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Information about the Agriculture Production Survey 1999 |
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Availability
| Valid From: .. | |
| To: .. | Ongoing |
| Frequency: .. | Annually |
Design
Purpose:
The Agriculture Production Survey 1999 was conducted to obtain estimates of farmed animals on farms as at 30 June 1999, as well as estimates for crop and forestry production, and animals born during the year ended 30 June 1999.
General Information ..Survey Objectives
Following the Review of Agricultural Statistics, conducted by Statistics New Zealand in 1997/98, the collection of agricultural statistics undertaken by SNZ was redeveloped. As a consequence the Agriculture Production Survey, as at 30 June 1999, will be a sample of livestock and cropping farms drawn from the land-based population frame called AgriBase.
Briefly, parameters covered in the survey are land use, livestock numbers (by species / breeding / progeny), and area in arable crops (by type). It is hoped that high quality estimates will be available down to the level of Regional Council.
It is noted that some sustainable measures (such as land in irrigation, and fertiliser application) horticulture, employment and economic/financial data will not be included in this survey. These variables may require specific surveys.
The basic objective of an agriculture production survey is:
- To provide aggregate total estimates for fundamental agricultural data, to use as benchmarks for inter-survey estimates.
- To provide feedback along with AgriBase information to improve the non-livestock survey frame (for the survey in the year 2000).
The case MAF presented for reinstating the agricultural production survey can be found in this doc link:
The frequency of the Agriculture Production Survey is yet to be determined, however, it is likely to be conducted once every two or three years.
Population covered
All units on AgriBase that are recorded as holding livestock and/or engaging in grain/arable cropping. The term 'livestock' includes AgriBase enterprises: beef cattle, bison, buffalo, dairy cattle, deer, emus, goats, ostriches, pigs, poultry, sheep and grazing other people's stock. The term 'grain/arable cropping' includes AgriBase enterprises: cereals, cropping and seeds. farms with no enterprise data held on AgriBase are also included in the survey. Farms solely engaged in horticultural and forestry activities are excluded from the population.
Frame
For non-Chatham Island farms the basis for the survey frame is AgriBase, a national database of farms. In an evaluation of the comparative merits of using AgriBase verses Statistics New Zealand’s Business Frame, it was found that the coverage of AgriBase was superior in respect of livestock farms.
The frame will be a list of all units on AgriBase that are known to hold livestock and/or engage in grain/arable cropping. Cropping farms were included in the 1999 survey population because cropping and livestock farming generally go hand in hand. Farms with no enterprise data, held on AgriBase, will also be included in the survey.
The source of the frame for Chatham Island farms was the Business Frame (BF). The BF was known to have better coverage than AgriBase. From the BF all geographic (Geo) units located on the Chatham Islands that were engaged in Agriculture and Forestry and Logging were extracted. The Forestry and Logging Geo was left in on reflection because it is possible that such a BF Geo may be running some in-scope livestock and thus meet our AgriBase specification.
The term ‘livestock’ includes AgriBase enterprises: beef cattle, bison, buffalo, dairy cattle, deer, emus, goats, ostriches, pigs, poultry, sheep and grazing other peoples stock.
The term 'grain/arable cropping' includes AgriBase enterprises: cereals, cropping and seeds.
Selection and Statistical Units
Statistical unit:
The farm_id, a unique farm identification number.
Selection unit:
The farmGTF, a unique farm identification number, is the selection and statistical unit.
The farmGTF variable defines the groups that Survey Methods use for the purposes of sampling. These groups were derived from information provided from AgriBase (other_id.csv file), which provides information relating farms with ownership links. The differences being that where members of a group are located in a separate Regional Council area, Survey Methods formed a unique group. This was done because of the need to produce outputs at the Regional Council level.
Note: The other_id.csv file indicated that 5,429 farms in the 1999 survey population had links with other farms. These 5,429 farms made-up 2,400 unique groups. Survey Methods split these groups further so that all members of the group were located in the same regional council area. This resulted in the 5,429 farms being split into 2,461 unique groups. No Chatham Island farms were included in these groups as their data was sourced from the BF rather than AgriBase.
Population and Sample Size
The Agricultural Production Survey 1999 was a sample survey of approximately 35,000 farms. All farms in the population were allocated to groups (strata) based on their geographic area and farm size and relative contribution to farm type. Farms were randomly sampled within these strata, except for large farms which were in the full coverage strata.
The sample size selected for the 1999 survey consists of 32,369 farm groups (farmGTFs) from a population of 71,747. This resulted in a selected sample size of 34,855 farms from a population of 74,714. This includes the 40 Chatham Islands farms sourced from the BF, which have been all placed into a full-coverage strata due to the small number.
The sample size of 34,855 includes sampling 4,441 farms excluded from the sample design due to problems with the quality of the AgriBase information.
This post-out sample size of 34,855 farms accounts for non-response and some deterioration by rating-up the sample in each of the sampled strata by a factor of 1/0.7.
Sample selection
Poisson sampling was the method used to select the sample for this survey. This methodology allows the ability to control the overlap with future samples selected from the AgriBase frame.
All farms on the frame were assigned a random number between 0 and 1. A random number range was chosen for each stratum after the sampling fraction was known. All farms within the specified random number range were included in the sample.
Output Variables
Output variables are pieces of individual information that can be extracted from the survey/output data. Often output variables can be cross tabulated with other output variables, for example sales by industry classification. The list below contains all current and past output variables which have been released for this survey/output.
The following variables are available from the 1999 Agricultural Production Survey:
Land Use
| Land use - grazing, arable, fodder, fallow (hectares) |
| Land use - horticulture (ha) |
| Land use - plantations of exotics (ha) |
| Land use - other land (ha) |
| Land use - total area (ha) |
Grain and Arable Crops
| Wheat (bread cultivars) - (ha) |
| Wheat (other cultivars) - (ha) Oats (not green feed) - (ha) |
| Barley - (ha) |
| Field/seed peas - (ha) |
| Maize (not sweetcorn) - (ha) |
| Other grains harvested by combine harvester - (ha) |
Pigs
| Breeding sows 1 year & over |
| Mated gilts |
| Other pigs |
| Total pigs |
Sheep
| Number of lambs marked/tailed |
| Ewes (2-tooth and over) put to ram since 30 June 1998 |
| Ewes hoggets put to ram since 30 June 1998 |
| Ewes hoggets not put to ram since 30 June 1998 |
| All other sheep (dry ewes, rams, wethers, killers) |
| Total sheep |
Beef cattle
| Beef cows and heifers to be used for breeding - 2+ yrs |
| Beef cows and heifers to be used for breeding - 1 - 2 yrs |
| Beef cows and heifers not used for breeding - 2+ yrs |
| Beef cows and heifers not used for breeding - 1 - 2 yrs |
| Beef heifers & heifer calves - < 1 yr |
| Steers - 2+ yrs |
| Steers - 1 to 2 yrs |
| Steers - < 1 yr |
| Beef breeding bulls |
| Non-breeding bulls |
| Total beef cattle |
Dairy
| Dairy cows & heifers in milk or in calf |
| Dairy cows & heifers not in milk or calf |
| Rising 1 yr old dairy heifers & heifer calves, and calves |
| Dairy bulls to be used for breeding |
| Total dairy cattle |
Deer
| Deer - males - 2+ yrs |
| Deer - males - <2 yrs |
| Deer - females - mated |
| Deer - females - others |
| Total deer |
Goats
| Total Goats |
Changes in Output Variables over time
Guide to Interpreting Data
Summary of Changes to Survey/Output ..HISTORY
Up to and including the season 1908-09, agricultural and pastoral statistics were collected annually by
sub-enumerators appointed by the Department of Agriculture. In the season 1909-10 information was
collected for the principal crops only. A full detailed collection was made for the 1910-11 season in
conjunction with the census of 1911. From then to 1914-15 no complete collection was made, and the
postal collection was found in some respects to be unsatisfactory. From 1916 until 1930 the actual
collection of the agricultural and pastoral statistics schedules was carried out annually through the police
organisation. The system required officers in charge of police stations to obtain all necessary particulars by
a personal canvass of occupiers of holdings of one acre or over located outside boroughs.
In 1931 it was decided, for reasons of economy, to dispense with the assistance of the police organisation
and so avoid the travelling and other expenses incidental to the personal canvass system. Instead, the
statistics were obtained on questionnaires distributed through the post by the Census and Statistics
Department. Although a considerable saving was effected in this way, various circumstances combined
to create difficulties and delays in completing the work of compilation.
In 1932 a new system was adopted, representing a combination of both the postal and the personal-canvass
systems. The services of the police organisation were requisitioned to this end, it being realised that the
local knowledge of police officers in reference to changes in occupancy, etc., as well as their proximity
to occupiers within their respective districts was a valuable asset in securing returns.
In 1950, a special Census of Agriculture was conducted as part of the World Census of Agriculture. A
considerably wider scope was covered in this special census than in the normal annual collection.
In particular, a comprehensive examination of farm machinery was undertaken for the first time, while,
again, an analysis of farm population and employment was made. In order to carry out such a detailed
collection it became necessary to revert to the system in operation up to 1930, whereby particulars were
obtained by a personal canvass of occupiers. From 1970, the decennial World Census of Agriculture
data were obtained automatically from the annual census of Agriculture.
Commencing with 1952-53, Agriculture Statistics were collected using a sample of approximately 12,000
farms, instead of a full collection of 90,000 farms. This was a postal survey. However, this method of
surveying farmers ceased after the 1954-55 survey year. From 1955-56 onwards a full postal census has
been conducted annually.
Since 1971, for the purposes of agricultural statistics, a farm has been defined as any area of land, irrespective
of size or location, used for, or potentially usable for, commercial horticulture, vegetable growing, cropping,
livestock or exotic forestry operations. Areas complying with the foregoing requirements, but used exclusively
for industrial, residential, ornamental or pleasure purposes, are not regarded as farms unless they grazed
livestock on 30 June or derived farming income from the land during the year. Prior to 1971, the definition was
such that any area of land outside borough boundaries and meeting a standard minimum size was classifiable
as a farm.
Classification
Data prior to 1994 included farms classified to NZSIC 93200 (Research & Education Farms) and NZSIC 94305 (Horse Training). These two groups were removed from the scope of the Agriculture Survey in 1994.
ANZSIC, NZSIC & Farm Type (see Farm Type Definitions)
NZSIC to Farm Type classification is one-to-one in conversion.
Recommend 4 digit NZSIC level, 5 digit level very detailed.
ANZSICs are found from 1993 onwards.
NZSICs 1980 to 1987 are inconsistent over time.
Reduced survey in 1991, not all NZSICs are available.
Regional Data
The reorganisation of local government areas involved a two tier system of districts or cities, and regional authorities. This replaced the previous counties and local government regions. The majority of the 75 districts and cities (also known as territorial local authorities or TLA'S) are located within one of the 14 regional councils. However, 11 districts and cities fall within more than one regional council. From 1990 to 1992 for regionally analysed tables, the affected district or city is included within the region in which it is predominantly located. Data from 1993 onwards is using true Regional Councils.
The 1996 agricultural standard tables showed the change from "territorial local authority" to "territorial authority".
Geographic Breakdown
1980 to 1990 areas:
County
Local Government Region
Regional Council (approximated from Counties)
1990 to 1996 areas:
Territorial Local Authority / Territorial Authority
Regional Council (approximated by TLAs 1990 to 1992, exact from 1993 onwards)
1999 areas:
Regional Council
Territorial Authority
Usage and Limitations of the Data ..Before 1994 the agriculture population definition was defined as "all those activity units on the Statistics New Zealand's Business Directory that are engaged in horticulture, cropping, livestock farming or exotic forestry operations". In 1994 the population definition changed to "persons or businesses deemed to be engaged in a farming or forestry activity that were registered for GST". This resulted in a decline in the number of farms in scope and thus caution should be exercised when dealing with timeseries.
Over the past few years employment and indoor horticulture crops and flowers have been particular areas that have had some questionable data - please refer to caveats. Generally horticulture production (tonnage) is not released due to data quality issues. Capital Expenditure is another area were data is generally not released due to quality issues.
In 1994 there was an Agriculture Production Census carried out - this means that unit record data is available for most linecodes. In 1995 and 1996 however, there was a sample survey, and thus unit record data is only available for those sampled (weightings etc are applied to those sampled so as to estimate for the population). Therefore due to the nature of a sample survey, there is a limit to the kind of outputs that can be produced (this may impinge on ad-hoc requests).
From 1995 onwards the agricultural standard tables were produced with two accompanying tables - one table outlining the sample error for each estimate in the standard table, the other table gives a quality guide (based on sample error, imputation and the level of instability). These are given to the client so that the client can gage the quality/robustness of the estimated statistics.
Related Data Sources ..Publications:
Agriculture data can be dated back to 1861 (for a very limited number of items).
The publication called "Agriculture Statistics 19XX" is available from 1965.
Agricultural data can also be found in the Statistics New Zealand Yearbooks.
From 1986 the publications contain less data. Standard tables were introduced, and these contain a wide variety of information.
There is an Agriculture Supermap Clip-on
Other Surveys which include some Agriculture information:
Economic Surveys of Farming
Annual Business Frame Update (1998 only)
Various Price Indexes
Agriculture data is also collected by the following organisations:
NZ Meat and Wool Boards' Economic Service
Ministry of Forestry
Dairy Board
MAF
Valuation NZ
Sampling Errors ..The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry sampling error requirements (at the 95% confidence level) were:
Variable Maximum error at National Level Maximum error at Regional Council level
total beef cattle 1% 3-5%
total dairy cattle 1% 3-5%
total deer 1% 3-5%
total goats 1% 3-5%
total pigs 1% 3-5%
total poultry 1% 3-5%
total sheep 1% 3-5%
lambs tailed 1% 3-5%
area sown in wheat 3% 5%
area sown in barley 3% 5%
The survey is to be designed to achieve the above sampling errors. The sample size was boosted to account for non-response and some deterioration in the design information by rating-up the sample in each of the sampled strata by a factor of 1/0.7.
While estimates are expected to be produced by six digit ANZSIC, there is no guarantee of their quality as they have not been specifically designed at this level.
Note, the quality of these estimates will be poorer in cases where we have smaller populations with small numbers of sampled farms.
Design accuracy:
(accuracy from STRAT - before adding in the firms forced into full-coverage strata, see Appendix A2)
(design accuracy for the actual sample selected)
Details on the calculation of sampling errors can be found in
Non-sampling errors Non-sampling errors in the survey data may result from errors in the sample frame, respondent error, mistakes made during processing survey results and non-response imputation. The department adopts procedures to detect and minimise these types of errors but they may still occur and they are not quantifiable.
Caveats on Release ..Time Series Caveat
It is important to note that some degree of discontinuity was introduced as a result of the change in the basis of the population for the 1999 Agricultural Production Survey. Therefore, caution should be used when conducting time series analysis.The population for the 1999 survey was drawn from AgriQuality New Zealand’s land-based frame called ‘AgriBase’ whereas the population for the previous survey, conducted in 1996, was drawn from Statistics New Zealand’s GST-registration based Business Frame. The change in population definitions has resulted in a number of smaller holdings being captured in 1999, which is reflected by a net 20 percent increase in the number of farms being recorded.
The last land-based survey was conducted in 1993, however, this also differs from the 1999 survey. In 1993, farms deemed to be engaged solely in horticulture and forestry were included in the population but in 1999, they were considered to be out-of-scope. This means that land use data, with the exception of grazing land, in not comparable.
Catalogue & Reference Numbers
| INFOS: | AGRA.SA... Variable by total NZ AGRA.SF.. Variable by Territorial Local Authority AGRA.SG.. Variable by Regional Council AGRA.SJ.. Variable by Farm Type (Discontinued after 1996) AGRA.SD.. Variable by County (Discontinued after 1990) AGRA.SE.. Variable by Region (Discontinued after 1989 or 1990) AGRA.SIAA.. Number of Farm Holdings by Farm Type by Region (Discontinued after 1990) |
The following standard tables are available free of charge.
| Table Code | Description |
| |
| S032 | Land Use and Number of Farms by Regional Council |
| S034 | Land Use and Number of Farms by Farm Type (ANZSIC) |
| S402 | Livestock by Regional Council |
| S404 | Livestock by Farm Type (ANZSIC) |
| T002 | Number of Farms by Farm Size and Regional Council |
| T003 | Number of Farms by Farm Size and Farm Type (ANZSIC) |
| T024 | Number of Farms by Farm Type (ANZSIC) and Region Council |
| T032 | Land Use by Region Council |
| T035 | Land Use by Farm Type (ANZSIC) |
| T102 | Dairy Cattle by Age, Sex, and Regional Council |
| T104 | Dairy Cattle by Age, Sex, and Farm Size |
| T105 | Dairy Cattle by Age, Sex and Farm Type (ANZSIC) |
| T122 | Dairy Cattle by Herd Size Groups and Regional Council |
| T202 | Beef Cattle by Age, Sex, and Regional Council |
| T205 | Beef Cattle by Age, Sex and Farm Type (ANZSIC) |
| T222 | Beef Cattle by Herd Size Groups and Regional Council |
| T302 | Sheep and Lambs Tailed by Age, Sex and Regional Council |
| T322 | Sheep by Flock Size and Regional Council |
| T452 | Deer by Age, Sex and Regional Council |
| T482 | Pigs by Breeding numbers and Regional Council |
| T602 | Area Sown of Grain and Arable Crops by Regional Council |
| T603 | Area Sown of Grain and Arable Crops by Farm Type (ANZSIC) |
There are two tables supplied with each standard table:
| StdTable
(Standard Table) | Estimated data for all cells that are not confidential and have a sample error not exceeding 30 percent. Confidential cells are indicated with a ..c and cells with a sample error of more than 30 percent are indicated with a ..s |
| SampErr
(Sample Errors) | Sample error for cell |
Other Comments
Classification(s) used
Glossary of Terms
| Term | Description |
| |
| Age: | Established by dentition, that is the number of permanent teeth (incisors). Cattle at around 18 months old have two permanent teeth, around 2.5 years four teeth, 3.5 years six teeth and at four and older have eight teeth. Sheep get their first two permanent teeth at about 14 months of age. They become 4-tooths between the ages of two or three years, six tooths between three and four years, and have a full mouth, complete set of eight teeth at four years. |
| Arable: Bobby calf: | Capable of being ploughed, fit for tillage; opposed to pasture of wood-land. (Oxford dictionary) A milk-fed calf over four days old. |
| Buck: | Adult male goat (also billygoat). |
| Bull: | Entire (i.e. not castrated) male cattle. |
| Calf: | Young cattle of either sex between birth and weaning; with eight temporary teeth. Also sometimes refers to animals up to one year old. |
| Calving Percentage: | Calculation, either of calves weaned to number of cows mated, or of calves sold to cows mated. |
| Cow: | Mature female cattle beast of any age, but usually over 30 months. |
| Cryptorchid | A male sheep or cattle beast rendered inferior by removing the scrotum but not the testicles. |
| Doe: | Adult female goat (nanny). |
| Dry cow/ewe: | A female animal that did not produce offspring after mating. |
| EVAO: | Estimated Value of Agricultural Output. A value derived by SNZ from the results of the production survey. For every linecode an average yield and price for that year is established. A calculation is done at the end of each cycle whereby every positive linecode is multiplied by the price and yield to provide an estimated turnover for that particular variable. For each farm these values are summed to produce the EVAO. The farm type classification is derived from the EVAO value. |
| Ewe | A female sheep. |
| Farm Type: | (A classification based on the EVAO). A farm is assigned to a farm type when at least 51 percent of gross income is estimated to be derived from farm produce associated with that farm type. Farm type classifications are NZSIC (New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification) and ANZSIC (Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification). For example, any unit which derives 51 percent or more of its gross income from sheep is classified to the sheep farm type. |
| Finishing: | The process of adding body weight to animals, in muscle rather than fat, through careful stock management. |
| Flock | Group of sheep, angora or feral goats. |
| |
| Heifer: | Female cattle having no more than six permanent incisors. |
| Herbage: | Herbs collectively; herbaceous growth or vegetation; usually applied to grass and other low-growing plants covering a large extent of ground, esp. as used for pasture. |
| Herd | Group of cattle, horses, milking goats (and pigs and deer). |
| |
| Hogget: | A young male sheep or maiden ewe having no more than two permanent incisors in wear. |
| Kid: | Male or female goat under 12 months of age. |
| Lamb: | Sheep under 12 months of age or without any permanent teeth in wear. |
| Lambing percentage: | Number of lambs per ewe. |
| Mated Gilts: | Sows which are pregnant for the first time. |
| Mating | Putting the ram to the ewe or the bull to the cow. |
| |
| Ram: | Adult uncastrated male sheep having more than two permanent incisors in wear. |
| Runner | Young calf still with its mother. |
| |
| Schedule: | Basic minimum price paid to a farmer by a meat processing company. Based on categories of stock. Usually announced weekly. Variable premiums can apply for particular groups at certain times. |
| Silage: | Pasture crops stored as they are preserved in a fermented state. |
| Steer: | Male cattle castrated when young. Does not develop secondary sexual characteristics (eg large shoulders) or masculine temperament. |
| |
| Stock unit (SU) or Livestock unit (LSU): | Also referred to as ewe equivalent (EE). It is the feed requirement used as the basis of comparison for different classes and species of stock. It expresses the annual feed requirements, equivalent to one 55 kg ewe rearing a single lamb. 1 LSU requires approximately 520 kg of good quality pasture dry matter per year. For example, 1 hogget = 0.7 LSU; 1 Jersey cow = 6.5 LSU; 1 mature Red Deer stag = 1.5-2.0 LSU. |
| Stocking Rate: | The number of animals carried or run on a defined area of land. May be called carrying capacity. Expressed in stock units. |
| Two-tooth: | Sheep with two teeth (one year old). Age of first mating. |
| Vealer: | Cattle up to 14 months of age: maiden females, castrated males and entire males not showing masculine characteristics. |
| Weaner: | Animal making the transition from all-milk diet to grazing. Usually 3-4 months for sheep and 4-6 months for beef calves. |
| Wether: | A castrated male sheep. |
| Yearling: | Cattle beast about a year old, usually with 2 permanent teeth. Popular purchase age for finishing cattle. |
Contact Details
| Customer Service E-mail Contact: | info@stats.govt.nz |
| |
| Survey Enquiries E-mail Contact: | patrick.wenzel@stats.govt.nz |
Liability
Statistics New Zealand gives no warranty that the information or data supplied contains no errors. However, all care and diligence has been used in processing, analysing and extracting the information. Statistics New Zealand shall not be liable for any loss or damage suffered by the customer consequent upon the use directly, or indirectly, of the information supplied in this product.