time reference of the survey. It is irrelevant whether the payment has been already done or not.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Permanent crops
Code | Label | Unit |
PECRT | Permanent crops | hectares |
Figure 21 – Permanent crops' hierarchy
Permanent crops (including young and temporarily abandoned plantations, excluding areas producing for own consumption only) (PECRT)
Hectares of all fruit trees, all citrus fruit trees, all nut trees, all berry plantations, all vineyards, all olive trees and all other permanent crops used for human consumption (e.g. tea, coffee or carobs) and for other purposes (e.g. nurseries, Christmas trees or plants for plaiting and weaving such as rattan or bamboo). Permanent crops are usually ligneous crops, meaning trees or shrubs, not grown in rotation, but occupying the soil and yielding harvests for several (usually more than five) consecutive years. Permanent crops are usually intended for human consumption and generally yield a higher added value per hectare than annual crops. They also play an important role in shaping the rural landscape (through orchards, vineyards and olive tree plantations) and helping to balance agriculture within the environment. Orchards may be of the continuous type with minimum spacing between trees, or of the non-continuous type with wide spacing.
Fruit, berries and nuts
Code | Label | Unit |
F0000T | Fruits, berries and nuts (excluding citrus fruits, grapes and strawberries) | hectares |
F1100T | Pome fruits | hectares |
F1200T | Stone fruits | hectares |
F2000T | Fruits from subtropical and tropical climate zones | hectares |
F3000T | Berries (excluding strawberries) | hectares |
F4000T | Nuts | hectares |
Figure 22 – Fruits, berries and nuts hierarchy (extract, for full tree see glossary)
Fruits, berries and nuts (excluding citrus fruits, grapes and strawberries) (F0000T)
Hectares of orchards of pome fruits, stone fruits, berries, nuts and fruits from tropical and subtropical climate zones.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Pome fruits (F1100T)
Hectares of orchards of pome fruits such as apples (Malus spp.), pears (Pyrus spp.), quinces (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) or medlars (Mespilus germanica, L.)
Includes
|
Stone fruits (F1200T)
Hectares of orchards of stone fruits, such as peaches and nectarines (Prunus persica (L.) Batch), apricots (Prunus armeniaca L. and others), sweet and sour cherries (Prunus avium L., P. cerasus), plums (Prunus domestica L. and others) and other stone fruits not elsewhere classified such as blackthornsloe (Prunus spinosa L.) or loquatsJapanese medlar (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.)
Includes
|
Fruits from subtropical and tropical climate zones (F2000T)
Hectares of all fruits from subtropical and tropical climate zones, such as kiwis, (Actinidia chinensis Planch.), avocados (Persea americana Mill.) and bananas (Musa spp.).Includes
|
Excludes
|
Are figs tropical fruit? Fruit are typically distinguished into
|
Berries (excluding strawberries) (F3000T)
Hectares of all cultivated berries such as blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum L.), redcurrants (Ribes rubrum L.), raspberries (Rubus idaeus L.) or blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.).
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Nuts (F4000T)
Hectares of all nut trees: walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, chestnuts and other nuts.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Citrus fruits
Code | Label | Unit |
T0000T | Citrus fruits | hectares |
Figure 23 – Citrus' hierarchy
Citrus fruits (T0000T)
Hectares of citrus fruits (Citrus spp.): oranges, small citrus fruits, lemons, limes, pomelos, grapefruits and other citrus fruits.
Includes
|
Grapes
Code | Label | Unit |
W1000T | Grapes | hectares |
W1100T | Grapes for wine | hectares |
W1110T | Grapes for wine with protected designation of origin (PDO) | hectares |
W1120T | Grapes for wine with protected geographical indication (PGI) | hectares |
W1190T | Grapes for other wines n.e.c. | hectares |
W1200T | Grapes for table use | hectares |
W1300T | Grapes for raisins | hectares |
The concept of EU quality wines is based on a geographical origin approach (quality wine produced in a specified region). Thus, this classification distinguishes between wines with Geographical Indication (GI) and other wines. Wines with GI are further divided into wines with a protected designation of origin (PDO) and wines with a protected geographical indication (PGI).
Figure 24 – Grapes' hierarchy
Grapes (W1000T)
Hectares of vines (Vitis vinifera L.)
Grapes for wine (W1100T)
Hectares of vines of grape varieties normally grown for the production of juice, must and/or wine.
Grapes for wine with protected designation of origin (PDO) (W1110T)
Hectares of vines of grape varieties normally grown for the production of wines with a protected designation of origin (PDO) which comply with the requirements of (i) Council Regulation (EC) No 491/2009 or, where applicable, the most recent legislation and (ii) the corresponding national rules.Protected designation of origin (PDO)
The grapes need to originate in vine areas which comply with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 and the corresponding national rules. Grapes should be classified in the category "PDO", as long as they originate in vine areas which comply with the conditions established in the specifications of a given PDO, the maximum yield established in the specifications is not surpassed for the respective vine areas and the respective grower decides to use or market those grapes for the production of PDO wines in a given year. PDO wine must be produced exclusively with grapes from the area in question, but it is not enough that the grapes are grown in the geographical area of production of a given PDO. Also the yields verified that year and analytical and/or organoleptic elements have to be respected. If the grapes originate in vine areas which comply with the specifications of both PDO and PGI, the maximum yields are respected and the respective grower decides to use or market those grapes for the production of PDO and PGI wines in a given year, it shall be included only as "PDO" in order to avoid double counting.
Grapes for wines with protected geographical indication (PGI) (W1120T)
Hectares of vines of grape varieties normally grown for the production of wines with a protected geographical indication (PGI) which comply with the requirements of (i) Regulation (EC) No 491/2009 or, where applicable, the most recent legislation and (ii) the corresponding national rules.
Protected geographical indication (PGI)
Grapes which are used for production of wines with protected geographical indication (PGI). The grapes need to originate in vine areas which comply with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 and the corresponding national rules. Grapes should be classified in the category "PGI", as long as they originate in vine areas which comply with the conditions established in the specifications of a given PGI, the maximum yield established in the specifications is not surpassed for the respective vine areas and the respective grower decides to use or market those grapes for the production of PDOPGI wines in a given year. It is not enough that the grapes are grown in the geographical area of production of a given PGI, also the yields verified that year and analytical and/or organoleptic elements have to be respected. If the grapes originate in vine areas which comply with the specifications of both PDO and PGI and the respective grower decides to use or market those grapes for the production of PDO and PGI wines in a given year, it shall be included only as "PDO" in order to avoid double counting. However it needs to be considered that PGI wines can be made of up to 15% of grapes which do not comply with the above conditions.
Grapes for other wines n.e.c. (without PDOPGI) (W1190T)
Hectares of vines of grape varieties normally grown for the production of wines other than PDO and PGI wines.
Grapes for table use (W1200T)
Hectares of vines of grape varieties normally grown for the production of fresh grapes.
Grapes for raisins (W1300T)
Hectares of vines of grape varieties normally grown for the production of raisins.
Olives
Code | Label | Unit |
O1000T | Olives | hectares |
Figure 25 – Olives' hierarchy
Olives (O1000T)
Hectares of olive trees (Olea europea L.) grown for the production of olives.
Includes
|
Nurseries
Code | Label | Unit |
L0000T | Nurseries | hectares |
Nurseries (L0000T)
Hectares of nurseries, where young ligneous (woody) plants are grown in the open air for subsequent transplantation.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Other permanent crops
Code | Label | Unit |
PECR9_H9000T | Other permanent crops including other permanent crops for human consumption | hectares |
X0000T | Christmas trees | hectares |
Other permanent crops including other permanent crops for human consumption (PECR9_H9000T)
Hectares of permanent crops for human consumption not elsewhere classified, and trees planted as Christmas trees on the utilised agricultural area. For the purposes of IFS, this class refers only to other permanent crops, including other permanent crops for human consumption, which are cultivated outdoors.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Christmas trees (X0000T)
Hectares of Christmas trees planted for commercial purposes, outside woodland, on the utilised agricultural area. Christmas tree plantations which are no longer maintained and belong to wooded area are excluded.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Kitchen gardens
Code | Label | Unit |
K0000T | Kitchen gardens | hectares |
Kitchen gardens (K0000T)
Hectares of land normally occupied with vegetables, root crops and permanent crops, among others, intended for self-consumption by the holder and his household, normally separated from the rest of the agricultural land, and recognisable as kitchen gardens. Even if normally these correspond to small areas of the farms (less than 0.5 ha), the main aspect to use for identifying a kitchen garden is its use. A kitchen garden is used for self-consumption. Only occasional surplus products coming from this area are sold off from the holding. All areas from which products are consistently sold on the market belong under other items, even if part of the production is consumed by the holder and his household.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Other farmland
Code | Label | Unit |
FA_OTH | Other farmland | hectares |
NUAA | Unutilised agricultural land | hectares |
WA | Wooded area | hectares |
SRCAA | Short rotation coppices | hectares |
FA9 | Other land | hectares |
Other farmland (FA_OTH)
Hectares of unutilised agricultural land (agricultural land which is no longer farmed, for economic, social or other reasons, and which is not used in the crop rotation system), wooded area and other land occupied by buildings, farmyards, tracks, ponds, quarries, infertile land, rock, etc.
Unutilised agricultural land (NUAA)
Hectares of previously used land for an agricultural purpose which during the reference year of the survey is no longer worked and which is not used in the crop rotation system, i.e. land where no agricultural use is intended. This land could be brought back into cultivation using the resources normally available on an agricultural holding. The difference to fallow land, is that this is land which is not considered by the farmer as being part of the rotation.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Wooded area (WA)
Hectares of land covered with trees or forest shrubs, including plantations of poplar and other similar trees inside or outside woods, and forest-tree nurseries grown in woodland for the holding's own requirements, as well as forest facilities (forest roads, storage depots for timber, etc.). For the purposes of IFS, when agricultural crops are combined with wooded area, the area is split pro-rata to the use of the ground (see combined crops above).
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Forest and other wooded land by FAO FAO defines forest as land spanning more than 0.5 hectares with trees higher than 5 meters and a canopy cover of more than 10 percent, or trees able to reach these thresholds in situ. However, it does not include land that is predominantly under agricultural or urban land use. Forest is determined by the presence of trees and absence of agricultural and urban land use. It includes areas with young trees, forest roads, fire breaks, wind breaks, and corridors of trees of more than 0.5ha and a width of more than 20m. Includes abandoned shifting cultivation of land with tree regeneration that has reached, or is expected to reach, at least 10% and a tree height of at least 5 m. Includes areas of mangroves in tidal zones, rubber wood, cork oak and Christmas trees plantations Other wooded land is land not defined as forest, spanning more than 0.5 hectares; with trees higher than 5 meters and a canopy cover of 5-10 percent, or trees able to reach these thresholds; or with a combined cover of shrubs, bushes and trees above 10 percent. It also does not include land that is predominantly under agricultural or urban land use. (FAO, 2015) |
Short rotation coppices (SRCAA)
Hectares of wooded areas managed for growing wooded plants, where the rotation period is 20 years or less.
Short rotation coppice in the CAP
According to Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013, short rotation coppice is the area planted with live forest trees species ( CN 0602 90 41) to be defined by Member States, that consist of woody, perennial crops, the rootstock or stools of which remain in the ground after harvesting, with new shoots emerging in the following season and with a maximum harvest cycle to be determined by the Member States.
Rotation period
The rotation period is the time between the first sowingplanting of the trees and the harvest of the final product, where harvesting does not include normal management activities such as thinning.
Short rotation coppice vs. short rotation forestry
For the purpose of forest statistics a distinction is normally made between short rotation coppices (rotation periods below 8 years) and short rotation forestry (rotation periods between 8 and 20 years). For the purpose of integrated farm statistics, the rotation period is set at 20 years or less. This implies that also other species, not included in those selected by the country in respect to the CAP Regulation definition on short rotation coppices, may have to be included in IFS as part of SRCAA.
Short rotation coppice in Poland In Poland the following species were defined as part of the CAP short rotation coppice
|
Includes
|
Other land (land occupied by buildings, farmyards, tracks, ponds and other non-productive areas) (FA9)
Hectares of land which are part of the total area belonging to the agricultural holding but constitute neither utilised agricultural area, unutilised agricultural area nor wooded area, such as land occupied by buildings (except if used for mushroom cultivation), farmyards, tracks, ponds, quarries, infertile land or rock.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Cultivated mushrooms
Code | Label | Unit |
U1000 | Cultivated mushrooms | hectares |
Figure 26 – Mushrooms' hierarchy
Cultivated mushrooms (U1000)
Hectares of cultivated mushrooms grown in buildings which have been specially erected or adapted for that purpose, as well as in underground premises, caves and cellars. Mushrooms belong botanically to fungi and not to plants as other vegetables. Their production method differs also very much from other vegetables. Mushrooms are not produced on arable land but in special buildings or cellars. The production takes place in layered structures and for some speciesvarieties even not on a plain ground but e.g. on tree logs. The area refers to the effective growing surface area (beds, bags, growing shelves or similar surfaces) which are or will be used at least once during the 12 month reference period. If used more than once, the area is still counted once only. In case of mushrooms grown in logs outdoors, all the area, including the spaces between the logs, should be taken into account.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Area under glass or high accessible cover
Code | Label | Unit |
UAAS | Utilised agricultural area under glass or high accessible cover | hectares |
V0000_S0000S | Vegetables, including melons and strawberries under glass or high accessible cover | hectares |
N0000S | Flowers and ornamental plants (excluding nurseries) under glass or high accessible cover | hectares |
ARA09S | Other arable land crops under glass or high accessible cover | hectares |
PECRS | Permanent crops under glass or high accessible cover | hectares |
UAA09S | Other UAA under glass or high accessible cover n.e.c. | hectares |
Figure 27 – UAA under glass hierarchy
Utilised agricultural area under glass or high accessible cover (UAAS)
Hectares of crops, which for the whole of their period of growth or for the predominant part of it are covered by greenhouses or fixed high cover or mobile high cover (glass or rigid or flexible plastic). These areas must not be included in the variables mentioned above.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Vegetables, including melons and strawberries under glass or high accessible cover (V0000_S0000S)
Hectares of all brassicas, leafy and stalked vegetables, vegetables cultivated for fruit, root, tuber and bulb vegetables, fresh pulses, other vegetables harvested fresh (not dry) and strawberries grown under glass or high accessible cover. These plants are covered by greenhouses or fixed or mobile high cover (glass or rigid or flexible plastic) for the whole of their period of growth or for the predominant part of it.
Flowers and ornamental plants (excluding nurseries) under glass or high accessible cover (N0000S)
Hectares of all flowers and ornamental plants intended to be sold as cut flowers (e.g. roses, carnations, orchids, gladioli, chrysanthemum, foliage cut and other cut products), as potted, bedding and balcony flowers and plants (e.g. rhododendrons, azaleas, chrysanthemum, begonia, geranium, impatiens or other potted, bedding and balcony plants) and as bulb and corm flowers and other ornamental plants (tulips, hyacinths, orchids, narcissi and others) under glass or high accessible cover. These plants are covered by greenhouses or fixed or mobile high cover (glass or rigid or flexible plastic) for the whole of their period of growth or for the predominant part of it.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Other arable land crops under glass or high accessible cover (ARA09S)
Hectares of other arable land crops not elsewhere classified, grown under glass or high accessible cover.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Permanent crops under glass or high accessible cover (PECRS)
Hectares of permanent crops grown under glass or high accessible cover.
Includes
|
Other utilised agricultural area under glass or high accessible cover n.e.c. (UAA09S)
Hectares of utilised agricultural area, not elsewhere classified, and grown under glass or high accessible cover.
Includes
|
Organic farming
The agricultural holding has land where organic farming production methods are used according to certain set standards and rules specified in Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 or Regulation (EU) 2018(848 or, where applicable, in the most recent legislation, and (ii) the corresponding national implementing rules for organic production, including during the conversion period.
Figure 28 – UAA organic hierarchy
Code | Label | Unit |
UAATXK0000_ORG | Organic farming utilised agricultural area | hectares |
ARAT_ORG | Organic farming arable land | hectares |
C0000T_ORG | Organic farming cereal for the production of grain (including seed) | hectares |
C1110T_ORG | Organic farming common wheat and spelt | hectares |
C1120T_ORG | Organic farming durum wheat | hectares |
P0000T_ORG | Organic farming dry pulses and protein crops for the production of grain (including seed and mixtures of cereals and pulses) | hectares |
R0000T_ORG | Organic farming root crops | hectares |
R1000T_ORG | Organic farming potatoes (including seed potatoes) | hectares |
R2000T_ORG | Organic farming sugar beet (excluding seed) | hectares |
I0000T_ORG | Organic farming industrial crops | hectares |
I1100XI1150T_ORG | Organic farming oilseeds (excluding cotton) | hectares |
I1130T_ORG | Organic farming soya | hectares |
G0000T_ORG | Organic farming plants harvested green from arable land | hectares |
G1000T_ORG | Organic farming temporary grasses and grazings | hectares |
G2000T_ORG | Organic farming leguminous plants harvested green | hectares |
V0000_S0000T_ORG | Organic farming fresh vegetables (including melons) and strawberries | hectares |
E0000T_ORG | Organic farming seeds and seedlings | hectares |
J0000T_ORG | Organic farming permanent grassland | hectares |
J1000T_ORG | Organic farming pasture and meadow, excluding rough grazings | hectares |
J2000T_ORG | Organic farming rough grazings | hectares |
PECRT_ORG | Organic farming permanent crops (including young and temporarily abandoned plantations, excluding areas producing for own consumption only) | hectares |
F0000T_ORG | Organic farming fruits, berries and nuts (excluding citrus fruits, grapes and strawberries) | hectares |
T0000T_ORG | Organic farming citrus fruits | hectares |
W1100T_ORG | Organic farming grapes for wines | hectares |
O1000T_ORG | Organic farming olives | hectares |
V0000_S0000S_ORG | Organic farming vegetables, including melons and strawberries under glass or high accessible cover | hectares |
Organic farming and conversion to organic farming
In the past, some issues related to comparability of organic farming data from different sources have been identified by Eurostat. For a minority of countries, there is similar data for all variables, and it is supposed that the same source is used for all the variables. A second group of countries (the majority) had comparable data. However still for some countries data was not comparable even for the aggregates, where it was suspected that there was no link between data provided for FSS and organic farming statistics. These differences are probably explained because Eurostat collects data on organic farming from national Certification and Inspection bodies. This data collection differed from the FSS data on organic farming due to the different statistical unit (for organic statistics the unit is the certified agricultural holding) and to the data collection methodology (organic farming data is taken from administrative registers).
Organic farming
Organic farming is a mode of agricultural production which uses organic production methods and places the highest emphasis on environmental and wildlife protection and, with regard to livestock production, on animal welfare considerations. Organic production involves holistic production management systems for crops and livestock, emphasizing on-farm management practices over off-farm inputs. This is accomplished by avoiding, or largely reducing, the use of synthetic chemicals such as fertilisers , pesticides , ( fungicides , herbicides , insecticides ), additives and veterinary medicinal products, replacing them, wherever possible, with cultural, biological and mechanical methods. Organic producers develop a healthy, fertile soil by growing and rotating a mixture of crops and using clover to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. The production of genetically-modified (GM) crops and their use in animal feed is avoided.
Organic area
In the context of European Union (EU) statistics, farming is considered to be organic if it complies with Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products. The detailed rules for the implementation of this Regulation are laid down in Regulation 889/2008 . In the meanwhile a new act for organic production and labelling of organic products (Regulation (EU) 2018/848) will repeal Regulation (EC) No 834/2007. For the purposes of IFS, there is no change in the sense that the organic area still covers land fully converted to organic and areas under conversion.
Organic farming utilised agricultural area outdoor (excluding kitchen gardens) (UAATXK0000_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming utilised agricultural area
Organic farming arable land outdoor (ARAT_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming arable land
Organic farming cereal for the production of grain (including seed) outdoor (C0000T_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming cereals for the production of grain (including seed)
Organic farming common wheat and spelt outdoor (C1110T_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori et Paol., Triticum spelta L. and Triticum monococcum L.
Organic farming durum wheat outdoor (C1120T_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming Triticum durum Desf.
Organic farming dry pulses and protein crops for the production of grain (including seed and mixtures of cereals and pulses) outdoor (P0000T_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming dry pulses and protein crops for the production of grain
Organic farming root crops outdoor (R0000T_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming root crops
Organic farming potatoes (including seed potatoes) outdoor (R1000T_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming potatoes (including seed potatoes)
Organic farming sugar beet (excluding seed) outdoor (R2000T_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming sugar beet (excluding seed)
Organic farming industrial crops outdoor (I0000T_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming industrial crops
Organic farming oilseeds outdoor (I1100XI1150T_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming oilseeds
Organic farming soya outdoor (I1130T_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming soya (Glycine max L. Merril) harvested as dry grains.
Organic farming plants harvested green from arable land outdoor (G0000T_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming plants harvested green from arable land
Organic farming temporary grasses and grazing outdoor (G1000T_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming temporary grasses and grazing
Organic farming leguminous plants harvested green outdoor (G2000T_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming of leguminous plants harvested green.
Organic farming fresh vegetables (including melons) and strawberries outdoor (V0000_S0000T_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming fresh vegetables (including melons) and strawberries
Organic farming seeds and seedlings outdoor (E0000T)
Hectares of organic farming seeds and seedlings
Organic farming permanent grassland outdoor (J0000T_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming permanent grassland
Organic farming pasture and meadow, excluding rough grazing outdoor (J1000T_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming pasture and meadow, excluding rough grazing
Includes
|
Organic farming rough grazings outdoor (J2000T_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming rough grazings
Organic farming permanent crops (including young and temporarily abandoned plantations, excluding areas producing for own consumption only) outdoor (PECRT_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming permanent crops
Organic farming fruits, berries and nuts (excluding citrus fruits, grapes and strawberries) outdoor (F0000T_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming fruits, berries and nuts
Organic farming citrus fruits outdoor (T0000T_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming citrus fruits
Organic farming grapes for wines outdoor (W1100T_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming grapes for wine
Organic farming olives outdoor (O1000T_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming olives
Organic farming vegetables, including melons and strawberries under glass or high accessible cover (V0000_S0000S_ORG)
Hectares of organic farming vegetables, including melons and strawberries under glass or high accessible cover
Irrigation on cultivated outdoor area
Code | Label | Unit |
UAAT_IB | Total irrigable area | hectares |
Irrigable area
Trends in water abstraction rates depend on different factors: crop variety (examples of water-intensive crops are potatoes in Northern Europe and cotton, grain maize, rice and fruit in Southern Europe), irrigation area, irrigation technology, water prices, water restrictions, pumping costs and climate conditions. Farmers may select crops that require more water during the growing season, or that have growth periods more sensitive to soil moisture stress. Because of these varying factors, irrigated areas change from year to year and irrigable areas, defined as the total area equipped for irrigation, are used instead to present irrigation trends.
Total irrigable area (UAAT_IB)
Hectares of total maximum outdoor utilised agricultural area which could be irrigated in the reference year using the equipment and the quantity of water normally available on the agricultural holding. The outdoor area that the farmer can potentially irrigate with the equipment and normal volume of water at hand should be recorded regardless of the type of irrigation equipment and method. Crops under glass, kitchen gardens and rice are assumed to be always irrigable and therefore these variables do not need to be additionally compiled as they are collected under CORE. Hence, it is crucial to note that the variable UAAT_IB should include kitchen gardens and rice gathered under CORE as they are part of total outdoor irrigable UAA area.
Figure 29 displays a broad overview of the necessary elements to compile UAAT_IB.
Figure 29 - Total cultivated area irrigable
Variables of livestock
For the purposes of IFS, livestock refers to the number of production animals that are in the direct possession, or management, of the holding on the reference day of the survey. The animals reported are not necessarily the property of the holder, if they are under the management of the holding, either because they are on the holding (on utilised agricultural areas or in animal housing used by the holding) on the reference day, but eventually also off it (on common grazings or in the course of migration, etc.).
Livestock and poultry
Note that in some interpretations of the word "livestock", poultry (including chicken, turkeys, pigeons or geese) is excluded. In others livestock refers only to "animals with hooves" (such as bovines and goats). In some cases it refers only to animals which are bread for consumption. In IFS the broader definition of the word is used.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Bovine animals
Code | Label | Unit |
A2010 | Bovine animals less than 1 year old | heads |
A2020 | Bovine animals, 1 to less than 2 years old | heads |
A2120 | Male bovine animals, 1 to less than 2 years old | heads |
A2220 | Heifers, 1 to less than 2 years old | heads |
A2130 | Male bovine animals, 2 years old and over | heads |
A2230_2300 | Female bovine, 2 years old and over (including all cows) | heads |
A2230 | Heifers 2 years old and over | heads |
A2300 | Cows | heads |
A2300F | Dairy cows | heads |
A2300G | Non-dairy cows | heads |
A2410 | Buffalo-cows | heads |
Figure 30 – Bovine animals' hierarchy
Bovine animals
Includes
|
A distinction can be made by the age of the animal (less than 1 year old, aged between 1 and 2 years, and 2 years old and over), with a further division between male and female bovines. Female bovines aged 1 year old and over are divided into heifers (female bovines that have not yet calved) and cows (a female bovine that has calved, including animals that are less than 2 years). The latter are further divided into dairy cows and others.
Bovine animals less than 1 year old (A2010)
Heads of bovine animals, male and female, under 1 year old.
Includes
|
Bovine animals, 1 to less than 2 years old (A2020)
Heads of bovine animals, at least 1 but less than 2 years old.
Male bovine animals, 1 to less than 2 years old (A2120)
Heads of bovine animals, male, at least 1 but less than 2 years old.
Heifers, 1 to less than 2 years old (A2220)
Heads of bovine animals, female, at least 1 but less than 2 years old.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Male bovine animals, 2 years old and over (A2130)
Heads of male bovine animals of two years old and over.
Female bovine, 2 years old and over (including all cows) (A2230_2300)
Heads of female bovine animals of two years old and over.
Includes
|
Heifers, 2 years old and over (A2230)
Heads of female bovine animals of two years old and over, which have not yet calved.
Includes
|
Cows (A2300)
Heads of female bovine animals of two years old and over, which have already calved
Includes
|
Dairy cows (A2300F)
Heads of female bovine animals which have already calved (including those less than two years old) and which, by reason of their breed or particular qualities, are kept exclusively or principally to produce milk for human consumption or for processing into dairy products.
Includes
|
Non-dairy cows (A2300G)
Heads of female bovine animals which have already calved (including those less than 2 years old) and which, by reason of their breed or particular qualities, are kept exclusively or principally for the production of calves and whose milk is not intended for human consumption nor for processing into dairy products.
Includes
|
Buffalo-cows (A2410)
Heads of buffalo-cows (females of the species Bubalus bubalis, L.) which have already calved (including those less than 2 years old). The class for buffalo-cows (A2410) is included as a part of cows (A2300): to be read as "A2300 - Cows: of which A2410 - buffalo-cows".
Excludes
|
Sheep and goats
Code | Label | Unit |
A4100 | Sheep (all ages) | heads |
A4110K | Breeding female sheep | heads |
A4120 | Other sheep | heads |
A4200 | Goats (all ages) | heads |
A4210K | Breeding female goats | heads |
A4220 | Other goats | heads |
Figure 31 – Sheep and goats hierarchy
Sheep
Sheep are domesticated animals of the species Ovis aries, L. kept in flocks mainly for their milk, wool or meat.
Sheep (all ages) (A4100)
Heads of domestic animals of the species Ovis aries L.
Breeding female sheep (A4110K)
Heads of ewes and ewe lambs put to the ram, regardless of dairy/meat aptitude.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Other sheep (A4120)
Heads of all sheep other than breeding females.
Includes
|
Goats
For the purpose of European statistics, goats are domestic animals of the subspecies Capra aegagrus hircus L.
Goats (all ages) (A4200)
Heads of domestic animals of the subspecies Capra aegagrus hircus L.
Breeding female goats (A4210K)
Heads of female goats which have already kidded and goats which have been mated.
Includes
|
Other goats (A4220)
Heads of all goats, other than breeding females.
Includes
|
Pigs
Code | Label | Unit |
A3110 | Piglets, live weight under 20 kg | heads |
A3120 | Breeding sows, live weight 50 kg and over | heads |
A3130 | Other pigs | heads |
Figure 32 – Pigs hierarchy
Pigs
Pigs are domestic animals of the species Sus scrofa domesticus Erxleben .
Piglets, live weight of under 20 kilograms (A3110)
Heads of piglets having a live weight of less than 20 kilograms.
Breeding sows, live weight 50 kilograms and over (A3120)
Heads of female pigs weighing 50 kilograms and over intended for breeding purposes, regardless of whether they have farrowed or not.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Other pigs (A3130)
Heads of pigs not specified elsewhere.
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Poultry
Code | Label | Unit |
A5140 | Broilers | heads |
A5110O | Laying hens | heads |
A5000X5100 | Other poultry | heads |
A5230 | Turkeys | heads |
A5210 | Ducks | heads |
A5220 | Geese | heads |
A5410 | Ostriches | heads |
A5240_5300 | Other poultry fowls, n.e.c. | heads |
Figure 33 – Poultry hierarchy
Poultry
Includes
|
Excludes
|
Poultry
In the context of European agricultural statistics poultry refers to domestic species of birds but excludes birds raised in confinement for hunting purposes which are not intended for meat or egg production. The term refers to any kind of domesticated bird, or captive bird which is raised for meat, eggs or feathers. Domestic ostriches are kept as poultry, in line with this definition, but are not considered gamefowl nor waterfowl (as they are of the order Struthioniformes). The CAP refers to "farmyard poultry" to identify poultry raised in the farms, i.e. with an economic purpose.
Fowl
Is a term used for birds belonging to two biological orders: game or landfowl (Galliformes) and waterfowl (Anseriformes). In many languages there is not a distinction between "fowl" (which has a germanic origin) and "poultry" (of latin origin). In some other languages, the same multiple meaning applies to words covering, on the one hand a group of species and on the other hand a physiological step and sex of poultry. Depending on the context, fowl may either mean any poultry individual or specifically female adult poultry (e.g. chicken fowl = hens).
Chicks
A chick is a young, non-feathered bird. The farmyard poultry chicks for which the age is accounted in days are called "day chicks". Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 defines the farmyard poultry chicks as live fowls, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowls each weighing not more than 185 g. Chicks fall in one of the following categories:- Utility chicks
- Table type chicks, intended to be fattened and slaughtered for meat before reaching sexual maturity
- Laying chicks, intended to be raised with a view to the production of eggs for consumption
- Dual-purpose chicks, intended either for laying or for the table, which is to be understood as "chicks the breed of which does not enable the prediction of their utility either for laying or table"
- Chicks for breeding
- Parent stock chicks, intended for the production of utility chicks
- Grandparent stock chicks, intended for the production of parent stock chicks
- Cockerel from sexing, which are the male chicks resulting from the sexing of potential laying chicks.
To avoid double counting, chicks are excluded from IFS as they are not considered agricultural products in the sense that they are not sold outside agriculture. They are products for intermediate consumption, to be reused in agriculture.
Sexing
Sexing is the process of sorting the chicks either as females, potentially future laying fowls, or as males, definitely unable to produce eggs.
Pullets
Pullets are female poultry of at least a few weeks (no longer chicks) but which are not yet able to lay eggs (not yet adult).
Cockerels
Cockerels are young male poultry grown for meat production, with low performance expectancy. In farms that produce eggs, males are unwanted and cockerels are killed soon after hatching. For meat production separate male and female breeding lines are maintained.
Selection
Like for other animal production, selection schemes enable to organise production of utility animals based on genetic effects of homogenous breed lines and of positive effects of their crossing. At least four breed lines of grandparents define the most usual genetic abilities of the utility poultry. Grandparents can cover more than one generation in the selection scheme. The selection poultry produce only eggs for hatching.
Broilers (A5140)
Heads of domestic animals of the species Gallus gallus L., which are kept for the production of meat.
Excludes
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Laying hens (A5110O)
Heads of domestic animals of the species Gallus gallus L., which have reached laying maturity and are kept for the production of eggs.
Includes
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Excludes
|
The exclusion of breeding cocks is in line with trade statistics (CN) where only females are of interest. The only exception is the case where breeding cocks are stalled together with the laying hens and cannot be distinguished from them: only in such case they can be included in the counting.
Other poultry (A5000x5100)
Heads of poultry not mentioned under broilers or laying hens. Chicks are excluded.
Excludes
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Turkeys (A5230)
Heads of domestic animals of the genus Meleagris.
Ducks (A5210)
Heads of domestic animals of the genus Anas and species Cairina moschata L.
Includes
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Geese (A5220)
Heads of domestic animals of the species Anser anser domesticus L.
Includes
|
Ostriches (A5410)
Heads of ostriches (Struthio camelus L.).
Includes
|
Other poultry fowls, n.e.c. (A5240_5300)
Heads other poultry not elsewhere classified.
Includes
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Excludes
|
Rabbits
Code | Label | Unit |
A6111 | Breeding female rabbits | heads |
Figure 34 – Rabbits hierarchy
Breeding rabbits females (A6111)
Heads of female rabbits (Oryctolagus spp.) for producing rabbits for meat and which have littered.
Other livestock
Code | Label | Unit |
A6710R | Bees (hives) | number of hives |
A6210 | Deer | code |
A6010 | Fur animals | code |
A0030 | Livestock n.e.c. | code |
Figure 35 – Other livestock hierarchy
Bees (A6710R)
Number of hives occupied by bees (Apis mellifera L.) kept for the production of honey. Each colony (swarm) of bees is recorded as one hive, regardless of the nature and the type of the beehive.
Deer (A6210)
Presence of animals such as red deer (Cervus elaphus L.), sika deer (Cervus nippon Temminck), reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L.) or fallow deer (Dama dama L.) for the production of meat.
- 1 - Yes
- 0 - No
In FSS2016 deer was collected as part of other livestock n.e.c.
Fur animals (A6010)
Presence of animals such as mink (Neovison vison Schreber), European pole cats or fitches (Mustela putorius L.), fox (Vulpes spp. and others), finnracoon or raccoon dog (Nyctereutes spp.) or chinchilla (Chinchilla spp.) for the production of fur.
- 1 - Yes
0 - No
Includes
- Rabbits raised exclusively for the production of fur|
Exclude
- Rabbits for the production of meat (A6111)
Livestock n.e.c. (A0030)
Presence of livestock not elsewhere classified in this section.
- 1 - Yes
0 - No
Includes
- Male rabbits
- Rabbits for fattening
- Equidae for human consumption
- Equidae used as means of production
- Breeding mares in riding stables for race horses which also have breeding activities
- Live swine wild species (A3200)
- Pig hybrids
- European mouflon (Ovis orientalis musimon Pallas) if raised for the production of meat
Camels and camelids|
Exclude
- Pets and animals, not used in the production or not used for income generating activities, i.e. used only for the holder's own family leisure purposes
- Raising and breeding of semi-domesticated or other live animals such as other birds (except poultry), insects and other fur animals
- Raising and breeding of pet animals such as cats and dogs, birds such as parakeets or hamsters
- Deer (A6210)
- Production of fur skins, reptile or bird skins from ranching operation
- Operation of worm farms, land mollusc farms or snail farms
- Raising of silk worms and/or production of silk worm cocoons
- Reared animals in confinement for hunting purposes
- Pullets
- Chicks
- Batrachians (such as frogs)
- Aquatic animals, molluscs or fish|
Organic heads of livestock
Code | Label | Unit |
A2000_ORG | Organic farming stock of bovine animals | heads |
A2300F_ORG | Organic farming stock of dairy cows | heads |
A2300G_ORG | Organic farming stock of non-dairy cows | heads |
A2410_ORG | Organic farming stock of buffalo cows | yesno |
A4100_ORG | Organic farming stock of sheep (all ages) | heads |
A4200_ORG | Organic farming stock of goats (all ages) | heads |
A3000_ORG | Organic farming stock of pigs | heads |
A5000_ORG | Organic farming stock of poultry | heads |
A5140_ORG | Organic farming stock of broilers | heads |
A5110O_ORG | Organic farming stock of laying hens | heads |
Organic production methods applied to animal production
For the purpose of European statistics, organic stock farming refers to heads of animals under organic farming production methods specified in:
- Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 or
- Regulation (EU) 2018/848,
- or where applicable, in the most recent legislation, and
- the corresponding national rules for organic production are used including the conversion period.
This is different to data previously collected under FSS where only fully compliant (certified converted) animals were included. The Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 states that normally all animal production on a holding must be reared in accordance with the rules on organic production. However, in accordance with specific conditions a holding may be split up into clearly separated units which are not all managed under organic production. As regards animals, different species can be involved. The operator shall keep the animals, and products used for, or produced by, the organic units separate from those used for, or produced by, the non-organic units and keep adequate records to show the separation. Animal production can be under conversion, but must meet the basic requirements of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007.
Organic farming stock of bovine animals (A2000_ORG)
Heads of organic farming stock of bovine animals.
Organic farming stock of dairy cows (A2300F_ORG)
Heads of organic farming stock of dairy cows.
Organic farming stock of non-dairy cows (A2300G_ORG)
Heads of organic farming stock of non-dairy cows.
Organic farming stock of buffalo cows (A2410_ORG)
Presence of organic farming stock of buffalo cows.
Organic farming stock of sheep (all ages) (A4100_ORG)
Heads of organic farming stock of sheep.
Organic farming stock of goats (all ages) (A4200_ORG)
Heads of organic farming stock of goats.
Organic farming stock of pigs (A3000_ORG)
Heads of organic farming stock of pigs.
Organic farming stock of poultry (A5000_ORG)
Heads of organic farming stock of poultry. Heads of domestic chickens (Gallus gallus L.), turkeys (Meleagris spp.), ducks (Anas spp. and Cairina moschata L.), geese (Anser anser domesticus L.), ostriches (Struthio camelus L.) and other poultry fowls not elsewhere classified
Organic farming stock of broilers (A5140_ORG)
Heads of organic farming stock of broilers.
Organic farming stock of laying hens (A5110O_ORG)
Heads of organic farming stock of laying hens.
Reaching comparability of number of animals raised organically with official statistics on animals in Sweden The first stage is to link the holdings in the registers of the control bodies on organic farming with the statistical farm register. The registers of the control bodies have information on type of animal from each farm that is reared using organic production methods. If a holding, according to the control body, have for example organic dairy cows, then the number of dairy cows from the statistical farm register is used as number of organic dairy cows on the farm. By using this method, the statistics on the number of organic livestock are comparable with the statistics on the number of animals in total. |