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Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Methodology and quality
  3. ESMS metadata
  4. Farm Structure Survey

Farm Structure Survey

1. Contact
1.1. Contact organisation

Statistics Estonia

1.2. Contact organisation unit

Economic and Environmental Statistics Department

1.3. Contact name

Ege Kirs

1.4. Contact person function

Leading Analyst

1.5. Contact mail address

51 Tatari Str, 10134 Tallinn, Estonia

1.6. Contact email address

ege.kirs [at] stat.ee

1.7. Contact phone number

37253599845

2. Metadata update
2.1. Metadata last certified

27/03/2025

2.2. Metadata last update

27/03/2025

3. Statistical presentation
3.1. Data description

The core structural data of the Farm Structure Survey are the location of the holding, legal form, manager, land use, number of livestock, and other general data.

The modules connected with the core structural data are labour force and other gainful activities, rural development, tillage practices, and machinery and equipment.

3.2. Classification system

Classification of Estonian administrative units and settlements (EHAK)

Classification of Use of Agricultural Land

Classification of agricultural holdings based on the types of agricultural production (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/220)

3.3. Sector coverage

Agricultural holdings

3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions

Agricultural holding – until 2019 (inclusive), an agricultural holding was defined as a single unit, both technically and economically, that has a single management and that produces agricultural products or maintains its land in good agricultural and environmental condition and where:

- there is at least one hectare of utilised agricultural area or

- there is less than one hectare of utilised agricultural area and agricultural products are produced mainly for sale.

From 2020, an agricultural holding is defined as a single unit, both technically and economically, that has a single management and where there is at least:

- 5 hectares of utilised agricultural area or

- 2 hectares of arable land or

- 0.5 hectares of potatoes or

- 0.5 hectares of outdoor vegetables and strawberries or

- 0.2 hectares of aromatic and medicinal plants and herbs, flowers, seeds, outdoor tree nurseries or

- 0.3 hectares of fruit and berry plantations, other permanent outdoor crops or

- 0.1 ha of outdoor grapevines or

- 100 m2 of greenhouses or

- 1.7 livestock units of animals.

Units where agricultural products are not produced but land is maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition are considered as agricultural holdings from 2007.

Arable land – land worked regularly, generally under a system of crop rotation. Arable land consists of:

- area under cereals (wheat, rye, triticale, barley, oats, mixed grain, buckwheat) for the production of dry grain

- area under dry pulses (peas, field beans and lupins, other dry pulses, including mixture of cereals and dry pulses) for the production of dry grain

- area under potatoes

- area under fodder roots (excluding seeds)

- area under industrial crops (rape and turnip rape, linseed, flax, aromatic and medicinal plants and herbs, other industrial crops)

- area under fresh vegetables, outdoor or under low (non-accessible) cover

- area under flowers and ornamental plants, outdoor or under low (non-accessible) cover

- area under fresh vegetables under glass or high (accessible) cover (crops which for the whole of the period of growth or for the predominant part of it are covered by greenhouses or fixed or mobile high cover (glass or rigid or flexible plastic))

- area under flowers and ornamental plants under glass or high (accessible) cover (crops which for the whole of the period of growth or for the predominant part of it are covered by greenhouses or fixed or mobile high cover (glass or rigid or flexible plastic))

- area under annual forage crops (cereals, maize, dry pulses, rape and turnip rape, other annual forage crops)

- area under multiannual forage crops (leguminous plants and grasses for hay, silage or grazing, grown in temporary grassland in rotation with other arable crops and occupying the same land for a maximum of five years)

- area under forage crops seeds

- fallow land — land left to recover, normally for the whole of a crop year (bare land and green fallow).

Basic agricultural training – the manager took any training courses completed at a general agricultural college and/or institution specialising in certain subjects (including horticulture, silviculture, pisciculture, veterinary science, agricultural technology and associated subjects); a completed agricultural apprenticeship is also regarded as basic training

Conversion period – transition from non-organic to organic farming, within a given time period, during which the provisions concerning organic production are applied. During that period, the production cannot yet be labelled as organic.

Cows – female bovine animals who have calved at least once

Dairy cows – cows kept to produce milk

Farm safety plan – the holding has carried out workplace risk assessment with the aim of reducing work-related hazards, resulting in a written document

Fruit and berry plantation – area for growing fruits and berries (incl. forest berries)

Full agricultural training – the manager took any training course continuously for the equivalent of at least 2 years’ full-time training, completed at an agricultural college, university or other institution of higher education in agriculture, horticulture, silviculture, pisciculture, veterinary science, agricultural technology or an associated subject

Fully converted – agricultural area and/or livestock which has passed the fixed conversion period from non-organic to organic farming, during which the provisions concerning organic production were and will be continuously applied. After the conversion period, the production can be labelled as organic.

Greenhouse crops – crops that are grown in greenhouses of glass or rigid/flexible plastic for the whole period of growth or for the predominant part of it

Kitchen garden – area separated from the rest of the holding’s agricultural land, devoted to the cultivation of agricultural products for the consumption by persons living on the holding (only occasional surplus products are sold). Decorative gardens (parks and lawns) are not included.

Labour input in annual work units (AWU) – at least 1,800 hours of agricultural work on the holding over a 12-month period

Laying hens – hens kept for the production of eggs; pullets and cull hens are included only if they are stalled as laying hens

Livestock unit (LSU) – a standard measurement unit that allows the aggregation of various species of livestock and poultry. Livestock units are defined on the basis of the feed requirements of individual animal categories. A dairy cow corresponds to one livestock unit, the coefficients of other animals are smaller (e.g. bovine animal – 0.8; fattening pig – 0.3; broiler – 0.007). The coefficients of livestock units are stated in Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Management information systems – any programs used in the management of the holding, from simple recordkeeping to sophisticated management systems

Nursery – area of young ligneous (woody) plants, fruit trees, berry bushes or ornamental young plants grown in the open air or in greenhouses for subsequent planting in gardens, parks, etc; commercial forest-tree nurseries, whether in woodland or outside, are included. Excluded are non-commercial nurseries of forest trees in woodland. Christmas trees are not shown under nurseries.

Organic farming – sustainable production of agricultural produce, which maintains basic equilibrium, is environmentally sustainable, and is carried out in compliance with the Organic Farming Act and other relevant legislation. Holdings with organic farm production have the approval of the Estonian Agriculture and Food Board (either fully compliant with the principles of organic production or still in a conversion period).

Other cows – cattle for fattening, suckler cows, cows of a beef breed

Other land – land occupied by buildings, decorative gardens, tracks, quarries and ponds, and infertile land (heaths, marshland)

Permanent grassland – land used to grow grasses or other herbaceous forage naturally (self-seeded) or through cultivation (sown), and that has not been included in the crop rotation of the holding for five years or more. It may include other species suitable for grazing, provided that the grasses or other herbaceous forage remain predominant.

Robots – self-driving machines, berry picking robots, milking robots, feeding robots, etc. are included

Rotation – the period between the formation and final felling of a forest crop (excluding improvement cutting). This category covers species such as alder, poplar and willow.

Standard output – the monetary value of gross agricultural production at farm-gate price corresponding to the average situation of any agricultural activity, which is calculated on the basis of crop area, number of livestock, and standard output coefficients

Type of farming – determined on the basis of the share of standard output. If the share of one activity is at least two thirds of the holding’s standard output, the holding is considered to be a specialist holding; otherwise it is engaged in mixed farming.

Unutilised agricultural area – land which during the reference year is not used for agricultural production. It includes land which is maintained by mowing but for which area payments are not received. It excludes fallow land used in the crop rotation system.

Utilised agricultural area – area utilised in the reference year for agricultural production or maintained in good agricultural and environmental conditions (incl. arable land, permanent grassland, fruit and berry plantations, nurseries, and kitchen gardens). Land not used for agricultural production but maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition is included in agricultural area from 2007.

Variable rate techniques – technologies that allow automatic variable-rate farming (seeding, plant protection, fertiliser application, irrigation)

Vocational training – includes training the primary objective of which is the acquisition of new skills related to farm activities or activities directly related to the holding, or the development and improvement of existing skills

3.5. Statistical unit

Agricultural holding

3.6. Statistical population

Agricultural holdings

FRAME

List of agricultural holdings above the threshold. The list is generated from the statistical register of agricultural holdings.

3.7. Reference area

Estonia as a whole

3.8. Time coverage

2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2020, 2023

3.9. Base period

Not applicable

4. Unit of measure

Area – ha

Agricultural holdings, animals, poultry, colonies of bees, employed persons, tractors, etc. – number

Standard output of the holding (economic size) – euro

Storage – m3

Total livestock production for all species of livestock – livestock unit (LSU)

Labour input – annual work unit (AWU)

5. Reference period

Year

6. Institutional mandate
6.1. Legal acts and other agreements

DIRECTLY APPLICABLE LEGAL ACTS

Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on integrated farm statistics and repealing Regulations (EC) No 1166/2008 and (EU) No 1337/2011 (Text with EEA relevance.)

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2015/220 of 3 February 2015 laying down rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1217/2009 setting up a network for the collection of accountancy data on the incomes and business operation of agricultural holdings in the European Union

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/405 of 16 March 2020 specifying the arrangements for, and contents of, the quality reports to be transmitted under Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 of the European Parliament and of the Council on integrated farm statistics (Text with EEA relevance)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2286 of 16 December 2021 on the data to be provided for the reference year 2023 pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 of the European Parliament and of the Council on integrated farm statistics as regards the list of variables and their description and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 1200/2009 (Text with EEA relevance)

OTHER LEGAL ACTS

Not available

OTHER AGREEMENTS

Not available

7. Confidentiality
7.1. Confidentiality - policy

The dissemination of data collected for the production of official statistics is based on the requirements laid down in sections 32, 34, 35 and 38 of the Official Statistics Act.

7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment

The dissemination of data collected for the production of official statistics is based on the requirements laid down in §§ 34 and 35 of the Official Statistics Act. The principles for treatment of confidential data can be found here.

8. Release policy
8.1. Release calendar

Notifications about the dissemination of statistics are published in the release calendar, which is available on the website. Every year on 1 October, the release times of the statistical database, news releases, main indicators by IMF SDDS and publications for the following year are announced in the release calendar (in the case of publications – the release month).

8.2. Release calendar access

Calendar

8.3. User access

All users have been granted equal access to official statistics: dissemination dates of official statistics are announced in advance and no user category (incl. Eurostat, state authorities and mass media) is provided access to official statistics before other users. Official statistics are first published in the statistical database. If there is also a news release, it is published simultaneously with data in the statistical database. Official statistics are available on the website at 8:00 a.m. on the date announced in the release calendar.

9. Frequency of dissemination

Over three or four years

10. Accessibility and clarity
10.1. News release

The production of news releases is decided on a rolling basis.

10.2. Publications

Not published

10.3. Online database

Data are published in the statistical database at https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat under the subject area Structure of agricultural holdings in the following tables:

PMS041: Livestock and poultry of agricultural holdings,

PMS043: Cattle and dairy cows by size class of herd,

PMS044: Sheep by size class of herd,

PMS045: Pigs by size class of herd,

PMS313: Use of machinery and equipment,

PMS314: Storage for agricultural products,

PMS641: Housing of dairy cows and other cattle by type of housing,

PMS642: Grazing of dairy cows and other cattle by amount of time of grazing,

PMS643: Pigs’ housing by type of housing,

PMS644: Laying hens’ housing by type of housing,

PMS645: Nutrient use and manure handling,

PMS646: Agricultural holdings by type of manure application,

PMS647: Agricultural holdings with manure storage facilities by kind of storage facility,

PMS648: Manure pits by duration of storage,

PMS649: Soil management practices on outdoor arable land by type,

PMS650: Soil cover on arable land during winter,

PMS141: Land use of agricultural holdings,

PMS142: Utilised agricultural area and crops of agricultural holdings,

PMS143: Utilised agricultural area by size class,

PMS145: Growing of cereals by size class of sown area,

PMS146: Growing of dry pulses by size class of sown area,

PMS147: Growing of potatoes by size class of sown area,

PMS148: Growing of rape and turnip rape by size class of sown area,

PMS149: Growing of outdoor vegetables and strawberries by size class of sown area,

PMS150: Fruit and berry plantations by size class of sown area,

PMS241: Agricultural labour force by legal form of holder, county and kind of labour force,

PMS242: Agricultural permanent labour force by sex, working time and kind of labour force,

PMS243: Agricultural holdings with other gainful activity by kind of activity,

PMS244: Agricultural holdings with other gainful activity by share of activities,

PMS245: Labour force with other gainful activity related to holding in holdings of natural person,

PMS246: Labour force with other gainful activity not related to holding in holdings of natural person,

PMS441: Agricultural holdings by legal form of holder and county,

PMS442: Key variables of agricultural holdings by economic size,

PMS443: Agricultural holdings by economic size and type of farming,

PMS444: Other general data of agricultural holdings by legal form of holder and county,

PMS445: Agricultural holdings by kind of manager,

PMS446: Agricultural holdings by year classified as a farm manager,

PMS447: Agricultural holdings by agricultural training of manager,

PMS448: Managers by sex and age group,

PMS449: Managers by sex and working time,

PMS450: Agricultural holdings having received support for rural development during three years by kind of support.

10.4. Microdata access

The dissemination of data collected for the purpose of producing official statistics is guided by the requirements provided for in sections 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 of the Official Statistics Act.

Access to microdata and anonymisation of microdata are regulated by Statistics Estonia’s procedure for dissemination of confidential data for scientific purposes.

10.5. Other

Data serve as input for statistical activities 21207 “Economic accounts for agriculture”, 21209 “Statistical Register of Agricultural Holdings” and 21214 “Crop farming”.

10.6. Documentation on methodology

Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 OF the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on integrated farm statistics and repealing Regulations (EC) No 1166/2008 and (EU) No 1337/2011

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2021/2286 of 16 December 2021 on the data to be provided for the reference year 2023 pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 of the European Parliament and of the Council on integrated farm statistics as regards the list of variables and their description and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 1200/2009

Integrated Farm Statistics Manual

10.7. Quality documentation

Pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 2018/1091 of the European Parliament and of the Council, a report is prepared describing the methodology applied and the quality achieved.

11. Quality management
11.1. Quality assurance

To assure the quality of processes and products, Statistics Estonia applies the EFQM Excellence Model, the European Statistics Code of Practice and the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (ESS QAF). Statistics Estonia is also guided by the requirements in section 7. “Principles and quality criteria of producing official statistics” of the Official Statistics Act.

11.2. Quality assessment

Statistics Estonia performs all statistical activities according to an international model (Generic Statistical Business Process Model – GSBPM). According to the GSBPM, the final phase of statistical activities is overall evaluation using information gathered in each phase or sub-process; this information can take many forms, including feedback from users, process metadata, system metrics and suggestions from employees. This information is used to prepare the evaluation report which outlines all the quality problems related to the specific statistical activity and serves as input for improvement actions.

12. Relevance
12.1. User needs

Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture

The Ministry of Climate is also a user of environmental data.

12.2. User satisfaction

Since 1996, Statistics Estonia has conducted reputation and user satisfaction surveys. All results are available on the website of Statistics Estonia in the section User surveys.

12.3. Completeness

In compliance with the rules (regulations)

13. Accuracy and reliability
13.1. Overall accuracy

The type of survey and the data collection methods ensure sufficient coverage and timeliness of the data collected.

13.2. Sampling error

The error due to probability sampling is estimated according to the rules stipulated by Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

The quality of the data is evaluated based on related land use and livestock data. The relative standard error of the main variables of land use (at least 7.5% of utilised agricultural area) associated with the core data and the module on labour force and other gainful activities and the main variables of livestock (at least 7.5% of livestock units) must remain and remains below 5%. The relative standard error of the main variables of land use and/or livestock associated with other modules must remain and remains below 7.5%.

13.3. Non-sampling error

The aim is to reduce non-sampling errors through continous methodological and survey process improvements, incl. minimizing under- and over-coverage of the frame.

14. Timeliness and punctuality
14.1. Timeliness

The preliminary results were published in February 2024 and the final data will be published in the course of 2024.

14.2. Punctuality

The data are published at the time announced in the release calendar.

15. Coherence and comparability
15.1. Comparability - geographical

At the national level, the data are comparable across counties.

In general, the data are comparable with the data of other European Union countries because a harmonised methodology is used. Countries have to include in their farm structure surveys all units exceeding the agreed threshold for agricultural holdings, but the threshold may be adjusted, if necessary, to ensure the required coverage. For sample-based farm structure surveys, the agreed threshold for agricultural holdings is not lowered. Variables and their definitions are harmonised among countries.

15.2. Comparability - over time

From 2020, a new threshold for agricultural holdings is used in the Farm Structure Survey across the European Union, making the data not directly comparable with data from previous years. Until 2020, agricultural holdings were defined as units with at least 1 ha of utilised agricultural area or units producing agricultural products mainly for sale. Data up to 2016 are available in the statistical database at https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat under Discontinued datasets / Economy. Archive / Agriculture.

The data from the 2023 Farm Structure Survey are directly comparable with the data from the 2020 Agricultural Census. Since 2023, data on grapes are included in the threshold. To enable comparability with previous years, the data for 2010 have been recalculated, where possible, according to the new threshold for agricultural holdings.

15.3. Coherence - cross domain

The Farm Structure Survey data are comparable with the data of agricultural censuses conducted every ten years because the same methodology is used. Unlike agricultural production statistics and economic accounts, the agricultural censuses and sample surveys on farm structure do not include units smaller than agricultural holdings. However, the Farm Structure Survey data are closely linked to other agricultural statistics and are comparable in terms of agricultural holdings. Cross-sectoral coherence is ensured by using the same indicators from different sources. In the years when the Farm Structure Survey is carried out, these data serve as input for crop production statistics.

For the Farm Structure Survey and agricultural census, data from the Agricultural Registers and Information Board (ARIB) are used as input for sown area and number of livestock. The input for organic farming data is the data from the organic farming register of the Agriculture and Food Board.

The methodology of the labour force survey within the Farm Structure Surveys differs from the general Labour Force Survey methodology.

15.4. Coherence - internal

The internal coherence of the data is ensured through the use of a common methodology for data collection and aggregation.

16. Cost and burden

In order to reduce costs, all holdings can submit their data electronically since 2010. In order to reduce burden, administrative data are used as much as possible.

Total time of filling in reports of the statistical activity, hours: 2961 (data for 2023)

17. Data revision
17.1. Data revision - policy

The data revision policy and notification of corrections are described in the section Principles of dissemination of official statistics of the website of Statistics Estonia.

17.2. Data revision - practice

The published data may be revised if the methodology is modified, errors are discovered, new or better data become available.

18. Statistical processing
18.1. Source data

SURVEY DATA

Some of the data are collected directly from administrative registers, while some are collected with a survey questionnaire. The questionnaire collects data from agricultural holdings selected in the sample; pre-filling is used in the questionnaire. The population of holdings includes all holdings above the threshold of agricultural holdings. In 2023, the total number of units in the population was 10,712, with a sample size of 4,578. Stratification variables for the sample include standard output (SO) groups, type of farming, and production method (conventional or organic farming).

ADMINISTRATIVE DATA

Data on land use, ecological focus areas and data on aids are received from the register of agricultural support and land parcels of the Estonian Agricultural Registers and Information Board (ARIB).

Data on farm animals are received from the register of farm animals of ARIB.

Data on organic farming are received from the register of organic farming of the Agriculture and Food Board.

Data on other land use of agricultural holdings are received from the land cadastre of the Land Board.

The number of male and female persons employed (by working time groups) is received from the employment register of the Estonian Tax and Customs Board.

Data on tractors and combine harvesters are received from the traffic register.

Data on the use of equipment for the production of renewable energy are received from Elering who is the electricity and gas transmission system operator in Estonia.

DATA FROM OTHER STATISTICAL ACTIVITIES

Not used

18.2. Frequency of data collection

Over three or four years

18.3. Data collection

Data are collected through the web channel for electronic data submission (CAWI) and by phone interviews (CATI). From the agricultural holdings who do not submit their data on the web, the data are collected by phone interviews.

The questionnaires and information about data submission are available on Statistics Estonia's website in the section Questionnaires.

Administrative data are received through the channels agreed in the relevant contracts.

18.4. Data validation

Arithmetic and qualitative controls are used in the validation process, including comparison with the data of previous periods, other surveys and administrative data sources.

18.5. Data compilation

A weight is calculated for a statistical unit, which is used to expand the data of the sample survey to the total population. The data of the sampled agricultural holdings are expanded to the population separately in each stratum. The expansion factor is the ratio of the population of the respective stratum to the number of responded units. In the case of missing or unreliable data, estimate imputation based on established regulations is used.

Variables that were not directly collected but are required for output generation are calculated. To calculate new variables, arithmetic conversions are applied to already existing variables. This may be done repeatedly, the derived variable may, in turn, be based on previously derived new variables.

Microdata are aggregated to the level necessary for analysis. This includes summation of data according to the classification and calculation of various statistical measures, e.g. mean. The collected data are converted into statistical output. This includes the calculation of additional indicators.

18.6. Adjustment

Not applicable

19. Comments

The survey is co-financed by the European Commission.

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