EUROSTAT
Directorate E: Agriculture and environment statistics, Statistical Cooperation
Unit E-1: Agricultural statistics – methodology
Luxembourg, 12September2006
JS/MM/GBe/UE/eb
Doc. CPSA/AE/071, Rev.2
Original: EN
(available in EN only)
Working Group
“Agriculture and Environment”
Meeting on 2930June 2006, 9h30 a.m.
in Luxembourg, BECHBuilding, Room: AMPERE
5. FSS complementary survey/ modules on production methods
This revised document is not scheduled for discussion at the meeting of Working Group on Farm Structure and Typology on 21-22 September 2006, but it provides more information on the survey of agricultural production methods (SAPM) and creates therefore a background to the foreseen discussion on Draft Regulationon farm structure surveys and the survey of agricultural production methods from 2010 onwards ([1]).
1.Background
1.01.In April 2006, the CPSA discussed about the future FSS (i.e. the FSS from 2010 onwards), and in particular about the possibility to set up specificFSS surveys / modules on new user needs, mainly in the areas of agriculture and the environment respectively rural development. The Committee appreciated the flexibility provided by such a modular approach and the prototype of the architecture for the future FSS system([2]).
1.02.Based on this proposal, the draft list of characteristics of the survey of agricultural production methods (SAPM) anda possible framework for such specific survey – with the objective of determining the parameters for setting up this surveywas presented at the meeting of WG on "Agriculture and Environment" on 29-30 June 2006.
1.03.After the WG meeting as a result of the discussions between Eurostat and main users a revised list of high priority characteristics to be covered by the SAPM was drafted. This list has been annexed to the Draft Regulation on farm structure surveys and the survey of agricultural production methods from 2010 onwards (1) to be discussed at the meeting of the Working Group on Farm Structure and Typology on 21-22 September 2006.
2. General architecture
2.01.The CPSA identified three areas as potential subjects of specific surveys / modules:
--agricultural production methods:in their major part, these are new characteristics related to the way farmers manage their holdings and fields and to the input of fertilisers
--irrigation: almost all characteristics in this field have been part of the current FSS;
--certified production, including organic farming: to be defined at a later stage.
General requirements
2.02.The specificmodules / surveys to be set up will have to comply with a number of requirements:
--It must be possible to cross the data of the specificmodules / surveys with the data of the core FSS.
--The core FSS surveys and the specific surveys constitute a survey programme the components of which have to fit in with each other, in terms of the reference period, the list of characteristics and the basic definitions covered by one and the same basic legislation.
--In order to be useful to the various users of the data, the main part (if not all) of the results will have to be available before 2013.
Structure of this document
2.03.As the module of certified production (including organic farming)will be defined in detail only at a much later stage, when the results of various TAPAS actions will be available, we will refer, for the sake of simplicity, in the remainder of the document to the topics coming under "agricultural production methods" and "irrigation" as the "survey of agricultural production methods (SAPM)".The following chapter will be dedicated to the list of characteristics of the SAPMwhile Chapter4 will present a proposal of how these characteristics should be surveyed.
3.List of characteristics of the survey of agricultural production methods
The following overview provides a structure of the characteristics proposed for the SAPM, listed in Annex V to the Draft Regulation on farm structure surveys and the survey of agricultural production methods from 2010 onwards([3]). A detailed description of these characteristics can be found in Annex1 to this document.
Tillage methods(conventional tillage, conservation tillage, zero tillage)
Soil conservation, actions against erosion and nutrient leaching
(soil cover in winter, crop rotation, anti-erosion measurements)
Landscape features
(linear elements managed, removed and established by farmer)
Animal production system
(grazing/outdoor period and animal housing according to type of animals)
Nutrients
(basis for decision on the use of nutrients, manure spreading techniques, export and import of manure, manure storage and treatment facilities)
Plant protection
(type of plant protection methods applied, area of Integrated pest management, use of pesticide application equipments and maintenance of application equipments, treatment decision techniques)
Input of inorganic and organic fertilizers
(input of N, P, K, ,solid dung, liquid manure, slurry and othersorganic fertilizers according to the list of crops)
Irrigation
Irrigated area
(average irrigated area the last five years,total area irrigated the last full production year before the reference day according to the list of crops)
Irrigation methods employed
Source of irrigation water used on the holding ground water
Volume of water used for irrigation per year
4.Survey of agricultural production methods (SAPM)
(a) Aim
4.01.Information on agri-environmental issues is increasingly needed. The Commission has issued a Communication to the Council and Parliament on the "Development of agri-environmental indicators for monitoring the integration of environmental concerns into the common agricultural policy" in which the results of the IRENA project are discussed and conclusions for future work are drawn ([4]). The Communication identifies 28 indicators (26 IRENA indicators and 2 new ones) to be consolidated. A number of these indicators need new data to become fully operational. The proposed survey aims to collect these comparable statistics.
(b)Definition
4.02.For the purposes of this survey, the same basic definitions used for farm structure surveys will apply(see Article 2 of the Draft Regulationon farm structure surveys and the survey of agricultural production methods from 2010 onwards)
4.03.Thedetailed definitions of the individual characteristicsofthis survey will be defined in accordance with the committee procedure at the later stage.
(c)Field of observation
4.04.For the purposes of this survey, the same coverage used for farm structure surveys shall apply (see Article 3 of the Draft Regulation on farm structure surveys and the survey of agricultural production methods from 2010 onwards)
(d)Reference time
4.05.In order to allow an easy integration / link with the information from the core FSS 2010, the reference time of the SAPMshall be the same as for the FSS 2010.
--This would allow Member States either to integrate the data collection for the SAPM fully with the FSS (as modules for which sub-sampling would be allowed) or to carry it out as a follow-up survey to the FSS 2010, either end of 2010 or in 2011.
4.06.The choice of a reference time differing from that of the FSS 2010, i.e. 2011, would hamper the possibilities of crossing the information on the SAPM characteristics with FSS 2010 data.
--It should be noted that in case of a reference time other than that of the FSS 2010, it will be necessary to include, in theSAPM, a certain number of general (core FSS) characteristics, e.g. some crop and livestock characteristics (see Annex2 to this document).
--For reasons of cross-country comparability and data management, all Member States should carry out the SAPM with the same reference period.
(e)Data transmission and report
4.07.Member States may transmit the data collected on the characteristics after the core FSS 2010 data, but not later than in 2012. This additional delay takes into account the possibility that the SAPM data are collected in a follow-up survey to the FSS. It will also allow Member States to spread the burden (on the administration) over time. The detailed transmission requirements and the reporting requirements for the SAPM will be defined later by committee procedure in accordance with Article 15 (2)to the Draft Regulationon farm structure surveys and the survey of agricultural production methods from 2010 onwards.
(f)Precision requirements
4.08.As it is stated in Article 10 to the Draft Regulationon farm structure surveys and the survey of agricultural production methods from 2010 onwards the Member States conducting sample surveys have to ensure that the weighted survey results are statistically representative in terms of the agricultural activities undertaken and the size of the agricultural holdings within each region (NUTS 2 level and for national aggregations of Less Favoured Areas[5]) and they have to meet certain precision requirements. It is also stated that for a given region a sampling rate higher than 25 % of agricultural holdings will not be required.
Group 1:Crop characteristics
- Any individual crop characteristic listed in section "II. LAND" in Annex III to the Draft Regulationon farm structure surveys and the survey of agricultural production methods from 2010 onwards- D/1 to D/8 / Cereals for the production of grain (including seed)
- D/10 to D/11 / Potatoes (including early potatoes and seed potatoes) and sugarbeet (excluding seed)
- D/26 to D/30 / Oilseed crops
- G/1 to G/6 / Permanent crops outdoor
Group 2:Livestock characteristics
- Any individual animal characteristic listed in section "III. LIVESTOCK" in Annex III to the Draft Regulationon farm structure surveys and the survey of agricultural production methods from 2010 onwards- J/2 to J/8 / Bovine animals
- J/9 to J/10 / Sheep (all ages) and goats (all ages)
- J/11 to J/13 / Pigs
- J /14 to J/16 / Poultry
Precision Table
Production methods surveyPrevalence (Region) / Relative standard error
Group 1:
Crop characteristics / 10% or more of the utilized agricultural area / < 7.5 %
Group 2: Livestock characteristics / 10 % or more of the livestock units / < 7.5 %
(g)Organisation of the survey
4.09.As with the core FSS, the organisation of the survey and the design of the sample scheme would fall under the responsibility of the Member States. At this stage, in preparing the general framework of the core and the SAPM, there is however one question which is related to the organisation of the survey (and at the same time with the list(s) of characteristics), namely whether the Member States consider that one or the other group of characteristics, should be part of the core FSS rather than of the SAPM.
(h)Data sources
4.10.According to the Article 7 to the Draft Regulation on farm structure surveys and the survey of agricultural production methods from 2010 onwards the Member States are allowed to use the information from administrative sources if this information is of at least equal quality to information obtained from statistical surveys.
ANNEX 1List of characteristics forthe survey of agricultural production methods
Survey of agricultural production methodsCPSA/AE/071, Rev. 2
Variable / Unit / DescriptionTillage methods / Despite that points 2) and 3) were proposed to be merged by some countries, the question on zero tillage was kept separate as the methods used in case of zero tillage are substantially different than those used for conservation tillage. In addition the land area on which zero tillage is applied could be quite important in 2010 if the present progress continues. In order to enable to distinguish the various systems of tillage used by farmers the detailed definitions will be prepared.
1) / Conventional tillage (mouldboard plough or disc plough) / Ha/a / The principle of conventional tillage is based on soil inversion with the objective to control the weeds, followed by various operations for preparation of the seedbed. Conventional tillage involves inversion of the soil, normally with a mouldboard or a disc plough as the primary tillage operation, followed by secondary tillage with a disc harrow. The main objective of the primary tillage is weed control through burying, and the main objective of the secondary tillage is to break down the aggregates and to prepare a seedbed. Subsequent weed control may be carried out either mechanically with a cultivator, or with herbicides. The negative aspect of this system is that the soil lacks a protective residue cover and is left practically bare, meaning that it is susceptible to soil and water losses through erosive processes.
2) / Conservation tillage (low tillage) / Ha/a / Conservation tillage is a general term which has been defined as: "whatever sequence of tillage operations that reduces the losses of soil and water, when compared to conventional tillage" (Lal, 1995). Normally this refers to a tillage system which does not invert the soil and which retains crop residues on the surface.
Conservation tillage includes the following systems:
- Strip tillage or zonal tillage refers to a system where strips 5 to 20 cm in width are prepared to receive the seed whilst the soil along the intervening bands is not disturbed and remains covered with residues. The system causes more soil disturbance and provides less cover along the rows than zero tillage.
- Tined tillage or vertical tillage refers to a system where the land is prepared with implements which do not invert the soil and which cause little compaction. For this reason, the surface normally remains with a good cover of residues on the surface in excess of 30 %. The most commonly used implements are the stubble mulch chisel plough, the stubble mulch cultivator and the vibro-cultivator.
- Ridge tillageis the system of ridges and furrows. The ridges may be narrow or wide and the furrows can be parallel to the contour lines or constructed with a slight slope, depending on whether the objective is to conserve moisture or to drain excess moisture. The ridges can be semi-permanent or be constructed each year, which will govern the amount of residue material that remains on the surface. In the semi-permanent systems which have a good residue cover between the ridges, there will still be more soil disturbance and less overall cover than for the zero tillage system. Generally speaking, this system is fewer conservationists than strip tillage (FAO manual) .
3) / Zero tillage (direct seeding) / Ha/a / No-tillage (also zero tillage) is a minimum tillage practice in which the crop is sown directly into soil not tilled since the harvest of the previous crop. Weed control is achieved by the use of herbicides and stubble is retained for erosion control (FAO glossary)
Soil conservation, actions against erosion and nutrient leaching / Soil conservation is the protection of soil from erosion and other types of deterioration, so as to maintain soil fertility and productivity (OECD Glossary).
1) / Soil cover in winter / Agricultural land with no plant cover or where there are just plant residues on the top is especially vulnerable to nutrient leakage. This has been taken into consideration by both farmers and legislation/administration. In efforts to reduce the losses, which are harmful both to the environment and to the economy, one of the most efficient tools is keeping the land covered with plants at all times. In some Member States requirements to either have normal winter crops like winter wheat or cover crops on a certain percentage of the arable land are included in legislation or are part of the agri-environmental schemes farmers can adhere to (FSS definition).
(a) / Normal winter crop / Ha/a / Crops sown in the autumn and planted during the winter (normal winter crops, such as winter wheat) which are normally harvested or used for grazing.
(b) / Cover crop or intermediate crop / Ha/a / A cover crop is a temporary vegetative cover that is grown to provide protection for the soil and the establishment of plants, particularly those which are slow growing. Plants are sown expressly in view of their potential contribution to reducing the loss of nutrients due to leakage to the air, surface water or groundwater during the winter or other periods when the land would be bare or otherwise susceptible to losses. The economic interest of these crops is low, and the main goal is soil protection. These crops should not be mistaken for normal winter crops, but are crops sown in the autumn with the sole aim to reduce nutrient leakage. Normally they are ploughed in during spring before sowing another crop, and are not harvested or used for grazing (FSS definition).
(c) / Spring tillage – tillage operation are not carried out in the autumn, but in the spring (plant residues from previous crop season remain on the field during the winter) / Ha/a / The soil is covered with the plant residues of the previous crop season during the winter (not covered with intermediate or cover crops). The ground is not ploughed or otherwise treated, except for weed spraying, manure spreading and such. All tillage operations are carried out in the spring.
(d) / Autumn tillage - tillage operations are carried out already in the autumn (soil remains bare, without winter soil covering) / Ha/a / The ground is ploughed or otherwise tillaged in autumn, but no crops are sown before winter, This means that after the autumn tillage operations, the soil is not covered during winter and remains bare until the spring period.
2) / Crop rotation / Crop rotation is the practice of alternating the annual crops grown on a specific field in a planned pattern or sequence in successive crop years so that crops of the same species or family are not grown repeatedly without interruption on the same field. For the purpose of this survey, the arable area on which the repeated cultivation of a single crop took more than 3 years is considered as monoculture (not included in planned crop rotation schemes).