This “industry” of agriculture embraces agricultural primary production enterprises (holdings) engaged in crop and livestock production. The data are mostly sample surveyed, the sample of respondents is based on the updated Farm Register, and the results are grossed up by statistical mathematical methods for agricultural sector (without own-account production). 100% structural surveys, which cover all agricultural units, are conducted at rather long time intervals.

Basic unit for records in the area of agricultural statistics is an agricultural holding, which carries out activities principally classified as agricultural and defined by any of the following threshold values: the agricultural land area of 1 hectare at minimum or 1 500 m² of grown intensive crops (orchards, flowers, vegetables grown in the open) or 1 000 m² of vineyards or 300 m² of area under cover or a minimum of 1 head of cattle or 2 pigs or 4 sheep and goats or 50 heads of poultry or 100 rabbits or fur animals. Meeting at least one of the criteria is sufficient for incorporation of units into the agricultural sector.

Areas under crops are measured by censuses taken as at 31 May and cover production areas (i.e. arable land areas, areas under crops in orchards and gardens; and areas of meadows and pastures temporarily ploughed and used for sowing), which are to be harvested in the reference period. They include areas under winter, spring and perennial crops. The item "Set-aside arable land” includes all arable land not sown or planted, regardless of reason. This land is not included into the area under crops.

A harvest is the total quantity of a crop (excl. seed crops and crop planting stock), which has a standard moisture content and standard purity; it includes inferior portions of the crop appropriate e.g. to feed livestock (such as grain waste, small discarded potatoes, etc.). A yield per hectare is the ratio of harvest to production area. The production area, with the exception of grain maize, green maize, silage and permanent grassland is equal to the area under crops. The harvest of individual fruits from fruit trees and bushes is measured by means of questionnaires on final harvests of agricultural crops as at the end of year.

Livestock population is derived from livestock censuses taken as at 1 April. Cows are breeding dams calved at least once, both mated and non-mated. Sows are breeding dams farrowed at least once (excluding sows discarded from breeding), including those not farrowed. Poultry includes hens and cocks, geese and ganders, ducks and drakes, turkey hens and cocks (including young ones).

Meat production in terms of carcass weight includes data from all slaughtering houses in the Czech Republic. Inevitable slaughters are counted in the carcass weight providing the meat is used for human consumption. The average live weight of pigs for slaughter excludes sows and boars. According to the EU-legislation, methodology of carcass weight calculation was changed in 2007. In compliance with the EU legislation, new coefficients have been used since 2007 for determination of the carcass weights. These coefficients were employed for recalculation of data back to 2006.

The size structure of agricultural holdings is based on the data kept in the Farm Register. This register was established in 2000 from results of an agricultural census and is annually updated according to statistical reporting on the one hand and sample surveys on the other hand.

FORESTRY

Forestry comprises all organisations whose activity is based on establishing, regeneration and protection of forests, on felling and game management in connection with forest operation. Figures on forestry are reported on CZSO annual questionnaires completed and submitted by incorporated businesses with 20+ employees and forestry as their principal activity (CZ-NACE), and by businesses managing forest land area of 200 ha or more.

Afforestation/reforestation refers to the artificial afforestation, i.e. planting and sowing (i.e. natural regeneration is excluded).

Timber removal comprises a felled tree volume of large and small timber measured in m³ u. b., which was accepted as final assortment or whole-stem logs and so-called self-production felling. The volume is counted irrespective of what kind of thinning or felling it is derived from and includes salvage felling.

Cleaning is treatment of young-growth stand, whose purpose is primarily to reduce stand density and optimising the health and quality of conditions of the forest stand. The total area of cleaning and clean cutting is counted in, including streamside stand cleaning.

Thinning refers to intentional silvicultural measures in premature stands, usually older than those classified to the first age groups, which are carried out in order to tend and improve the overall state of stands. These measures include, in particular, stand structure modifications, morphological tending of stands, and stand stabilization, and are to increase the increment without permanent decrease in stand density.

The chapter also contains data on hunting. Data, which are published, are data from reporting units that come under the departmental statistical surveys of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Environment.