Final Figures on Harvest of Farm Crops

Methodology

Since the year 2002 the Czech Statistical Office has harmonised surveys on crop production according to legislative regulations and recommendations valid in the member states of the European Union. The scope of surveys (selected sample of respondents) comes from Farm register which is updated continuously. Presented results were grossed up by using of mathematical-statistical methods to represent total field of agriculture.

Data survey by entrepreneurial subjects is based on sample selection. Results are grossed up at the level NUTS 3 (there are 14 regions at NUTS 3 level in the Czech Republic). Actual harvested amount of crops is calculated from the acreage of sowing areas which is surveyed yearly as at 31 May. As far as grain maize and green maize used for silage there is a reclassification with respect to influence of weather conditions which is every year problem. Yield of crop per 1 ha is calculated as the share of harvested product and production area of a respective crop.

Cereals harvested for grain is net, not in mixtures. Maize harvested for silage is recorded as green maize in the group of fodder crops on arable land. Mixed cereals, including oats-barley mixtures; millet, buckwheat, sorghum, corn cob mix and other species harvested for grain are included in the item of “other cereals”. Ergotic rye is included just with the area proportional to grain production resting area of ergotic rye (not used for grain production) is included in the item of “medicinal plants”.

Fodder pulses, pulses mixtures and leguminous-cereal mixtures harvested for grain production (for harvest of mixes, give the amount of grain harvested in total – i.e. the amount of pulses and cereals altogether) are recorded in the item of “other legumes”. In the item “grain plants total” are recorded cereals and legumes in total. As early potatoes are considered those ones harvested before 30 June (since the year 2005). Potatoes used for food and for industrial processing belong under item of “other potatoes”. Production of sugar beet is recorded in net weight minus contaminants. Under item of “other root crops” is indicated harvest of Swedes, fodder beet, fodder carrot, pumpkin, Jerusalem artichoke, fodder turnip etc.

Rape is recorded individually. Turnip rape, cramble, safflower etc. are included together under “other oleaginous plants”. Item “flax seed” includes flax harvested for seeds only, under item of “flax fibre” flax harvested for fibre. Item of “spice plants” includes marjoram, caraway, anise, coriander, spice paprika, fennel and other spice (aromatic) plants. Medical plants ere recorded including ergot rye (harvest of ergot rye only refers to the area not used for harvest of grain). Under “other industrial plants” is recorded chicory (net weight minus contaminants), hemp, tobacco, etc.

Annual fodder crops (as main crops without intermediate crops and secondary ones) are stated in green stage, perennial fodder coming from all cuttings (without underplant crops) are recorded always in dry weight. Under “other annual fodder plants” are recorded cereals harvested in milk ripeness or designed for rotary driers, spring mixes and winter mixes after which no main crop was sown, green fodder beans, palm grass, Italian millet, fodder mallow, phacelia, etc. Under “other perennial crops” are included all perennial forage plants sown into haylage oat, once-cut clover, sainfoin, temporary meadow grass (on arable land), perennial grass and other perennial clover plants such as anthyllis, deer vetch, etc.

Harvested areas of permanent meadows and pastures unlike all other fodder crops are recorded in terms of actual scope of harvest, in the case the area was cut green (fresh) or grazed by livestock the production is recounted into hay. Recalculations into dry fodder or hay are carried out by fixed coefficients in agricultural household itself. Also areas of active vineyards and hop gardens relate to area which was harvested.

Areas of early, summer and late vegetables are calculated together, so called secondary areas (late after early) are not surveyed as danger of double counting of areas. Harvest of individual kind of fruit is surveyed by summarization of reports of agricultural households using sample selection and mathematical statistical methods for grossing up. Numbers of fruit trees and bushes are indicated regardless shape, age for both newly planted and overaged and not bearing.

Total harvest of selected agricultural plants after grossing up of households is stated in the Table No 23. In the year 2006 harvest for households was newly based on results of a public inquiry performed with a representative sample of households.

Consumption of fertilizers is recalculated into the active substances (N, P2O5, K2O) and is recorded for agricultural production year 2004/2005 (it means from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006). Consumption of fertilizers of small farms (individual farmers) are not included as they are not obliged to report that.

Data are summarized for total republic and at the NUT-3 level (regions). Published results are calculated from non-rounded values.