Farm Structure Survey Results

Introductory note

Contents

Farm structure survey FSS 2005 was the second sample survey between two exhaustive surveys that are carried out regularly in the beginning and in the end of the decade. The FSS 2005 is aimed to update and complete information obtained by the across-the-board agricultural census referred to as Agrocensus 2000, i.e. describe perfectly up-to-date structure of agricultural holdings, their position, economy size and production orientation in the system of characteristics that are included in EU legislation. Processed data were utilised mainly to update the Farm Register, which is the basis for generating of samples for regular surveys. Grossing-up processed data overview the structure of the holdings in agriculture.

During farm structure surveys’ preparations the Czech Statistical Office followed EU regulation as from Agrocensus 2000. Basic law, that places duty for member states to organise surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings in their country, was Council Regulation (EEC) No. 571/88 of 29 February 1988. Other follow-up regulation was Commission Decision 2000/115/EC of 24 November 1999 relating to the definitions of the characteristics, the list of agricultural products, the exceptions to the definitions and the regions and districts regarding the surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings.

Farm Structure Survey 2003 served as the preparation of new countries before joining the European Union. Regulation for survey 2003 was Commission Regulation (EC) No. 143/2002 of 24 January 2002 amending Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 571/88 in view of the organisation of the Community surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

As a result of the accession of 10 new countries including the Czech Republic on 1 May 2004, Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2139/2004 of 8 December 2004 adapting and implementing Council Regulation (EEC) No 571/88 and amending Commission Decision 2000/115/EC with a view to the organisation of Community surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings in 2005 and 2007 came into force. This regulation amends the list of surveyed characteristics and defines characteristics that were not surveyed in previous surveys. It also determines that all Member States’ statistics transmitted to the Commission, which are broken down by territorial units should use the NUTS classification. Consequently, the regions and districts should be defined in accordance with the NUTS classification. Moreover, there are set out time limits for the communication of validated individual data from the farm structure survey.

Pursuant to Regulation (EC) No. 1435/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 2004 amending, as a result of enlargement, Council Regulation (EEC) No 571/88 on the organisation of Community surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings, it is appropriate to provide for a maximum Community contribution per survey in this new Member states in 2005 and 2007.

The new political goal of achieving a sustainable common agricultural policy calls for more information, especially on rural development.

New national legislation in the framework of business in agriculture Act No. 85/2004 Sb., on the agriculture, came into force at 1 May 2004, i. e. at the moment of accession the Czech Republic to European Union. Besides new definition of business in agriculture the law brought a change of registration. New agricultural entrepreneurs fulfilling conditions prescribed by law obtain a certificate about registration as agricultural entrepreneur. Farmers registered according to previous regulations have to be reregistered excluding private farmers. Their certificates are valid till 1 May 2009. Natural person keeping small planting and breeding activities is not subject to registration as agricultural entrepreneur.

Among reporting units of farm structure survey 2005 new legal forms occur, i.e. unincorporated agricultural entrepreneur – natural person, incorporated agricultural entrepreneur – natural person. Reporting duty for farm structure survey applied to all natural and legal persons regardless of legal forms that are engaged in agriculture from level of thresholds.

Farm Structure Survey 2005 was based on the thresholds set up for Agrocensus 2000 in the Czech Republic. The FSS included most applied characteristics of state nature. For these characteristics, the reporting units gave the value of indicator with reference to the state existing at the moment of the survey carried out during September. Total results were then related to 30 September 2005. Due to the methodology (AWU - Annual Work Unit), the quantities concerning the use of labour force in agriculture were measured for the previous period (October 2004 to September 2005). Besides characteristics about agricultural primary production, the reporting units were asked questions about their follow up activity relating to environment, utilisation of rural area, agro tourism.