Archive:Agricultural census in Belgium
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This article is part of a series of country-specific essays on the results of the European Union (EU) Farm structure survey (FSS) 2010. The FSS collects information on the structural characteristics of agricultural holdings (land use, livestock and labour force) and is carried out by all European Union Member States every 10 years as an Agricultural census, with two or three additional, intermediate sample surveys carried out in-between. The present analysis of Belgian farm structure includes a comparison with the FSS 2000.
Belgian data from the FSS 2000 were published at NUTS 1 level (2 regions), while data from the FSS 2010 was available at NUTS 2 level (11 regions). Due to this inconsistency in the publication of regional data, this analysis of Belgian agriculture was conducted only at national level. However, hyperlinks to the regional data are also provided throughout the article.
Source: Eurostat (ef_kvaareg) (ef_ov_kvaa) (demo_pjan) and FSS 2000 and 2010
_by_UAA_size_classes_BE_2010.PNG)
Source: Eurostat (ef_kvaareg) (ef_ov_kvaa)
Source: Eurostat (ef_kvftreg)
Source: Eurostat (ef_lu_ovcropaa) (ef_oluaareg)
Source: Eurostat (ef_lu_ovcropaa) (ef_oluaareg)
Source: Eurostat (ef_mptenure)
Source: Source: Eurostat (ef_pmhouscatlaa)
Main statistical findings
Key indicators
In 2010, there were 42 850 agricultural holdings in Belgium (see Table 1), one of the lowest values recorded in the EU-28. Among the other EU Member States, Denmark (42 100) reported a similar number of farms. Between 2000 and 2010, about one third (31%) of Belgian agricultural holdings ceased their activities, as there were 61 710 farms in 2000.
The utilised agricultural area (UAA) in Belgium also decreased, although at a lower rate (-2.6%). In 2010 the UAA was 1.4 million hectares, covering 44% of the country’s territory.
As shown in Table 1, 3.8 million livestock units (LSU) were reported in Belgium in 2010; Denmark (4.9 million LSU) and Austria (2.5 million LSU) recorded the closest values among the other EU-28 countries. Between the two reference years, the Belgian population of farm animals decreased by 13%, from the 4.4 million LSU recorded in 2000.
As seen across the EU-28, the number of people regularly working on farms in Belgium decreased, to 80 940 (-24%). In absolute terms, about 26 200 people left the agricultural sector over the decade. The agricultural labour force represented only 1.6% of the Belgian active population[1] in 2010, one of the lowest proportions among the EU Member States.
Agricultural holdings
The Belgian population of farms was roughly evenly distributed across all the UAA size classes (see Figure 1) in 2010. The largest proportion of holdings (17%) were in the 30 to 49 hectares size band, followed by 16% of holdings with between 50 to 99 hectares of UAA and 16% with 10 to 19 hectares of agricultural land. However, holdings with 50 to 99 ha of UAA covered 34% of the Belgian agricultural area, the highest percentage of land covered by a single class of farms in 2010, while farms with 10 to 19 ha of UAA covered just 7%.
See detailed data for 2000 and 2010
Economic size of the farm
As Table 2 shows, the total standard output (SO) of Belgian agricultural holdings was EUR 7 248 million in 2010, an increase of 9.2% from 2007. Among the other EU Member States, Denmark (EUR 8 431 million) and Greece (EUR 6 700 million) recorded similar values. This overall increase was solely due to the largest holdings (in terms of economic size). Those with an economic size of at least EUR 500 000 increased their SO by 61% between 2007 and 2010, while those in the EUR 250 000 and 499 999 size band showed a 5.7% increase. Together, these two largest classes of farms accounted for 64% of the Belgian SO in 2010. In contrast, farms with a smaller SO recorded falls compared to 2007.
Agricultural holdings by main type of farming
In terms of the main type of farming, farms specialising in cattle-rearing and fattening were the most dominant, accounting for 19% of the total number of holdings in 2010 (see Figure 2). Farms dedicated to general field cropping accounted for a further 15%, followed by dairy holdings (13%).
If the standard output of holdings is taken into account, the ranking looks different as pig farms accounted for the largest proportion (20%) of the country’s total SO in 2010. Holdings specialising in dairying made up the second highest proportion of SO (14%), followed by farms dedicated to cattle-rearing and fattening (10%).
See detailed data for 2010
Land use
The Utilised Agricultural Area (UAA) is the total area used by a holding, regardless of the type of tenure or whether it is used as a part of common land. Generally, it is made of up arable land, permanent grassland and meadow, permanent crops and kitchen gardens.
The Belgian agricultural area consists essentially of arable land and permanent grassland and meadow, as these two components together accounted for about 98% of the country’s UAA in both reference years. However, both components reduced in area between 2000 and 2010, with arable land losing roughly 29 000 hectares (-3.4%) and permanent grassland and meadow 7 260 hectares (-1.4%).
See detailed data for 2000 and 2010
Arable land
In Belgium, arable land mostly consists of cereals and fodder crops. As shown in Table 3, cereals covered about a quarter of the Belgian agricultural area in 2010 and increased by 8.2% to 339 thousand hectares in 2010. In contrast, land dedicated to fodder crops fell by 7.5% to 263 thousand hectares, though it still accounted for 19% of the country’s UAA in 2010.
See detailed data for 2000 and 2010
Permanent grassland and meadow
In 2010, pasture and meadow was by far the main component of permanent grassland and meadow; it covered 491 230 hectares and accounted for 36% of the country’s UAA. In 2000, pasture and meadow was actually the sole element (506 950 ha) of permanent grassland and meadow, as no land was recorded under “rough grazing”. However in 2010 there were 2 940 hectares of rough grazing (see Table 3).
See detailed data for 2000 and 2010
Livestock
Statistics on livestock use two different units of measurement: the number of head (number of animals) and livestock units (LSU), with the latter allowing comparison between different types.
In relative terms, there were 0.35 LSU per inhabitant in Belgium in 2010. Over the timeframe under analysis, the Belgian population grew (+5.9%) while the number of livestock dropped (-13%). Hence, the number of farm animals per inhabitant was higher in 2000 (0.43 LSU).
In 2010, Belgian farms had mainly cattle and pigs, which together accounted for 90% of the country’s livestock population. As shown in Table 4, cattle were the most common type of livestock with 1.8 million LSU, 48% of the total population of farm animals. Pigs accounted for a slightly smaller proportion (42%) with 1.6 million LSU (-12% compared to 2000). Although they decreased by 17% (-68 370 LSU) between the two reference years, poultry were the third most common livestock (340 590 LSU) and accounted for 9.0% of the entire LSU population in 2010.
The total number of farms in Belgium fell by 31% between 2000 and 2010 (-18 860 farms). Since the population of holdings with livestock dropped at a slightly higher rate (-33%), the ratio between holdings with farm animals and the total number of agricultural holdings decreased from 77% in 2000 to 74% in 2010.
Labour force
In 2010, 80 940 people were working on farms in Belgium; about a quarter fewer than in 2000 (see Table 5). In terms of annual work units (AWU), the decrease is similar, falling by 20% from 72 190 AWU in 2000 to 57 430 AWU in 2010.
As shown in Figure 6, the proportions of male and female holders remained unchanged between 2000 and 2010.
Management practices
Type of tenure
In contrast with the trend observed across the EU-28, a major proportion of Belgian agricultural land (66%) was farmed by tenants in 2010 (see Table 6). A further 33% was farmed by farm owners, while only 1.1% of the country’s UAA (15 420 ha) was farmed in partnership by the landlord and the sharecropper under a written or oral share-farming contract.
Animal housing
In 2010, 24 950 holdings farmed about 2.6 million cattle in Belgium. Among the other European Member States, Sweden (21 590) reported a comparable number of farms with cattle.
As shown in Table 7, the type of housing where the cows are free to move and the manure is typically removed mechanically was most common in 2010, both in terms of the number of holdings (67%) and the total animal capacity (about 1.3 million places). Going by the number of holdings, the second most common type of animal housing was that where cattle are tied to their places with the manure removed mechanically, at 59% of holdings with cattle. However in terms of the animal capacity, “loose housing with slurry” was the second most common type of animal housing (732 710 places).
Other gainful activities
According to the Agricultural census 2010, there were 3 360 holdings with other gainful activities in Belgium, 7.8% of farms. These farms recorded activities other than farm work, directly related to the holding and having an economic impact on the farm.
Information on other gainful activities was collected for eleven different categories and a holding could have more than one activity. As in many other EU Member States, the most common extra source of income in Belgium was contractual work, which was reported by 1 240 farms.
The Belgian region of West-Vlaanderen recorded the largest number of farms with other gainful activities (790), 8.2% of the farms within the region. However West-Vlaanderen also had the largest number of farms. Hainaut had the largest proportion of farms with other gainful activities, with 10% of the region's holdings undertaking these activities.
Organic farming
Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. It is based on the minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain or enhance ecological harmony.
In Belgium, organic farming was an uncommon practice, undertaken by just 0.02% of farms and taking up only 2.1% of the country’s agricultural area.
See detailed data for 2010, 2007, 2005, 2003 and 2000
Data sources and availability
Methodological notes Belgium – Agricultural census 2010
In Belgium, the National Statistical Office is the responsible body for the Agricultural census, though the data collection is conducted by the local administrations.
Survey on agricultural production methods (SAPM)
In 2010 a unique survey was carried out as well as the Agricultural census, the Survey on agricultural productions methods (SAPM). This survey collected data at regional level needed to establish agri-environmental indicators as indicated in COM final 508/2006 and to evaluate the greening of the Common agricultural policy.
Data were collected according to the specifications listed in Annex V of Regulation 1166/2008, namely tillage methods, soil conservation, landscape features, animal grazing, animal housing, manure application, manure storage and treatment facilities and irrigation.
In Belgium, the SAPM was conducted as a sample survey in 2011; 2 407 agricultural holdings were selected through a stratified sampling technique, which represented 5.7% of the total number of Belgian farms in 2010.
Reference period
The reference date for the FSS 2010 is 1 May 2010, however, data on animal housing, labour force and indoor crops refer to the twelve months prior to this date.
Thresholds for agricultural holdings
In Belgium, the Agricultural census was conducted as an exhaustive survey; it targeted all the farms regardless of their size, provided that they were farming agricultural products for sale at the reference date.
Common land
Common land is land that does not directly belong to any agricultural holding but on which common rights apply. It can consist of pasture, horticultural or other land. The treatment of the common land used by an agricultural holding might differ from country to country.
In Belgium common land doe not exist.
Geo-reference of the holding
Information on the location of the farms was mainly obtained through their addresses, recorded in the farm register.
Economic size
From FSS 2007 onwards, the Standard output (SO), a new classification of the economic size of the holding, is used. The SO has replaced the Standard gross margin (SGM) used before. Nonetheless, for comparability reasons, in FSS 2007 both classifications are available.
Other methodological issues
Belgian data on the Agricultural census 2000 are published at NUTS 1 level (2 regions), while data on the FSS 2010 are published at NUTS 2 level (11 regions). Due to this inconsistency in the publication of regional data, this analysis of Belgian agriculture was conducted only at national level.
Context
European Commission Rural development policy aims to improve competitiveness in agriculture and forestry, the environment and the countryside, as well as to improve the quality of life in rural areas, and to encourage the diversification of rural economies.
As agriculture has been modernised and the importance of industry and services within the economy has increased, agriculture has become much less important as a source of jobs. Consequently, increasing emphasis is placed on the role farmers can play in rural development, including forestry, biodiversity and the diversification of the rural economy, in order to create alternative jobs and provide environmental protection in rural areas.
The FSS continues to adapt in order to provide timely and relevant data to help analyse and follow these developments.
See also
Further Eurostat information
Publications
- Agriculture, fishery and forestry statistics — Main results – 2010-11 - 2012 edition
- Farm Structure in Belgium - 2005 - Issue number 26/2007
- Farm Structure Survey in Belgium - 2007 - Issue number 99/2009
- Structure of Agricultural Holdings - Belgium 2003 - Statistics in focus 26/2004
Main tables
- Agriculture, see:
- Farm structure: historical data (1990-2007) (t_ef)
Database
- Agriculture, see:
- Farm structure (ef)
Dedicated section
Methodology / Metadata
- Farm structure (ESMS metadata file — ef_esms)
- Methodological Report - FSS 2007 Belgium
Source data for tables and figures (MS Excel)
Other information
- Regulation 1166/2008 of 19 November 2008 on farm structure surveys and the survey on agricultural production methods and repealing Council Regulation 571/88
- Regulation 1200/2009 of 30 November 2009 implementing Regulation 1166/2008 on farm structure surveys and the survey on agricultural production methods, as regards livestock unit coefficients and definitions of the characteristics
External links
Notes
- ↑ A value calculated over the active population in the 4th quarter 2010 of the EU Labour force survey (LFS) Population, activity and inactivity - quarterly data