Holdings, agricultural area and livestock

Updated: 16 February 2024

Next update: Not yet determined

Change in agricultural holdings
Change in agricultural holdings
2022 - 2023
-0.9
%
Structure of agriculture
Structure of agriculture
2023Per cent
2022 - 20232013 - 2023
Number of holdings, total37 561-0.9-14.1
Natural person35 555-1.0-14.0
Legal person2 0060.5-16.2
Agricultural area in use. Decares9 847 1850.0-0.2
Fully cultivated land, decares8 077 5270.0-0.4
Agricultural area per holding. Decares262.21.016.1
Holdings keeping domestic animals of various kinds
Cow11 330-3.1-18.0
Sheep 1 year and over13 404-1.3-6.8
Pigs, total1 948-2.6-14.2
Holdings cultivating various crops
Grain and oil seeds9 812-0.7-16.5
Potato1 336-7.2-37.5
Meadows for mowing and pastures28 980-1.3-14.5
Explanation of symbols

Selected tables and charts from this statistics

  • Number of animals per holding keeping various kinds of animal, by county and size of holding
    Number of animals per holding keeping various kinds of animal, by county and size of holding
    CattleSheep 1 year and overDairy goatsPigs for breeding, totalPigs for slaughteringHens
    TotalCows, totalDiary cowsBeef cows
    201356.322.024.114.863.3103.076.6229.82 147.5
    201457.722.524.615.461.7109.480.8235.32 101.8
    201559.823.325.516.063.5110.983.6232.62 096.4
    201661.923.926.116.865.3115.583.0227.32 100.2
    201763.424.526.917.165.1113.477.4230.12 067.9
    201864.325.227.917.466.2118.476.8226.72 041.6
    201965.525.228.017.464.4119.979.3244.73 101.6
    202067.726.629.918.065.4119.979.5253.43 056.0
    202170.127.531.318.368.0124.482.0254.43 079.9
    202271.227.631.318.868.2126.580.8252.33 324.5
    202371.528.031.818.867.9126.284.7261.13 268.3
    County
    Oslo and Viken69.128.335.722.059.5120.166.7248.93 430.1
    Innlandet75.529.330.022.482.6104.6104.6309.53 758.1
    Vestfold og Telemark (2020-2023)63.725.933.521.451.1100.277.7288.52 631.9
    Agder54.222.225.916.950.628.045.3154.61 711.6
    Rogaland84.231.436.916.981.6174.5106.6266.56 467.0
    Vestland47.420.024.011.649.8107.741.1128.91 029.0
    Møre og Romsdal70.027.631.615.853.7175.122.4199.31 609.5
    Trøndelag - Trööndelage84.132.135.720.383.358.493.4282.24 691.4
    Nordland - Nordlánnda76.428.732.817.991.3146.892.8271.01 109.1
    Troms og Finnmark - Romsa ja Finnmárku (2020-2023)68.427.329.616.095.0152.416.894.2718.5
    Agricultural area in use
    - 49 decares46.521.543.89.125.062.9122.5251.13 942.0
    50 - 99 decares22.810.817.87.837.873.751.8138.8988.8
    100 - 199 decares30.713.216.110.760.9108.366.0208.31 967.8
    200 - 299 decares46.018.720.415.090.6135.666.5239.43 026.2
    300 - 499 decares68.626.928.219.9109.4162.073.5284.63 875.9
    500 decares or more131.147.047.329.0129.1210.099.1324.85 329.6
    Explanation of symbols
  • Domestic animals
    Domestic animals
    1999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
    Horses26 95928 46828 88329 50328 53129 02930 01931 15432 94634 38735 62536 71236 42436 34034 45233 11731 69429 93027 20326 59226 40026 13625 59526 52626 867
    Cattle, total1 033 070987 915978 854958 661956 916943 208933 698922 976905 515891 170878 134874 529864 139861 924853 655840 000853 327872 145885 292881 991874 136882 961899 712898 286875 553
    Cows349 757342 248336 173329 814329 698325 368320 837318 458314 309311 520306 288308 316305 239306 582303 897299 876303 048307 307312 954317 033310 234319 344326 783322 678317 195
    Dairy cows312 948297 731289 617281 502278 137271 970265 186259 084253 364248 283239 637238 442233 347233 257228 895223 997224 298221 485219 265219 016210 540213 511215 078208 197204 276
    Beef cows36 80944 51746 55648 31251 56153 39855 65159 37460 94563 23766 65169 87471 89273 32575 00275 87978 75085 82293 68998 01799 694105 833111 705114 481112 919
    Other cattle683 313645 667642 681628 847627 218617 840612 861604 518591 206579 650571 846566 213558 900555 342549 758540 124550 279564 838572 338564 958563 902563 617572 929575 608558 358
    Sheep, total2 324 7892 352 7052 452 8142 459 1852 481 0732 466 9652 423 0412 360 0622 267 1342 250 4712 289 8622 308 2912 300 4712 229 7342 273 9412 287 4102 380 4912 477 4002 417 8132 403 8262 306 3132 295 7362 285 8132 271 2672 191 084
    Sheep under 1 year1 369 4221 386 4271 452 6631 467 4951 494 4341 500 4571 468 3031 431 5761 372 6511 352 5871 382 2991 385 7721 380 0481 324 1281 362 4841 401 3111 462 1501 522 8041 477 4991 447 4371 405 3871 393 0111 369 6581 345 2031 280 488
    Sheep, 1 year and over955 367966 2781 000 151991 690986 639966 508954 738928 486894 483897 884907 563922 519920 423905 606911 457886 099918 341954 596940 314956 389900 926902 725916 155926 064910 596
    Goats, total78 59076 37374 99374 31172 39371 84373 05172 20771 98769 46768 27367 48567 23265 68364 12864 36167 00768 64665 56465 82665 17166 99760 41361 24071 753
    Dairy goats51 72450 29948 46746 78645 69245 09544 53242 36541 16138 85337 95936 65035 47635 15433 06431 51533 70234 98233 91334 46234 27833 69533 71433 51332 559
    Pigs, total738 372730 390710 788751 415790 717825 548824 237836 426837 892828 243845 019850 383854 334855 704851 058842 484848 813854 005851 998815 377786 121768 211816 962734 797732 016
    Pigs for breeding, total100 40890 79191 44292 40997 106100 886100 747102 48399 21699 618100 95497 58697 26396 59696 86294 67095 77192 58089 47985 77480 04475 90974 56170 84969 601
    Other pigs637 964639 599619 346659 006693 611724 662723 490733 943738 676728 625744 065752 797757 071759 108754 196747 814753 042761 425762 519729 603706 077692 302742 401663 948662 415
    Piglets265 009255 093247 451245 654267 791280 622275 323283 931271 588274 545286 420289 446283 322280 918280 949275 080275 694281 891267 396259 943248 981244 485248 064235 372236 800
    Pigs for slaughtering372 955384 506371 895413 352425 820444 040448 167450 012467 088454 080457 645463 351473 749478 190473 247472 734477 348479 534495 123469 660457 096447 817494 337428 576425 615
    Hens3 181 1743 290 5103 222 0223 189 9253 265 6443 528 5053 415 0793 362 9693 542 0943 668 4353 897 0493 952 8573 892 8614 019 0464 168 2804 245 6114 331 2094 339 1004 379 9114 487 5114 627 6234 593 1654 653 8004 667 5834 555 948
    Chicks bred for laying hens1 459 6141 188 732..1 014 4361 205 3641 410 7011 298 4681 318 7841 386 6411 280 1371 444 847966 7831 195 6641 062 4831 473 9881 540 7941 551 6121 553 532..1 253 855999 6511 224 7601 217 834939 6751 229 714
    Chicks for slaughtering4 833 8758 695 046..7 952 1688 108 4418 039 6318 881 73610 840 71812 606 07513 099 62313 159 33611 854 14811 782 41514 406 44215 974 60716 565 06614 583 62413 918 81215 642 77215 597 67216 096 16914 217 96915 632 86816 144 32616 484 295
    Explanation of symbols
  • Agricultural area per holding, by county.
    Agricultural area per holding, by county.
    202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009
    The whole country262.2259.7258.5254.7251.8248.6244.2239.2234.7229.4225.8221.7219.0215.8212.7
    2023
    Oslo and Viken333.5329.3326.1322.2........
    Østfold (-2019)....346.4341.7336.0333.9327.0321.8313.0307.8301.2297.7293.3
    Oslo and Akershus (-2019)....379.3372.6367.0361.2355.9350.7345.8336.6327.1321.5316.8
    Buskerud (-2019)....240.7236.6233.9231.3225.5223.3221.6219.0218.3215.0214.9
    Innlandet299.7295.1291.7286.6........
    Hedmark (-2019)....347.0339.2332.5323.6313.9305.3301.1294.0287.1281.8275.8
    Oppland (-2019)....233.2231.6224.2219.9214.8209.0205.2202.6200.0198.9196.5
    Vestfold og Telemark (2020-2023)254.7253.0251.1245.8........
    Vestfold (-2019)....303.6297.7292.0285.1277.4274.1268.6261.3257.9253.8247.7
    Telemark (-2019)....180.5177.4173.4172.3168.9165.3163.5159.5157.6155.8155.4
    Agder167.3167.8169.0168.6........
    Aust-Agder (-2019)....164.4163.8160.2160.2161.8159.5159.4158.3157.4152.8154.7
    Vest-Agder (-2019)....173.5176.1173.0169.8168.0164.7162.1159.3162.4159.0161.0
    Rogaland251.2249.9251.3247.6244.6242.2237.9234.6230.1223.2220.7216.7215.0210.6206.3
    Vestland139.6139.0140.2139.9........
    Hordaland (-2019)....132.4132.6132.3129.4128.1126.4125.6125.2126.4125.5124.1
    Sogn og Fjordane (-2019)....151.4150.2148.4145.2143.6141.4139.0137.3136.8135.5133.7
    Møre og Romsdal218.7217.5217.1212.9215.0214.7211.5203.2200.5194.3193.4190.0188.2187.0183.2
    Trøndelag - Trööndelage305.9302.0298.2291.8286.1280.3......
    Sør-Trøndelag (-2017)......263.9257.6252.4248.0244.7240.0236.6233.2227.6
    Nord-Trøndelag (-2017)......287.1279.7273.0265.1258.4253.0249.3245.2240.7
    Nordland - Nordlánnda306.1298.8298.2290.6280.1277.4269.7258.8254.5245.2238.6232.4228.8225.4224.6
    Troms og Finnmark - Romsa ja Finnmárku (2020-2023)314.8309.1305.5298.5........
    Troms - Romsa (-2019)....286.6276.7270.5256.6255.3241.3235.6226.3228.5220.6215.5
    Finnmark - Finnmárku (-2019)....320.0313.3304.3295.7289.3286.9285.1281.0270.6255.6264.0
    Explanation of symbols
  • Total number of holdings and holdings by type of holder.
    Total number of holdings and holdings by type of holder.
    Holdings, totalNatural personLegal person
    TotalGeneral partnership (joint operations)Joint-stock company, institution etc.
    201145 61242 9392 6732 164509
    201244 79442 3032 4911 994497
    201343 72641 3312 3951 902493
    201443 02240 7302 2921 795497
    201542 01839 7672 2511 704547
    201641 12139 0372 0841 546538
    201740 33838 2732 0651 467598
    201839 67837 6542 0241 383641
    201939 09037 0482 0421 344698
    202038 71336 6912 0221 310712
    202138 07936 1211 9581 250708
    202237 92135 9251 9961 222774
    202337 56135 5552 0061 201805
    2023
    Oslo and Viken6 0945 801293135158
    Innlandet6 7466 453293189104
    Vestfold og Telemark (2020-2023)2 5162 34716951118
    Agder1 8391 741984454
    Rogaland4 0003 76623414094
    Vestland5 8605 56129920693
    Møre og Romsdal2 3202 18713310231
    Trøndelag - Trööndelage5 3445 05628819989
    Nordland - Nordlánnda1 7791 6561238637
    Troms og Finnmark - Romsa ja Finnmárku (2020-2023)1 063987764927
    Agricultural area in use
    0 decares1 1 4211 21920277125
    1 - 4 decares2 23617759851
    5 - 49 decares4 2823 970312109203
    50 - 99 decares6 0345 802232118114
    100 - 199 decares8 9468 70424215092
    200 - 299 decares5 6385 47616210755
    300 - 499 decares5 7565 51524118556
    500 decares or more5 2484 692556447109
    1Comprise mainly joint operations with milk production.
    2Comprise mainly holdings in horticulture.
    Explanation of symbols
  • Agricultural area by use. Decares
    Agricultural area by use. Decares
    2023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008
    Agricultural area in use, total9 847 1859 846 4979 845 1679 859 6189 842 5409 862 8029 851 1169 836 6089 860 3559 867 6799 871 4289 928 6349 989 18710 059 85710 142 87410 244 883
    Cultivated land8 077 5278 074 1768 069 9128 076 6268 051 4628 062 8278 045 0628 081 5808 101 6278 111 3458 107 5158 163 2888 223 6378 301 4648 394 8108 493 510
    Open fields and gardens3 300 7653 301 2183 294 9513 270 9273 226 6333 275 6913 318 2953 331 6523 302 4513 325 9753 350 4903 434 2593 476 1603 535 9853 566 3593 609 245
    Grain and oil seeds2 858 0832 839 0382 859 2512 831 9712 789 8222 832 5912 891 0612 891 9822 861 9532 878 4652 895 1962 996 9943 039 5263 070 7023 104 1193 138 319
    Wheat644 580753 547635 927676 697803 508586 531757 546667 687857 572791 699548 392669 825738 901720 820815 997931 697
    Rye0000--....0..00000:
    Triticale87 770106 41183 12165 25093 12533 29283 69145 587104 13060 94730 14414 76152 80567 59571 22181 694
    Barley1 419 2211 313 2021 427 4481 392 2241 304 9541 479 5101 348 5681 375 5591 232 9161 265 0551 593 8711 565 3461 479 7461 461 8001 363 3851 299 067
    Oats684 489632 012685 183665 480550 981698 302676 211761 692632 550719 765688 166692 189716 049761 143810 310777 747
    Mixed grain and dry peas0000--....0..00000-
    Oil seeds19 29630 27724 21229 73234 28432 75823 11941 45734 78540 99934 62354 87352 02559 34443 20648 114
    Potato115 052118 977116 160115 064116 858116 138117 282119 839118 355123 452126 340126 681128 963132 399137 485143 212
    Roots for feed, crops for green fodder and silage0000--....0..00000:
    Green fodder and silage82 08290 07894 25795 106108 558110 50795 82090 72999 648112 783122 053105 190102 117119 319119 761130 566
    Vegetables, field grown81 22784 33482 99482 45383 65784 17980 92682 90776 76875 64570 78271 24868 68371 22072 27176 288
    Strawberries9 0779 40511 10112 38913 33714 16114 65715 45616 35216 78515 65415 12714 38513 90714 66015 233
    Other crops146 003150 411122 898128 732107 828112 701113 230121 464117 971109 765101 499107 160112 178117 660108 28396 247
    Fallow land7 4177 2306 4855 2126 5735 4145 3199 27511 4049 08018 96611 85910 19610 7789 7809 380
    Meadows for mowing and pastures6 546 4206 545 2796 550 2166 588 6886 615 9046 587 1116 532 8216 504 9566 557 9046 541 7046 520 9386 494 3756 513 1396 523 8726 576 5156 635 638
    Cultivated meadows4 778 5864 774 7034 776 7664 805 6994 824 8294 787 1364 726 7674 749 9284 799 1764 785 3704 757 0494 729 0294 747 5894 765 4794 828 4514 884 265
    Permanent grassland and surface cultivated land1 767 8341 770 5761 773 4501 782 9891 791 0751 799 9751 806 0541 755 0281 758 7281 756 3341 763 8891 765 3461 765 5501 758 3931 748 0641 751 373
    Surfacecultivated meadows212 542210 347208 684206 124200 423199 714195 037195 171197 670198 514199 525201 281200 655207 036224 545243 272
    Other infield pastureland1 555 2921 560 2291 564 7661 576 8651 590 6521 600 2611 611 0171 559 8571 561 0581 557 8201 564 3641 564 0651 564 8951 551 3571 523 5191 508 101
    Explanation of symbols

About the statistics

The statistics provide information about the number of agricultural holdings, their size and type of farming and the input of agricultural area and livestock.

Agricultural holding

A single unit both technically and economically, which has single management, and which produces agricultural products. The holding is independent of municipality boundaries. The headquarter of the holding shall be located to an agricultural property.

Holder

The natural person or legal person which is responsible for operating the agricultural holding. In the Central Register of Establishments and Enterprises natural person is registered as sole proprietorship. Other types of holder are general partnership, private limited company, foundation, state, municipality etc.

Holders are often classified into natural person and legal person. Furthermore, natural person is distributed by gender. Natural persons amount to about 95 per cent of the holders. Group holdings are classified as general partnership and included in legal person.

Agricultural area

Agricultural area is the sum of arable land, surface-cultivated meadows and infield pastureland.

Arable land

Agricultural area that has been ploughed and can still be ploughed. The area can be used for cultivation of field crops or meadows and pasture renewed by ploughing.

Surface- cultivated meadows

Agricultural area that is mostly cleared and levelled in such a way that it can be harvested mechanically.

Infield pastureland

Agricultural area that is suitable for grazing but cannot be mechanically harvested. At least 50 per cent of the area shall be covered by grasses or other plants that stand grazing.

Agricultural area in use

Agricultural land that is harvested at least once during a year, including sown or planted area of permanent crops, where no harvest has been produced so far. Arable land temporarily fallow for one year is included.

Type of farming and standard output

The classification of agricultural holdings by farm type is common for all EU- and EEA-countries. The type of farming of a holding is based on the relative contribution of different crop and livestock enterprises to the holdings total production. Including 1999, the classification of farm type was based on standard gross margin (SGM) as the common measurement unit of the various crop and livestock enterprises. As from 2010, SGM is replaced by standard output (SO) as common measurement unit. At the same time, some other minor methodological changes were done. Due to this, the type of farming from 2010 and onwards is not fully comparable with earlier type of farming.

The standard output (SO) for crop and livestock products is the regional average monetary value of the agricultural output at farm gate price over a reference period of five years. The SO is excluded direct payments, value added tax and taxes on products.

The total standard output of an agricultural holding is the total SO for all crop and livestock products produced by the holding within one year, i.e. SO per area unit of relevant crops multiplied by the total crop areas, and SO per head of relevant livestock multiplied by the number of livestock.

County and municipality where the headquarter of the holding is located, size of holding expressed in decares of utilised agricultural area, type of holder and type of farming of the holding.

Name: Holdings, agricultural area and livestock
Topic: Agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing

Not yet determined

Division for Housing, Property, Spatial and Agricultural Statistics

County, municipality

Annual, preliminary and final statistics

Statistics are reported to both EU and FAO.

Data file with anonymous individual data is stored at Statistics Norway.

The purpose is to obtain information about the number of agricultural holdings, their size and type of farming and the input of agricultural area and livestock in the agricultural industry.

Statistics Norway has carried out agricultural censuses in 1907, 1918, 1929, 1939, 1949, 1959, 1969, 1979, 1989, 1999 and 2010. The censuses in 1979, 1989 and 2010 comprised also all agricultural and forestry properties. Annually since 2000, Statistics Norway has updated a population of agricultural holdings and holders. The core of this population is holdings applying governmental subsidies, while other holdings are identified by matching several administrative and statistical registers.

The main users of the statistics are the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, the Agricultural Budget Commission, the Norwegian Farmers Union, the Norwegian Smallholders Union etc.

No external users have access to the statistics and analyses before they are published and accessible simultaneously for all users on ssb.no at 8 am. Prior to this, a minimum of three months' advance notice is given in the statistics release Calendar. This is one of Statistics Norway's key principles for ensuring that all users are treated equally.

The Norwegian Agriculture Agency is publishing statistics on livestock and use of agricultural area based on holdings applying governmental subsidies. Statistics Norway includes holdings which do not apply governmental subsidies when working out statistics on the structure of agricultural holdings. Holdings not applying governmental subsidies have in recent years constituted 1 - 2 per cent of all holdings and just one per cent of the utilised agricultural area.

Statistics Act §§2-1, 3-2.

Regulation (EC) No 1166/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council

The statistics comprises all active farms with production for sale. Active farms are defined as all holdings applying governmental subsidies together with a minor number of other holdings which cultivate crops or keep livestock above certain thresholds.

Holdings applying governmental subsidies constitute the bulk of the annual population of holdings. Holdings not applying governmental subsidies were identified by combining information from various other administrative data sources and statistical registers. Important sources at Statistics Norway and outside are:

  • The Central Register of Establishments and Enterprises (Statistics Norway)
  • The Census of Agriculture 2010 (Statistics Norway)
  • Sample surveys of agriculture (Statistics Norway)
  • The Register of Approved Carcasses (Norwegian Agriculture Agency)
  • The Register of Deliveries of cereals and oil-seeds (Norwegian Agriculture Agency)
  • The Register of Bovine Animals (Norwegian Food Safety Authority)
  • The Income Tax Return including supplementary forms (Norwegian Tax Administration)

The statistics are based on collocation of data files that have been separately edited when established.

1 - 2 per cent of the holdings do not apply governmental subsidies. For most of these holdings, utilised agricultural area and livestock numbers are derived from administrative or statistical registers.

Not relevant

Figures are not presented if there is a risk of identifying any holding.

Broadly speaking, the statistics are comparable with information from previous agricultural censuses. In censuses before 1999, the census date has mostly been 20 June. In the years 1999 - 2016, the census (Reference) date was 31 July, except for sheep. As from 2017, the reference date is 1 October.

Including 1979, censuses covered all cultivation of crops and all livestock, irrespective of holding size. However, in census publications, many tables were limited to holdings operating at least 5 decares of agricultural area. Almost all agriculture ran as business took place at these holdings, whereas holdings operating less than 5 decares generally represented hobby-like production for consumption in own household.

From 1989 to 1999 the number of joint operations (group holdings) with cow or goat milk production increased. When applying subsidies, these holdings were registered without utilised agricultural area. Areas used to produce feed for the joint operations were registered on holdings belonging to the partners in the joint operations. Due to this, the threshold of 5 decares agricultural area was repealed. The change also included horticultural holdings. As from the Census of Agriculture 1999 and onwards, the statistics include holdings operating less than 5 decares of utilised agricultural area on condition that crop areas (i.e. vegetables, fruit, berries, nurseries, flowers and ornamental plants) or livestock numbers are above certain thresholds.

Including 1999, the holding was limited by municipalty boundaries. As from 1999, holdings may have activity in several municipalities, e.g. operating rented agricultural area. In statistics, all owned or rented agricultural area operated by the holding is allocated to the municipality where the headquarter of the holding is located. Increase in renting of agricultural area may cause significant changes in total agricultural area for some municipalities.

In 2009, a governmental subsidy was introduced for holdings keeping at least 25 beehives. This caused an increase of about 300 holdings with solely beehives.

Agricultural area and crops

In previous censuses including 1989, lawns and ornamental gardens on holdings were included in the agricultural area. In the Census of Agriculture 1989, lawns and ornamental gardens amounted to 46 000 decares. As from the Census of Agriculture 1999, lawns and ornamental gardens are excluded.

In the 1990-ties, the agricultural area subsidies were extended to unfertilized fenced-in pasture, so-called infield pastureland. In previous years infield pastureland had to be fertilized to be eligible for subsidies and were referred to as fertilized pastureland. In previous censuses, fertilized pastureland was part of natural meadows and surface-cultivated meadows. The introduction of infield pastureland has included some new areas as agricultural area. From 1989 to 1999, the total area of surface-cultivated meadows and infield pastureland increased by 418 000 decares. This increase must also be seen in the light of the fact that placing more emphasis on area-based subsidies made it more profitable for the holdings to include marginal agricultural land in their subsidy applications. Another reason is the introduction of official requirements regarding area for spreading of manure.

It should be noticed that as from the Census of Agriculture 1999, crop areas are given in decares without decimals. In previous years, all crop areas were given in decares with one decimal. Thus, areas less than one decare is rarely included in 1999 and onwards. This is most related to potatoes, field-grown vegetables, fruit and berries, and particularly for the number of holdings growing these crops. Including 2016, greenhouse area was reported in m2. As from 2017, greenhouse area is reported in decares without decimal.

The utilised Agricultural area was at a peak in 2001 With 10,47 million decares. From 2005 to 2013, the agricultural area, included unutilised Agricultural area, decreased by 4.7 per cent. According to information given by the Norwegian Agriculture Agency, introduction of digital farm maps in this period caused about 3.3 per cent decrease of the Agricultural area. A reason for this decrease could be more accurate area measuring. Another reason could be that previous decrease in areas was not recorded before the new maps were implemented. The decrease of agricultural area excluded new maps is estimated to 1.4 per cent in the period 2005 - 2013.

Livestock
In the years 1999 - 2016, the livestock numbers refer to census (reference) date 31 July, except sheep for which the date is 1 June, or the day they are released for grazing. In censuses before 1999, the census date has mostly been 20 June. Changing the date by 1-2 months may have some influence on the livestock figures. However, optimizing the number of animals in relation to the reference date for subsidies is probably of more significance. As from 2017, the reference date is 1 October for most livestock.

The most important source of error is that holders may fill in incorrect information when applying governmental subsidies. In most cases this will be discovered and corrected by the local agricultural authority. Nevertheless, errors that do not influence the holders amount of subsidy can be ignored. Earlier, errors may also arise from the scanning of forms despite of the fact that controls were executed.

Regarding holdings not applying governmental subsidies, the statistics are based on several data sources which are updated at different times. These registers may contain errors or lack of information. E.g., estimates of cereal areas based on deliveries of grain and estimates of livestock numbers based on approved carcasses may deviate from the real figures.

Sometimes it is difficult to decide whether a holding not applying for governmental subsidies is operated on the reference date or is ceased. There is also a risk that not all eligible holdings are identified during the examination of data sources.

Not relevant

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