Documentation of statistics Use of Crops on Farms

Data description

The statistics on the use of crops on farms describe the use of grain crops on farm during the harvest year in the form of a balance sheet. The uses have been classified by use as food, feed, seed, and for energy. The statistics include the opening and closing stocks of dried wheat, rye, barley and oats. 

Classification system

The statistics include the following crops individually and by total: Wheat, rye, barley, and oats.

Potato was included in the statistics until 2009.

Use as feed has been divided by livestock: for cattle, pigs, hens (including broilers) and other animals (for example horses).

Sector coverage

The statistics the use of all significant crops (wheat, rye, barley, and oats) farmed in Finland during the harvest year. 

Statistical concepts and definitions

Grain includes dried and matured grains. Mixed grain and fresh grain are not included.

Use for energy includes grain burned for energy. Straws and chaff are not included.

Wheat includes winter and spring wheat and spelt grains.

Rye includes grains of winter and spring rye.

The harvest year begins on the 1st of July and ends on the 30th of June of the following year. Until the harvest year of 2004–2005 the harvest year in the statistics began on the 1st of June and ended on the 31st of May.

Calendar year is the time period of 1.1.–31.12. Until the year 2005 the calendar year in the statistics was the time period of 1.12.–30.11. The latest statistics based on a calendar year was compiled for the year 2009.

Statistical unit

The statistical unit is an agricultural or horticultural enterprise.

Statistical population

The statistical population includes all agricultural and horticultural enterprises in Finland.

Unit of measure 

The quantities of grain in stock, purchased, and consumed is given in millions of kilograms.

Reference period

Harvest year, 1.7.–30.6.

Frequency of disseminations

Yearly

The statistics are compiled based on the Act on the Natural Resources Institute Finland (561/2014), the Act on Food and Natural Resource Statistics (562/2014), and the Statistics Act (280/2004).

More information: Statistics legislation

Confidentiality - policy

Confidentiality is a base principle of statistics and assures the confidential processing of data provided by informants, and the Natural Resources Institute Finland has undertaken to follow this principle. Micro-data is confidential and must never be released for administrative decision-making, investigation, surveillance, legal proceedings, or similar purposes.

Confidentiality - data treatment

The confidentiality of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed according to the Statistics Act (280/2004), the Personal Data Act (523/1999), the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999), and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (2016/679). Data is protected at all stages of processing using the necessary physical and technological solutions. The staff only has access to information necessary for their duties. Unauthorised people do not have access to spaces in which micro-data is processed. Staff members have signed a non-disclosure agreement when entering duty. Intentional breach of confidentiality will be penalised.

More information: Privacy policy – Statistics

The disseminations of the Natural Resources Institute Finland are published online on weekdays at 9:00.  Data is public after it has been published on the website.

Release calendar

The publication dates are confirmed in autumn together with the action plans. The release calendar of the following year is published for users in the end of the year. The release calendar holds data on the dates of future publications. The calendar also contains direct links to already published statistical publication.

Release calendar access

Statistical releases calendar | Natural Resources Institute Finland

Quality assurance

The Natural Resources Institute Finland follows the Code of Practice and the Quality Assurance Framework of European statistics when compiling statistics. The Code of Practice concern the independence and accountability of statistics authorities, and the quality of processes and published data. The principles are compatible with and supplement the Principles of Official Statistics, agreed upon by the United Nations Statistical Commission. The quality criteria of official statistics in Finland are also compatible with the Code of Practice of European statistics. The principles are also compatible with the European Foundation for Quality Management.

The response material of the statistics is reviewed and edited. Additionally, the non-response is investigated based on variable background information. 

Quality assessment

The statistics use multiple statistics and data sets as data source. The statistics on the use of crops on farms comprises information in the form of a balance sheet. Thus, errors in statistics used as source material affect the numbers in this set of statistics.

Overall accuracy and reliability

The data in the statistics is based on data collected from other statistics and data sets. Therefore, the reliability of the numbers in the balance sheet is reliant on the reliability of the data sources. As multiple types of data sources are used, and data is comprised in the form of a balance sheet, multiple factors contribute to reliability of the statistics. The statistics is balanced with the use of animal feed, which is considered the most reliable quality due to its data sources.

Data collected as census studies can be considered the most reliable (Sold, total). 

The quantities crop and stock are based on the sampling method. In addition to the inaccuracy of the sampling method, problems in measuring the information asked for on farms is a source of unreliability. Often the given information is estimated based on stock volumes and on changes to them. The estimated numbers after reviewing data can be considered reliable.

The accuracy of data sources affects the accuracy of calculated data (use as feed, use as seed). Data on the number of livestock and slaughtered animals, which can be considered reliable, are used for calculating the use as animal feed. The estimate of use of feed by grain type and by animal type is however a source of unreliability in counting the use of feed. Estimates of use of grain by grain type varies differently by animal type, and is in part reliable on the crop yield of each grain.

Timeliness

Provisional statistics on the crop use on farms is published, and the final statistics are published in September of the following year. The provisional statistics are published 2–3 months after the statistical period. The final statistics are published 14–15 months after the statistical period.

Comparability - over time

Statistics on the crop use on farms have been produced since 1940 at latest. Crops included in the statistics, information content, the reference period, and data sources have changed as the need for information and data collection methods have changed.

At the beginning of the statistical period the statistics contained data on the consumption of potatoes and peas on farm. At this point the statistics contained data on the use as feed, sales, use for humans, and opening and closing stocks at 15.6.

Data is mostly comparable with data from the same reference period. Until 2005 the reference periods of the balance sheet were harvest year (1.6.–31.5.) and calendar year (1.12.–30.11.). Between 2006 and 2009 the reference periods were 1.1.–30.12. and 1.7.–30.6. Since 2009 the only reference period has been the harvest year (1.7.–30.6.).

Coherence - cross domain

The data is coherent with other statistics based on the register of agricultural and horticultural enterprises.

Source data

Source data for this set of statistics includes the sample survey for farms, statistics on the number of livestock, statistics on meat production, and the administrative animal registers of the Finnish Food Authority.

Frequency of data collection

Yearly

Data collection

Most of the data is collected from farms with a sample survey. Sample survey data is collected with an online application. Data is collected with phone surveys from farms that do not respond to the sample survey online.

Data validation

If for example an abnormally large observation is spotted during the data compilation process, the authenticity of data is reviewed.

Data compilation

Data collected with the sample survey is estimated using the normal multiplying factor of stratified sampling. Faulty or abnormal data from the sample survey are either revised or removed from the material.