Farm Structure Survey

Eurostat has been collecting EU farm structure microdata since 1990 through both the agricultural census (every 10 years) and sample surveys. In the 2016 farm structure survey, the sample size across the EU was around 1.7 million farms, while in the last agricultural census (2010) data were collected from over 12.8 million farms. Each holding provided between 250 and 400 variables.

The different national data providers across Europe conduct the farm structure surveys, which Eurostat then processes. They are responsible for selecting the samples, preparing the questionnaires, conducting the direct interviews or collecting the data from the corresponding administrative registers. They then transmit the results to Eurostat.


 

The purpose of FSS is to obtain reliable data, at regular intervals, on the structure of agricultural holdings in the EU in order to:

• Assess the agricultural situation across the EU
• Monitor trends and transitions in the structure of European farms (agricultural holdings)
• Manage, evaluate and design the common agricultural policy in terms of its environmental, economical and social aspects.

In this sense, farm structure data play a crucial role in policy-making because they are a key input in designing the common agricultural policy, which is managed and funded at EU level from the resources of the EU’s budget. These data are also used in other policy areas such as environment, regional development and climate change.

Farm structure data provide quantitative evidence to help monitor several of the UN's sustainable development goals as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all UN Member States in 2015.