14 - AGRICULTURE

Contents

1. Census data

2. Characteristics of agricultural holdings

3. Agricultural and zootechnical productions (Istat-Eurostat)

4. Zootechnical production (Regione Lombardia)

5. Forests and wood production

6. Use of plant protection products, fertilisers and seeds

7. Economic results of agricultural holdings and production value

 

1. Census data

The main objective of the economic censuses is to provide a detailed and complete picture of the national economic system. The censuses also enable to have complete and updated registers of production units (enterprises, institutions), which can be used between the censuses as a basis for sample surveys.

The 5th Census of Agriculture (the last one for which data are available) was conducted with reference to 22 October 2000. The Censuses are carried out every 10 years; the new Census of Agriculture is being conducted in 2010.

The field of observation of the 2000 Census covered all agricultural, forest and zootechnical holdings. It also included:

- agricultural holdings belonging to research institutes, to hospitals, to clinics, to religious communities, to penal institutes, and to industrial enterprises;

- livestock farming of bulls and breeding boars, livestock farming of horses, and hatcheries;

- agricultural holdings made up of permanent grassland and / or pasture land run by municipal administrations (generally rented to other holdings for the pasture of livestock);

Land properties used for particular purposes, unless included in the total area of an active agricultural holding, were excluded from the field of observation of the Census. This exclusions concerned mainly:

- building grounds or, in any case, land not used for agricultural purposes;

- parks and ornamental gardens;

- totally abandoned land;

- small household gardens whose production was generally used for self-consumption (except for those cases then the owner of the garden was at the same an agricultural holder; in this case the garden was considered as a part  of the agricultural holding);

- small breedings, made up of only one or two head of livestock (pigs, sheep, goat, poultry), and generally used for self-consumption (except for those cases then the owner of the livestock was at the same an agricultural holder; in this case the livestock was considered as a part  of the agricultural holding);

Also excluded from the field of observation were horse stables, land for racing horses, dog breeding, centres for the trade in livestock, and slaughter houses that did not carry out any animal farmer.

Fisheries were included in the field of observation only when they belonged to an agricultural holding.

The survey unit of the Census was the agricultural forest or zootechnical holding, which can be defined as the technical-economic unit made up of land were agricultural, forest or zootechnical production activities are performed by the holder.

The main characteristics of the agricultural holdings are:

- the use of for land for agricultural and/or forest and/or zootechnical productions;

- the presence of a holder, i.e. a person, a company or an entity. The holder bore the risk related to the activity of the holding.

Also considered as agricultural holdings were those holdings without any land, in particular:

- zootechnical holdings with intensive breeding of livestock (without agricultural land);

- zootechnical holdings whose livestock were bred using pasture land belonging to third parties (municipalities, private and public entities).

 

 

2. Characteristics of agricultural holdings

Data on the characteristics of agricultural holdings are collected by Istat through the survey “ structure and production of agricultural holdings”.

This survey enables to monitor how the structure of agricultural holdings changes over time, by observing the areas dedicated to the various cultivations, the quantities of livestock, the organisation, the relations with the market, etc.

In the survey also some data concerning the production are collected (at the regional level):  cereals, dried pulses, plants for industry use, grapes, oil, as well as some zootechnical productions (number of head and milk production).

The survey unit is the agricultural holding (the same of the censuses). The data excludesmall household gardens, small breedings, studs for horses and fisheries.

The field of observation for EU statistics excludes holdings with a UAA (utilised agricultural area) smaller than one hectare and with a saleable production of less than 2,500 euro.

The survey is a sample survey and is conducted on a three-year basis (it is not conducted n the years of the Census). The sample is  made up of about 63,000 agricultural holdings.

Since 2003 the data are collected through a personal interview with a printed questionnaire.

 

3. Agricultural and zootechnical productions (Istat-Eurostat)

Statistics in this section refer to a variety of themes: production of animal feedingstuff, production of grapes and wine, dairy products, head of livestock by species, slaughter of animals.

The national data, disaggregated at the regional level (and in some cases alto at the provincial level) are collected and disseminated by Istat. They are also transmitted to Eurostat, which releases the EU statistics.

Survey on the production and distribution of animal feedingstuff

The survey collects information on the quantity of complete and complementary animal feedingstuff produced, exported, imported and distributed by holdings.

Type of survey: sample survey

Sample size: around 14,000 units

Frequency of the survey: yearly

Survey unit: agricultural, forest and zootechnical holdings that produce animal feedingstuff with their own trademark.

Survey method: postal survey (a printed questionnaire is filled in by the respondent)

 

Survey on the use of grapes produced

This survey is carried out on a yearly basis and observes how grapes are used: for direct consumption, production of wine, or distillation.

This survey does not involve data collection; the information is estimated. For each province a group of experts, on the basis of specific evaluation on the territory, provides an estimation of the use of grapes.

 

Annual survey on milk production and dairy products

This survey covers the production of milk and dairy products.

Type of survey: total, on around 2,350 units

Frequency of the survey: yearly

Survey unit: cheese dairies, milk factories, milk collection centres, establishments of agricultural holdings, establishments of agricultural cooperatives.

Survey method: CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing)

 

Survey on livestock (cattle, pigs, sheep and goats)

This survey collects information on the quantities of pigs and cattle on 1 December and 1 June. On 1 December also the quantities of sheep and goats are surveyed.

Type of survey: sample survey

Sample size: around 9,000 unit in December and 6,000 in June

Frequency of the survey: every six months (1 June and 1 December)

Survey unit: agricultural, forest and zootechnical holdings.

Survey method: CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing)

 

Slaughtering of animals

This survey covers to livestock slaughtered in authorised slaughter houses during the reference year. The data collected refer to the number of head, the live weight and the dead weight. The species considered are: cattle, pigs, sheep and goats.

Type of survey: total, on around 1,600 establishments

Frequency of the survey: yearly

Survey unit: the slaughter house.

Survey method: CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing)

 

 

4. Zootechnical production (Regione Lombardia)

Detailed statistics on zootechnical production in the provinces of Lombardy are produced and disseminated  by Regione Lombardia, General Directorate for Agriculture through ERSAF (Regional Agency for Agricultural and Forest Services).

One of Regione Lombardia’s objectives is to ensure the competitiveness of enterprises through their technological development. For this purpose, specific measures have been implemented in the framework of the Regional Development Plan 2007-2013 and through regional laws, aimed specifically at identifying optimal production techniques.

Also in view of the next revision of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), particular attention is being paid to the priorities of agriculture after 2013.

 

5. Forests and wood production

Statistics in this section are produced by Istat, through the survey on “felling surfaces and wood and not wood removals from forests”.

The survey collects information on the removal of wood from areas that cannot be defined as forests, according to the different types of wood. It is conducted every year and is based on administrative data.

Since 31 December 2007, the survey units are the Forest Guards Stations.

 

6. Use of plant protection products, fertilisers and seeds

Plant protection products

Every years Istat runs a survey on the distribution of plant protection products for agricultural use. Plant protection products (also known as agricultural pharmaceuticals, phytomedicines or phytosanitary products) include active substances designed to protect plants or products of plant origin from harmful organisms or prevent their effects, to boost or regulate plants’ vital processes, to preserve products of plant origin, to eliminate unwanted plants, to eliminate parts of plants and to hold back or prevent their unwanted growth.

Their spread is assuming increasing interest as a result of the population’s and institutions’ greater concern about health, food and water quality, and environmental protection.

In general, recent agronomic trends and EU policy guidelines have tended not to increase the quantity of plant protection products distributed and used in crops, instead giving priority to the defence of plants through integrated, organic farming methods as well as maintaining the qualitative characteristics of agricultural produce. Against this background, the statistical data presented make it possible to analyse the potential harmful residues contained in agricultural produce and in water.

The survey on plant protection products covers all enterprises that distribute plant protection products in Italy, either under their own brand or foreign brands.

The data are collected through questionnaires (o paper or electronic) filled in by the respondents, who transmit them to Istat. The information to be provided refers to the quantities (in kg) of plant protection products (produced in Italy or imported and broken down by category) that are distributed and to the active principles they contain.

The response rate of the survey relating to 2009 was 85.5%. In order to reduce non-response, several reminders are made, either by mail or by phone.

The population of enterprises to be surveyed is updated every year, by integrating the information available in the Istat register with data from other registers. Additional information on enterprises is derived from sectoral press and/or is provided by sectoral associations.

 

Fertilisers

In addition to information of the distribution of plant protection products, Istat also releases data on the distribution of fertilisers for agricultural use.

For each type of fertiliser, the data collected refer to the quantity of nutrients according to law provisions and to the entire content of nutrients as declared by the distributing enterprise. The survey excludes fertilizers distributed for non-agricultural use, i.e. those intended for domestic use or for the production of other industrial products.

The survey covers all enterprises that distribute fertilisers  in Italy, either under their own brand or foreign brands. Fertilisers are defined according to law provisions (Lawn. 748/84 and subsequent modifications, including Decree 29 April 2006, n. 217.

The data are collected through questionnaires (o paper or electronic) filled in by the respondents, who transmit them to Istat. The information to be provided refers to the quantities (in kg) of fertilizers (produced in Italy or imported) that are distributed.

The response rate of the survey relating to 2008 was 82.7%.

 

Seeds

Data on the distribution of seeds are collected by Istat through a specific survey on all that operate in the distribution of seed products, either under their own brand or foreign brands.

The survey covers all species of seeds, including those of “ornamental plants and flowers” and those of the “other plants”.

Given that the germinative capacity of the seeds varies from species to species and often lasts for various years, the year of distribution may not correspond to the year of production or import.

 

7. Economic results of agricultural holdings and production value

Data on production, costs and value added of agriculture, forestry and fisheries are estimated by Istat on regional level. Estimated for year 2009 are in line with the National Economic Accounts and with the revisions at current prices for the 2006-2008 period.

The series are the result of the periodical updating of the statistical sources used to calculate the annual data and of methodological improvements introduced since 2005.

Values in the time series are in thousand euro at current prices, at prices of the previous year and at concatenated values (base 2000). It should be noted that values in the concatenated series cannot be added.

Data relating to recent years are provisional, because they are estimated according to the base data available on 1 February 2010.

In 1999 Istat started to release the results of the revision of the National Accounts, in compliance with the new European System of Accounts (ESA95). Detailed information on the revision are available in the explanatory note to Section 7 – Economic accounts

The revision of the main aggregates, i.e., production, intermediate consumption and value added covered all economic sectors, including agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

With the adoption of ESA95 the following main developments to the methodology used in the agriculture accounts were introduced:

• the basis unit is the “local unit of economic activity”, within the agricultural sector it is represented by the agricultural holding;
• new definitions of production and intermediate consumption;
• the accounting of the secondary activity;
• the adoption of the Nace rev.1 classification of economic activities;
• the assessment at basic prices.

To estimate the accounts of agriculture Istat uses the results of several surveys on the sector, among which the above-mentioned sample survey on the structure of agricultural holdings

Of particular importance amongst the surveys used is also the survey on the Economic results of agricultural holdings, which is conducted on a yearly basis since 1997, in compliance with EU regulation 2223/96.