Census of Agriculture 2010

Census of Agriculture 2010 was conducted by Statistics Norway, Division for Primary Industry Statistics. The census was organized as a separate project in the division in the period 2008-2012. Complete censuses have been conducted about every tenth year since 1907.

Populations

The Census of Agriculture 2010 comprised:

• A combined questionnaire and register-based census of 46 624 agricultural holdings
• A register-based census of 189 000 agricultural properties

Holdings

The census covered both national and international user needs. Norway is obliged to report data on holdings to EU’s statistical office Eurostat in accordance with the EEA Agreement. This reporting was completed within the deadline set by Eurostat. Common data requirements, including a new typology for agricultural holdings, make it possible to present comparable statistics for all EU and EEA countries. Chapter 9 contains such statistics.

The questionnaire and register-based census of holdings comprised all holdings with at least 5 decares of agricultural land on 31 July 2010. In addition, supplementary requirements were determined to cover holdings with livestock or horticulture over certain thresholds.

The questionnaire-based data collection comprised three different questionnaires:

• The main questionnaire for all holdings
• The Horticultural questionnaire for units with horticulture over defined thresholds
• The Additional questionnaire on agricultural area and livestock filled in by units which did not apply for production subsidies in agriculture

Out of the total of 46 624 holdings, 3 036 ran horticulture over the defined thresholds. The most important administrative data source for the holdings was the applications for governmental subsidies in agriculture. This register contains detailed information on the use of agricultural land and the numbers of different livestock species. 855 units did not apply production subsidies and had to fill in the additional questionnaire.

Approximately 24 per cent of the respondents used the electronic questionnaire on the governmental web portal Altinn.

For the first time, statistics were presented on the holdings’ total turnover based on the VAT register.

Agricultural properties

Statistics on agricultural properties are based on data from the Farm Register, the National Cadastre and digital land resource maps. Use of map-based tools (GIS) was crucial in two development projects concerning agricultural properties: an area project and a project on the number of fields operated by each holding. The first mentioned project resulted in an improved population of agricultural properties, total area of the properties and the total area divided into 23 different land types.

Implementation of the census is documented in Notes 2013/27 Census of Agriculture 2010. Documentation.