Current results of the agricultural statistics presented by DESTATIS President Johann Hahlen

In May 2003, as part of the EC agricultural structure surveys, four years after the 1999 agricultural census, we again carried out a large-scale census of all agricultural and forestry holdings in Germany. Over 420 companies took part in the survey. The farm owners or managers provided information about the production structures and capacities of their farms as well as their economic and social circumstances. Today we will inform you in particular about the structure and profitability of the farms, the ongoing concentration processes in agriculture and the development of organic farming. The results have been prepared in advance and are therefore preliminary.

1. Fewer farms

In the last four years since the 1999 agricultural census, structural change in agricultural holdings has continued unabated. The adjustment process in German agriculture led to a further significant decrease in the number of farms from 472 in 000 to 1999 in 421. The number of farms fell by 400% in these four years.

The structural change is taking place primarily in the former federal territory. Here the number of establishments decreased by 441% from 600 to 11. The slight increase in farms in the new federal states up to 391 could no longer be ascertained in 300. Rather, there was a slight decrease from 1999 to 2003 farms between 1999 and 2003.

Changes in the farm size structure are an external indicator of structural change in agriculture. As in the past, the abandoning businesses in Germany are predominantly businesses with less than 50 hectares of agricultural land. For the first time, however, there is also a slight decrease in holdings between 50 and 75 ha of land. In contrast, the number of farms nationwide with more than 75 hectares of land increased from 41 in 700 to 1999 in 47 (+ 300%). 2003 of these establishments were in the new federal states. As a result of the structural change, small businesses are leaving the production process as before.

Average farm size increases to 40,5 hectares of land

In line with the growing number of larger farms, the number of farms is increasing, especially in the former federal territory. While in Germany in 1949/50 around 2,3 million agricultural holdings were still cultivating an average of 8,5 ha of UAA, the average UAA in 2003 was 421 holdings at 400 ha. Compared to 40,5, the average surface area of all farms still amounted to 1999 hectares of land, this corresponds to an increase of almost 36,3%. During the same period, the average farm area in the former federal territory increased from 12 hectares to 26,1 hectares. The average farm size in the new federal states, on the other hand, remained almost stable in 29,4 at 184,5 hectares. This is due to the farm structure of the new federal states with a comparatively small number of farms with a large area.

The land that has become vacant as a result of operational tasks is used by the remaining farms, primarily through lease agreements, to increase space. As a result, the property areas under management tend to decrease. The share of leased land in Germany increased from 63% in 1999 to 64% in 2003. The slight increase can be explained, among other things, by the falling share of leased land in the new federal states, which fell from 90% to 85% for the first time in the last four years (former federal territory: 54%).

2. Change in land use

The agricultural holdings in Germany cultivated around 2003 million ha of UAA in 17, including around 12 million ha of arable land (70%) and 5 million ha of permanent grassland (29%). The LF also includes almost 100 hectares of vineyards. The result shows a further decline in agricultural areas by a total of 000 ha or just under 95% in the last four years. Within the UAA, the proportion of arable land increased slightly compared to permanent grassland. The proportion of vineyards remained constant.

Grain cultivation is of the greatest importance in Germany. In 1950 it already comprised 48% of the arable land (6,7 million ha). In 2003 it was 58% or 6,9 million hectares. However, yields are currently around three times as high as 50 years ago. Wheat, the most widely grown fruit, now occupies a good 3% of the arable land with an area under cultivation of almost 25 million hectares. The second most important type of cereal is barley with around 2 million ha. While the cultivation of triticale increased continuously with an increase of almost 30% in the last four years to 501 hectares, the cultivation of rye with 400 hectares and oats (530 the same Acreage such as wheat) with 500 1950 ha in the crop rotation continues to decline.

With grain maize, the cultivation volume increased by almost 2003% to 28 472 ha. Due to the extremely dry summer 700 and the resulting low growth of grassland, it can be assumed that a not insignificant part of this area was subsequently rededicated as fodder maize. The area under fodder crops decreased further in 2003 by around 2003% to 8 million hectares. Compared to 1,58, the area of ​​fallow land was expanded by a good 1999% to 9 hectares.

2003 crop yields for cereals between 14% and 26% lower than in 1999

The 2003 harvest year will be remembered above all for the extreme drought and heat in summer. The unfavorable weather conditions resulted in a very early, simultaneous ripening of the grain. In addition, already difficult sowing conditions in autumn and high winter losses due to spring frosts led to a shift in the cultivation ratio in favor of summer cereals, which are characterized by lower harvest yields.

In terms of average grain yields per hectare, farmers achieved exceptionally low harvests in 2003, even compared to the previous year, which was marked by floods. The average yield losses compared to 1999 were 14% to 26%, depending on the type of grain, and were thus twice as high as in 2002, with its heavy rainfall. Disproportionate yield reductions were determined with an average of -35% for rye and triticale in the new federal states. In many regions, arable crops did not have sufficient water available due to the very light sandy soils and the drought. The harvest yields for rapeseed and other oilseeds in Germany were also significantly lower in 2003 at - 20% compared to 1999.

The increase in the cultivation of red wine varieties continues

The area under vines in 2003 comprised 98 hectares. Compared to 200, it decreased by a good 1999%. 3% of this area is planted with white and 68% with red grape varieties. In 32 the proportion of white grape varieties was 1999% and that of red grape varieties 77%. The long-term trend of the variety shift from the white to the red varieties thus continued. In 23, 2003 million hectoliters of wine must were harvested in Germany. The wine must harvest was around 8,37% lower than in 32. The 1999 vintage is characterized by excellent quality. 2003% of the total amount of wine must is suitable for the production of quality wine with a predicate. In 92 this was only 1999%.

3. Further decline in livestock farms

The structural change also took place in animal production. The number of livestock farms has decreased by around 1999% since 15. Here, too, the structural change in the former federal territory was more serious than in the new federal states. In May 1999 there were around 329 livestock farms in the former federal territory and 000 in the new federal states. By 23, their number decreased by 100% in the former federal territory and by 2003% in the new federal states.

The most important branches of agricultural livestock farming in Germany are cattle and pig farming. In relation to these farms, the percentage decline in the former federal territory was almost twice as high as in the new federal states. Only in the case of the dairy farms was the percentage decrease higher, but in the new federal states there are only 4,3% of the dairy farms, 7,3% of the cattle and 5,7% of the pig farms.

Farms with cattle have decreased by almost 17% to 198 farms in the last four years. This particularly affected dairy farming, which was more important in the former federal territory, with an even greater decrease of - 100% to a total of 21 farms. Pig farms decreased by 121% from 200 23 farms in 141 to 400 1999 farms in 109.

Despite the decreasing number of livestock holdings, the livestock population showed different developments. The cattle population has decreased nationwide from 14,9 million animals by around 9% to 13,6 million animals. In dairy farming as the most important form of cattle production in Germany, farmers kept 4,4 million dairy cows in 2003, 8% fewer animals than in 1999. In contrast, the pig herds were increased slightly by 2% to 26,6 million animals in the same period ( 1950: 14 million animals). Above all, the number of fattening pigs has increased by 3% to 10,5 million animals.

Increasing concentration in livestock farming

The significant decrease in the number of farms and the lower decrease in the number of cattle and the slight increase in the number of pigs lead to growing individual farm production capacities. A major consequence is a concentration of livestock husbandry on increasingly larger livestock.

Cattle farming continues to increase in herds with 100 or more animals. Although in 2003 the majority of cattle farmers (80%) had herds of up to 99 animals, only 41% of the cattle were on holdings of this size. In contrast, a fifth of the holdings with 100 or more cattle kept almost 60% of all cattle recorded. In Germany, the average number of cattle per farm has increased from 63 to 69 over the past four years. There are considerable regional differences within Germany. While the average cattle population in the new federal states decreased slightly to 166 animals, in the former federal territory it rose by 6 animals to 61 cattle per farm. The particularly large farms with 1 and more cattle are almost exclusively in the new federal states and Lower Saxony.

A similar picture emerges for milk production. The majority of German dairy farmers (81%) had herds of up to 49 dairy cows. They accounted for 47% of all dairy cows kept on farms. However, more than half of all dairy cows (53%) were in only one fifth of dairy farms (19%) with herds of 50 or more animals. The average number of animals has increased by 1999 animals since 4. On average in Germany in 2003 there were 35 dairy cows per farm. A distinction according to territorial levels shows that the average dairy herd in the new federal states with 164 cows per farm is more than five times as large as in the former federal territory with 30 dairy cows per farm. In addition to the increasing concentration of cattle herds, dairy farming, which is regulated by quotas, is also characterized by a steadily increasing average milk yield per cow. In relation to the 50s, this has increased almost three times (+ 270%), since 1999 by 16%.

In the case of fattening pigs, there was an even greater concentration of the livestock in larger units. In 2003, almost a quarter of all fattening pigs were on holdings with 1 or more animals, although this size class made up just under 000% of fattening holdings. 2% of the pig farmers still had fattening pigs with up to 64 animals. Despite the high number of farms, only 49% of the total fattening pigs were counted in these farms. The number of farms with 5 or more fattening pigs is also decreasing, but their share in fattening farms has been increasing for years. It increased from 50% in 30 to 1999% in 36. For the 2003 Agricultural Structure Survey, these holdings kept 2003% of the fattening pigs. There were considerable differences in the size of the population between the federal states. The larger stocks can be found in Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and the new federal states. The average number of fattening pigs per farm rose nationwide quite significantly from 95 in 98 to 1999 animals in 135. In the former federal territory as well as in the new federal states, the average number of animals increased by 2003 animals to 36 fattening pigs and by 127 animals to 34 fattening pigs to. One of the reasons for this was that a quarter of the smaller farms with up to 283 animals left production in the period under review.

There is also a trend towards larger herds in breeding and piglet production. With two thirds of the animals, breeding sows were mainly concentrated in holdings with 100 or more animals. Nevertheless, as with the fattening pigs, the small farms predominate. 81% of the holdings had herds with fewer than 100 animals. Herds with 1 or more animals were almost exclusively (000%) in the new federal states and Lower Saxony. In these holdings, 97% of all breeding sows were counted. The average number of breeding sows nationwide rose in the last four years from 32 to 50 animals per farm, whereby the value for the new federal states with 67 breeding sows was more than four times as high as in the former federal territory (244).

The concentration process is already furthest advanced in laying hens. In Germany, it mainly takes place in large units. Therefore, less than 1% of the farms keeping laying hens (almost 600 farms) have almost 80% of the animal population in herds of 10 animals and more. The other 000% of the laying hens were kept by the 20 smaller farms (86%) in herds of up to 000 animals.

4. More farms with organic farming

Organic farming has increased in Germany since 1999. According to the results of the 2003 agricultural structure survey, there were over 13 organic farms, 700 more than in the 4 agricultural census (+ 100%). These companies are subject to the organic farming practices and minimum standards prescribed in the EU (Regulation (EEC) No. 1999/43). In addition, basic rules for organic animal husbandry were defined for the first time in 2092, so that from 91 onwards, organic animal husbandry farms were also included in the agricultural structure survey. The 1999 farms cultivated around 2001 hectares of land. This means that the amount of ecologically used UAA has increased by approx. 13 700 ha since 729. This means that a share of 700% of the total UAA was farmed by 240% of the farms. In 600, as in the previous surveys in the new federal states, the share of organic farms in the total number of farms was almost twice as high (1999%) as in the former federal territory (4,3%).

With the Agricultural Structure Survey 2003, the farmers questioned provided information on the extent of the converted organically farmed areas for the first time. In 2003, 729% of the 700 87,4 hectares of farms with organic farming had been converted. The areas being converted had a share of 12,6%.

Growing farm sizes also in organic farming

The average farm size of farms with organic farming was 53 hectares of UAA, around 2 hectares more than in 1999. The organic farms in the new federal states had an average farm size of 187 hectares of UAA, while the average in the former Federal Republic was 34 hectares of UAA. This increased the size of the organic farms in the former federal territory from 32 hectares to 34 hectares of agricultural land. In the new federal states the average UAA fell from 191 ha to 187 ha. Nevertheless, as in the previous survey years, the organic farms still had a large amount of space compared to the farms as a whole (40,5 hectares of land). The number of organic farms has increased in all farm sizes, with the exception of farms under 2 hectares of agricultural land, with organic farms up to 30 hectares showing the strongest growth. This development is particularly characteristic of the establishments in the former federal territory. Nevertheless, farms with an UAA of more than 50 ha cultivated the much larger area. In the former federal territory this was 57% and in the new federal states 95% of the organically farmed UAA.

Organically farmed arable land increased by 38%

The increase in UAA in organic farms in the survey year is due, among other things, to the significantly increased proportion of permanent grassland (+ 63%). One of the main reasons was the increase in permanent grassland in the former federal territory, which made up 57% of the ecologically managed UAA there. The organically farmed arable land also increased, compared to 1999 by 38%. A corresponding increase of 50% was recorded, especially in the new federal states. The permanent crops showed a comparatively constant area in organic farming.

As in 1999, grain occupied the largest organically farmed acreage, followed by forage crops and fallow land. In addition to grain, the share of fallow land in arable land has increased over time. Legumes are also an integral part of the crop rotation. A comparison of the years 1999 and 2003 shows their declining importance in the areas cultivated for oil and root crops. In the case of oil crops in particular, the percentage of arable land falls by 4% in the period under review.

82% of the organic farms keep farm animals

In the 2003 survey year, more than 11 organic farms kept farm animals in organic farming, including 000% cattle, 77% pigs and 21% sheep. Of the farms with cattle, 18% had dairy farming. Cattle farming thus remains the most important branch of the processing industry in organic farms with animal production. Compared to 44, the number of organically managed livestock farms has risen by almost 1999%. Associated with this is an increase in the number of animals of 50% for cattle and 43% for pigs. The number of fattening pigs and breeding sows shows the comparatively minor role played by organic pig farming in Germany. When recording organic animal husbandry, it should again be noted that when the organic animal husbandry regulation came into force under EU law, it was only from 28 that animal-keeping organic farms could be included in the agricultural structure survey.

Larger organic farms in the new federal states

The farm structures in organic animal husbandry again differed significantly in 2003 between the former federal territory and the new federal states. In the case of pigs and cattle, the average number of herds per farm in the new federal states was around four times as high as in the former federal territory. There were significant structural differences in particular in the dairy herds with an average number of animals per farm of 111 in the new federal states and 26 in the former federal territory. The average number of cattle farmers, including dairy cattle, fell slightly across Germany (2 animals / farm). The average number of fattening pigs in German organic farms has increased from 28 to 36 animals.

5. Outlook

The agricultural policy decisions of the European Union are one of the main reasons for the changes in German agriculture. The measures of the agricultural reforms started in 1992, which continued with Agenda 2000, required the farms to make appropriate adjustments that influenced their structure and production. After the far-reaching reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy in 2003, further far-reaching changes are to be expected in German agriculture, in particular as a result of the decoupling of direct payments from production.

The German agricultural statistics are integrated into the agricultural statistics system of the European Union. The statistical survey program in the structural surveys on agriculture must therefore be adapted to the changed political framework conditions so that the results for the Council and Commission of the European Union can continue to serve as a basis for shaping Community policies. The question on income combinations, which was included in the survey program of the agricultural structure survey for the first time in 2003, as a feature of rural development, will remain part of the 2005 survey. In addition, the program of characteristics for the 2005 survey is to be expanded to include information on direct aid to agricultural holdings in the context of investment measures and the development of rural areas.

Relief for farmers through the use of administrative data

The characteristic "aid for investments" shows how official statistics minimize the effort required for surveys to be carried out. For example, the federal states have the option of adopting data from the "Integrated Administration and Control System" of the European Community (IACS) for direct aid. In addition, the Federal Statistical Office is conducting an investigation into whether administrative data from the traceability and information system for animals (HIT) can replace the previous survey of livestock (some cattle). These measures would relieve farmers without neglecting the information needs of politics and society.

Source: Berlin [destatis]