Statistical presentation

Data description

The harvest of grain etc. is an annual statement of the Danish harvest of grain and roughage calculated in area (1000 hectares), average yield (hkg per hectare) and production (million kg). The statistics are calculated for crops and divided by region.

The harvest of grain, rapeseed and legumes and straw

Calculation of the Danish harvest of grain etc. based on reports from farmers. In addition, the total production and use of straw is calculated.

Crops covered: winter wheat, barley, rapeseed, spring wheat, barley, rapeseed, rye, oats, triticale, field peas, broad beans and mixed crops.

In connection with the calculation, the total production and use of straw is also calculated. Annual production inventories have been prepared since 1970, while inventories of straw use have been prepared since 1972.

The statistics on cereals, rapeseed and peas and on straw are primarily a production inventory.

Includes the harvest of winter wheat, barley, rapeseed, spring wheat, barley, rapeseed, rye, oats, triticale, field peas and mixed crops. For each crop, information is collected via questionnaire on cultivated area, total yield (hkg), average yield (hkg/ha) and water percentage if the yield is not stated in dried weight. The water percentage is used for calculations with a standardized water percentage (15 percent for cereals and dry pulses and 9 percent for rapeseed).

Harvest of corn to maturity (corn kernel) is included in the statistics from 2011.

The statistics concerning straw illustrate the production and use of straw for the above-mentioned crops. Production is calculated as a relationship between kernel yield (cereal, rapeseed and dry pulses) and expected straw yield, while the use of straw is based on questionnaire information on the distribution of straw areas used for heating, for feed, for other uses or for mulching.

As of 2006, the results are calculated based on the new administrative structure in Denmark for regions. Regions are divided into special agricultural parts (subdivisions of regions).

Harvest of roughage

Includes the harvest of root vegetables (potatoes, fodder beet, sugar beet) and grass, green fodder and residues (including grain and corn harvested for silage or green fodder).

Yields per ha is available from SEGES for potatoes, from Danish Sugar Beet Growers for sugar beet, while fodder crops are obtained from the accounting statistics for agriculture.

The yield information is combined with areas from GLR (farmers' applications for area subsidies).

Forecast for winter crops

Forecast for areas planted with winter crops for harvest the following year. The crops include: winter wheat, winter barley, rye, triticale and winter rapeseed. These are only calculations of areas at national level, but the results are also important for estimating the size of the next harvest. Forecasts have been prepared since 1967. Since 2002, they have been based on quantities of certified seed.

The forecast has been prepared since 2016 by DAKOFO and the Association of Danish Variety Owners. DAKOFO is a trade association for the grain and feed trade in Denmark. The Association of Danish Variety Owners represents plant breeders.

Seed

The basis for statistics on seed is data on certified quantities of seed in tonnes from the Danish Agricultural Agency and the Tystoftefonden. These are compared with historical relationships between seed and cultivated area. In addition, an assessment of the following factors is included:

• sales on the Danish market
• how much farmers actually managed to sow
• how much is exported
• Sowing times and the resulting changes in seed quantities per hectare.

The assessments have been made on the basis of expert estimates and reports from seed companies and commodity companies. Due to the element of estimation, the final figures will deviate from the forecast to a certain extent.

The forecasts up to 2015 have been prepared by Statistics Denmark, also based on data from the Danish Agricultural Agency and estimates from Seges regarding winter rapeseed. Seed information comes from the Danish Agricultural Agency and Seges. Revised area information from 'Harvest of grain, rapeseed and peas as well as straw'.

Results for seeds for sowing (areas, hectare yields and total yield) are provided nationwide for almost 20 seed varieties. With regard to yield, this is a purified quantity. The statistics are based on data from Tystoftefonden on cultivated, certified areas and certified production. Seeds for sowing are included in the calculation of BFI for agriculture.

Classification system

Geographical breakdown

The harvest of cereals etc. is divided by Agricultural provinces.

Crops

All crops follow the EU classifications in "Eurostat Handbook for Annual Crop Statistics".

Sector coverage

The agricultural sector.

Statistical concepts and definitions

Area for application : Agricultural areas comprised by application for direct support to the Agency of Agriculture. Each area specifies a crop.

Mixed crops: Mixture of crops sown in the same field, eg. of cereals and/or legumes.

Area under cultivation : Agricultural areas where a given crop is cultivated. The crop will most often correspond to that specified in the area for application, but may differ as a result of a changed cultivation plan.

Aftermath: Harvesting of small crops (grass or clover, etc.) in fields where the same or another crop has previously been harvested. The area is also included under the first crop (typically grain).

Ensiling: Method for preserving fodder from whole grains, grass or other green fodder.

Fodder unit : Measure of energy content in crops that can be used for fodder.

Coarse fodder: Fodder crops used more or less unprocessed for fibrous fodder. Includes Whole crop, maize for green fodder, grass, fodder turnips etc.

Straw yield : The amount of straw, calculated from the yield of the individual crops.

Whole crop/silage: Crops where the whole plant is harvested green and used for feed. Wholecrop is cut and preserved as silage or used directly.

Yield, kernel : Harvest of grain, measured by weight of the kernel.

Maize for green fodder: Maize that is harvested as a whole crop before ripening and usually ensiled for fodder.

Grain maize: Maize grown for ripening of cobs and kernels in September-October. Used for fodder.

Rotation: Alternating crops. Characteristic of areas in rotation is that tillage is harvested and carried out (plowed/harrowed). If an area is not harvested or tilled for five seasons, it is considered "permanent" (eg. grass).

Dry weight : The yield of cereals, etc. is indicated in dry weight (standard humidity). Dry weight means a water content of not more than 15 percent for cereals/peas/beans and no more than 9 percent for rape.

Winter crops : Crops harvested in autumn and harvested the following summer. Includes winter wheat, rye, triticale, winter barley and winter rape.

Spring crops : Crops that are sown in spring and harvested the same summer. Includes spring wheat, spring barley, oats and mixed seeds, corn cobs and spring rape.

Organic crops : Crops grown according to organic principles set by Danish authorities.

Statistical unit

• Area (1000 hectare)
• Average yield (100 kg pr hectare)
• Production (million kilos)

Statistical population

The target population are farmers with production of the covered crops (cereals, canola, pulses, fodder crops).

Reference area

Denmark.

Time coverage

The statistics in their present form are generally available from 1990. However, see 'Comparability over time' for specification.

Base period

The statistics cover harvest in the calendar year.

Unit of measure

• Land: 1000 hectare.
• Average yield: hectokilo per. hectare. 1 hkg = 100 kg.
• Production: million kilo.

Reference period

The statistics cover harvest in the calendar year.

The harvest of cereals, rape etc.

The end of the harvest each year (typically in early September). In practice most crops are harvested by the end of September. However, grain maize and corn cob mix have often later harvest in November.

Harvest of roughage

30 Nov. in the reference year of the statistics.

The end of the harvest each year (typically medio November). In practice, most crops are harvested by the end of September. However, Grain maize and corn cob mix have often later harvest in November.

Areas planted with winter crops

The harvest period for the year to which the statistics refer. Data is collected the year before.

This date is usually the latest possible time of sowing.

Frequency of dissemination

The statistics are published annually.

Legal acts and other agreements

The Act on Statistics Denmark, corresponding to request in EU regulation on crop statistics, including forecasts.

Council Regulation 543/2009 relating to crop statistics and forecasts. Directive 1989/130 relating to production of straw incorporated in the Economic Accounts for Agriculture.

Cost and burden

1.1 man-years.

Comment

Additional information can be obtained from Statistics Denmark.