Agricultural structure data represent the crown jewels of agricultural policymaking. For researchers and policymakers alike, the Farm Structure Survey and Agricultural Census are a rich and detailed source for understanding how Europe’s farms operate and evolve. They provide indispensable insights into the dynamics of land use, labour, and production systems, informing strategies for food security, generational renewal, environmental stewardship, and rural development.
In this post, I look at how agricultural structure data are used to track changes in the structure of agricultural holdings over time. I focus in particular on the statistical coverage of the data, the population of holdings that are included.… Read the rest