Germany Agriculture Profile 2O12

Agriculture and forestry, fisheries

Agriculture produces vegetable and animal foodstuffs. Typical activities are farming and animal husbandry, grassland cultivation and the raising of specialised crops (for instance, fruits, vegetables and wine). In spite of its small 1% share or so of total economic output, agricultural production is very important as it enables the population to be supplied with a sufficiently large amount of foodstuffs at affordable prices. More than 80% of the required foodstuffs can be obtained from domestic production.

German agriculture strongly contributes to the European Union’s (EU) agricultural production regarding a number of products. Of all EU member states Germany is the largest producer of milk, pork and rapeseed and the second largest producer of cereals and potatoes, sugar beet and beef. In addition, agriculture and forestry render services, which are not considered in national accounts. They include, for instance, the maintenance of and care for cultivated landscapes and the preservation of natural living conditions, having a strong impact on our society’s quality of life.

Official agricultural statistics, which are based on legal foundations and embedded in the EU’s system of agricultural statistics, are to record agriculture’s structural and social adaptations to changed market and policy conditions and to make this information available as soon as possible. The basis is provided by data on current farm structures and production capacities, which is helpful information for businessmen and politicians to take decision at national and supranational levels. On the one hand, this data is used to observe the markets for agricultural products and to assess the supply of people with safe foodstuffs at affordable prices. On the other hand, this information provides a basis for follow-up checks on the success of European and national market and price policies and for the estimation of future developments and the involved agricultural spending. The data is also used to observe the impact of agricultural activities on the farming environment and rural areas.

Official statistics on agriculture and forestry, fisheries are collected by agricultural censuses, undertaken in intervals of 8 to 12 years, and agricultural structural surveys supplementing them and by individual surveys on land use, livestock and production conducted in general on a yearly basis or with a shorter periodicity.

• * Slaughtering and slaughter weight statistics
• * Survey at hatcheries
• * Survey at poultry slaughterhouses
• * Survey at laying hen holdings
• * Milk statistics
• * Statistics of meat hygiene

Slaughtering and slaughter weight statistics are collected on a monthly basis and are used to calculate meat production. The recorded variables include number and slaughter weight of slaughtered cattle, calves, pigs, sheep, goats and horses. The results give an overview of the number and type of slaughterings and the volume slaughtered. This data is used as a central reference for the assessment of the market situation regarding meat production.
The poultry slaughterhouse survey collects monthly data on slaughter weights of slaughtered poultry by type, form of processing and state of presentation from poultry slaughterhouses with a slaughtering capacity of at least 2,000 animals. This statistical survey aims to collect information on available slaughtering capacities, their utilisation and the extent of poultry home slaughters. This information is used to assess the trends of slaughter poultry production and to forecast output.
The survey at holdings with at least 3,000 hen-keeping spaces collects monthly figures on the number of available hen-keeping spaces and laying hens and the number of eggs produced in the preceding month. The reference period is the first day of a month. The number of hen-keeping spaces by types of hen-keeping and the hen population structure by age classes and laying periods are annually recorded in December. The date of reference is 1 December. The survey provides information on the holdings’ available capacities, their utilisation and the volume of egg production. This information is used to assess the market situation regarding eggs for consumption and to forecast output.
Annual calculations based on milk production and milk use statistics show the total volume of milk production, of milk used by producers (deliveries to dairies, other uses) and a cow’s average milk performance per month. The results serve as an update of the information which provides the basis for calculating the volume of milk production, compiling supply balance sheets and evaluating the market situation.
The results of slaughtered animal and meat inspections and of slaughtered poultry and poultry meat inspections are represented by meat hygiene statistics. The reasons for possible objections against the use of animals or meat are registered in detail. On the one hand, the data gives information about the extent to which meat corresponds with the hygienic requirements and, on the other hand, is part of preventive consumer protection.
The results of these surveys provide a basis for political decisions to be taken by federal states, the Federation and the European Union. They are also used for agricultural and national accounts, provide a basis for supply balance sheets and serve as a reference for agricultural counselling.
The main users of these statistics are the European Commission, the Federal Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, the respective ministries of the federal states and scientific institutions. Other users are municipalities, associations, agricultural chambers and offices, pressure groups, interested businessmen and private information seekers.

Organic farming

According to the results of the FSS in 2007, 14,500 organically operating farms existed in Germany representing 3.9 percent of all agricultural holdings. This comes up to an increase of 4900 organic farms (+51,2%) compared with the agricultural census in 1999. These 14,500 farms managed about 861,200 hec of agricultural used area, 372,100 hec more than in 1999. Therefore 5.1 percent of the total agricultural used area has been farmed organically by 3.9 percent of all agricultural holdings.

The average size of organically working farms in Germany amounted to 59 hec, 8 hec more than in 1999. Therewith on average the amount of agricultural used area within organic farms in 2007 has still been on a high level, compared to the total agricultural holdings with an average of 45 hec.
From 1999 to 2007 the number of farms declined within all size ranges below 75 hec. Within the considered period they declined by 24.8 percent. Whereas the number of farms managing agricultural used area of 75 hec and more was increasing since 1999 from 41,700 farms up to 50,700.

Forestry

In comparison to the other Laender throughout Germany the largest share of the forest area of agricultural and forestry holdings Bavaria is found in with a percentage of 22%. This is followed by Baden-Wuerttemberg with about 13% as well as Brandenburg and Lower Saxony in each case with about 10 % of this area.

In 2008 the annual fellings in Germany amounted 55 million cubic meters without bark. This is a reduction of about 28% compared to the year 2007 with a volume of 77 million cubic meters. As in the year 2007 as well in 2008 the coniferous wood has the largest rate of the fellings in Germany with 77%.

Cattle stock slightly decreasing

About 26.5 million pigs and about 12.8 million cattle were kept in Germanyon reference day 3 May 2010. Compared with November 2009, the cattle stock was down by some 88,000 animals
(–0.7%).
In pig keeping, the decrease in stock by some 303,000 pigs (–1.1%) is due to a change in methodology. To reduce the burden on respondents, the lower threshold of coverage has been raised. Consequently, some 20,000 small holdings have been exempted from the obligation to provide information.

Viticulture and production of wine

2008: 10 million hectolitres of wine must harvested

Winegrowers in Germany harvested 10 million hectolitres of wine must in 2008. The wine most yield was smaller by 363,000 hectolitres (–3.5%) than the previous year. At the same time, it was by 484,400 hectolitres (5.1%) over the six-year average of the years 2002 to 2007 (9.52 million hectolitres).