In 1999 a complete census of agriculture was carried out. Complete censuses of this type have been conducted about every 10 years since the beginning of the 1900s. The purpose was to obtain an overview of the resource and production basis as well as operational, environmental and economic factors in the agriculture industry. Last year's census mainly covered all holdings with at least five decares of agricultural land in production.
Statistics Norway used three different questionnaires in conjunction with the census. The forms were sent directly to the data providers in mid-July. The census date was 31 July 1999. Together with information obtained on the questionnaire, the administrative data registers play an important role in collecting data.
The first preliminary results were published 21 February 2000.
Complete censuses in the agricultural industry have a long tradition in Norway. The first agricultural censuses were conducted together with the population censuses, but the first pure agricultural census was carried out in 1907. Censuses were subsequently conducted in 1918, 1929, 1939 etc. at 10-year intervals until the last complete census in 1989.
The purpose of the census is to obtain information about the resource and production basis as well as operational, environmental and economic factors in the agriculture industry all the way down to the local government (municipal) level. In combination with early censuses the census will show agricultural developments over time. Through international agreements Norway is also obligated to deliver statistics of a certain quality and nature.
The results of the censuses have always been important as a basis for planning, fact finding, decision-making support for public authorities, agriculture administration, research and for the industry's own organizations.
Three different questionnaires were prepared for last year's census:
All holdings required to file were to fill out the main form. The main criteria was that at least five decares of agricultural land had to be in use on the holding. In other words, everyone applying for an agricultural production subsidy also had to submit a form to the agricultural census. In addition, some farmers who had agricultural land in cultivation but had not sought a subsidy, were required to respond to the census. Pure forest owners and people who did not farm any land or had rented out all their land, were not supposed to fill out the form.
3.2. Supplementary form for those not applying for agricultural production subsidy
This questionnaire contained questions about the number of livestock and use of agricultural land. Everyone who did not apply for a production subsidy were to fill out the form in addition to the main questionnaire.
3.3. Greenhouse/nursery and horticulture questionnaire
This form was to be filled out by everyone meeting one or more of the land requirements for greenhouse production, nursery operation or growing of vegetables, berries or fruit outdoors.
Around 5 000 filers filled out the horticulture questionnaire, and most of these farmers were contacted by the municipal agriculture administration in conjunction with the filling out of the form.
4. New features compared with censuses of 1979 and 1989
The complete agricultural censuses in 1979 and 1989 mainly covered holdings with agricultural land in use, pure forest properties and properties with separate agricultural land. There were altogether 203 323 filers in 1979 and 190 860 in 1989. The 1999 Census of Agriculture only included holdings of at least five decares of agricultural land in use. In addition, a number of livestock producers and greenhouse/nursery and horticultural producers were required to file although they had less than five decares of agricultural land in use.
It is an important goal for Statistics Norway that filers do not have to report the same information more than once. Detailed information about the use of the agricultural area and the number of livestock were obtained from the applications for production subsidies, and farmers consequently did not have to deliver this information to Statistics Norway. This is also the reason why the census or registration date in 1999 coincided with the applications for agricultural production subsidies at 31 July 1999.
The Agriculture Register played an important role in the work of identifying holdings subject to the census filing requirement. Because of the lag in updating the Agriculture Register, quite a few people were sent forms although they had ceased farming years ago. The questionnaires were sent directly to those required to file, and was the first time a complete census was conducted without the use of census takers. Conducting a census without the use of census takers places greater demands on question formulation, and means the level of detail must be lowered. Experience from last year's census is nevertheless good, with an initial response rate of 96 per cent before the first reminder.
The collection of data is divided into two parts, and is based on obtaining some of the data with the aid of forms, and some via administrative registers.
General questions about property, area, improvement of the configuration of the holdings, ditching and cultivation. Outbuildings. Machinery and tools. Labour input. Additional income from other jobs.
Livestock. Use of agricultural area. Financial conditions. Education.
6. Distribution and returning of questionnaires
The census was conducted by the farmers filling out a four-page form sent from Statistics Norway in July last year. The deadline for responding was 20 August.
In the period prior to the deadline, Statistics Norway set up a toll-free number for questions and received thousands of calls from filers. In addition, the municipal agriculture administration gave filers much assistance.
Everyone working on the census forms is subject to the duty of confidentiality.
Publishing shall and will be done in a way that makes it impossible to link individual data to a certain filer. The use of the data will only be used to compile official statistics, or other use approved by the Data Inspectorate.
The preliminary municipal results, based mainly on administrative data, cover the number of holdings in use, number of livestock and agricultural area in use, and were published 21 February.
In March 2000 national figures will be released based on the census' main questionnaire from a number of municipalities. Detailed figures from the greenhouse/nursery and horticulture questionnaire will also be available in March/April. The final results will be published starting the second half of 2000.
Most of the results will be accessible on Statistics Norway's website.
10. Experiences so far (at 15 February 2000)
In the first round of reminders sent out in December, 3 300 filers received reminders. The response rate was in other words 96 per cent – which is very good. Both the municipal agriculture administrations and filers have done an extremely good job on the census.
As of mid-February there are still 1 500 filers who have not returned their forms. Statistics Norway strongly urges those who have not responded to take the time to fill out the form. Otherwise they run the risk of having to pay a compulsory fine that is four times the current court fee of NOK 2 140. We sincerely hope that such drastic steps do not have to be taken to coax people into returning their questionnaires.
11. Comments on preliminary results - holdings, agricultural area and livestock
The 1999 census is the first to be conducted without using local interviewers. This impacted inter alia the design of the questionnaire. It also had an impact on the response rate and quality of the answers. Applications for agricultural production subsidies are an important part of the data basis of the census – particularly for quantifying cropland and livestock. Operators with cultivated land for which no production subsidy had been applied for were subject to the filing requirement and were to fill out a separate form on cropland and livestock production. There is a certain amount of uncertainty as to what extent the latter holdings were included in the census. Some of the filers may have "defined" themselves and "non-active" even though he/she had some agricultural land in use. The municipal agriculture administrations assisted Statistics Norway in collecting data, and the local knowledge of the individual offices helped substantially to increase the quality. Nevertheless, there may be some municipalities that do not have a sufficiently good overview of all holdings with marginal operations for which the farmer has not applied for subsidies. These factors may have contributed to the exclusion of a number of smaller holdings. The numbers involved are nevertheless small and the preliminary results will not be greatly influenced by these factors.
In earlier censuses the operation of agricultural land in different municipalities was strictly divided by municipality, i.e. farmers farming land in several municipalities (either deeded or rented land) had to submit forms to all municipalities. Starting in 1999 this practice was changed so that the farmer only had to submit one form – regardless of the location of the farmland. This is the same practice used when applying for production subsidies. The number of holdings is consequently somewhat lower than in earlier censuses, and calculations done of the 1989 Census of Agriculture indicate that approximately 1 000 operators farm land in several municipalities.
Data on the use of agricultural land was to a large degree obtained from the applications for agricultural production subsidies. The results will therefore be influenced by changes in definitions and rules for granting subsidies. The figures for 1999 show a substantial increase in infield pastureland and surface-cultivated meadowland for haying and grazing. A not unsubstantial part of this increase in area is probably attributed to changes in area definitions in the subsidy rules. In the same way the rule changes may have made it more important for the individual farmers to include all land when filling out the subsidy form, thereby contributing to the increase in agricultural land.