Background
This release contains the final results from the 2007 Agricultural Production Census. This census is part of an ongoing programme of agricultural production statistics conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. It is the second census in the current Agricultural Production Statistics programme. This programme began with an agricultural production census in 2002 and was followed by yearly sample surveys from 2003 to 2006.
Target population
The target population for the 2007 Agricultural Production Census was all businesses engaged in 'agricultural production activity' (including livestock, cropping, horticulture and forestry) or that owned land intended for agricultural activity. The target population included businesses that were engaged in agriculture or forestry production as a secondary activity.
The target population was defined in terms of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification 2006 (ANZSIC06) classification. It specifically included businesses classified as:
- A01 Agriculture
- A0301 Forestry (excluding native forestry)
and parts of:
- L671200 Non-residential property operators
- M691000 Scientific research services (agriculture-related research that involves land holding (excluding universities))
- P802300 Combined primary and secondary education (agricultural high school operation)
- P802400 Special school education (special needs education involving agricultural production activity)
- P810200 Higher education (agriculture-related research undertaken by universities that involves land holding)
- R912100 Horse and dog racing administration and track operation
- R912900 Other horse and dog racing activities (racehorse training and racing stables operations)
- R892200 Nature reserves and conservation parks operation.
The target population specifically excluded:
- A019300 beekeeping
- part of A019900 Other livestock farming nec (worm farming, pet breeding, dog breeding, cat breeding, bird breeding (except poultry, game birds, ostriches and emus))
- A017100 Poultry meat (except growers who also produce eggs for human consumption).
Population frame
The 2007 Agricultural Production Census includes all units identified on Statistics New Zealand's Business Frame as having agricultural activity. The Business Frame is a list of businesses in New Zealand, based on their registration for goods and services tax (GST) with Inland Revenue. In the case of agriculture, the Business Frame includes:
- those units registered for GST (and filing a non-zero GST return) that have indicated involvement in agricultural activity (as defined above)
- those businesses with more than $200,000 of GST sales or purchases, or that are an employer, whose main activity is not agriculture but that have indicated some secondary agricultural activity.
The compulsory registration level for GST is $40,000, so there is a partial and unquantifiable coverage of units below this level.
Responses from farmers and foresters in the 2007 Agricultural Production Census have resulted in an estimated eligible population of 63,000 enterprises.
Time series consistency
Population changes
Users should note that there have been changes to the frame from which the population has been drawn for agricultural production surveys.
From 1981 to 1991, the population was sourced from an agricultural directory. This was maintained by Statistics NZ by tracing transfers of farming, horticulture and forestry land. In 1992, this agriculture directory was merged with Statistics NZ's Business Frame. For the 1992 and 1993 surveys, population units were drawn from the Business Frame by industrial classification. In the 1994 Agricultural Production Census, for the first time the population was extracted using both the industrial classification and GST registration information.
Between 1994 and 1996, the population was all businesses, sourced from the Business Frame, that were registered for GST and classified to agriculture. The 1999 Agricultural Production Survey population was sourced solely from AgriBase (a geospatial database owned and managed by AgriQuality New Zealand Ltd). The population for the 2000 Horticulture Production Survey was sourced from the Business Frame, supplemented by AgriBase and growers' lists. For the 2002 Census, the population was sourced from the Business Frame and the Inland Revenue Client Register. These sources were checked against industry lists and AgriBase to ensure all large units were included in the population. The Business Frame was used for the 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 surveys, and the 2007 census.
Survey content changes
Users should note that there have been changes to the core information collected in agricultural production collections.
Since 1994, agricultural production collections have collected information on livestock and arable farming, horticulture and forestry with the following exceptions:
- In 1999 the survey collected information on livestock and arable farming only.
- In 2000 the survey collected horticulture production information only.
- In 2004 and 2006 the surveys collected information on livestock and arable farming, and forestry (horticulture production information was not collected).
2007 questionnaire changes
Sale or lease of entire farm
Questions in this category were modified to make it easier for survey participants to provide the information required.
Kiwifruit
The kiwifruit question was expanded to include the type of kiwifruit grown (green, gold, other).
Irrigation
The irrigation question was expanded to ask about the type of irrigation system.
Nitrification inhibitor
A question on the use of nitrification inhibitors was included.
Nutrient budgets
A question on the preparation of nutrient budgets was included.
Past questionnaire changes relevant for 2007
Grazing
The questions relating to 'grazing of livestock owned by someone else' and 'grazing of your livestock elsewhere' were expanded in 2006 and 2007 to help reconcile the grazing and main livestock questions.
Forestry
The reference date for forestry production estimates changed to 31 March in the 2005 Agricultural Production Survey. This change was made to allow the forestry section of the Agricultural Production Survey to align more closely with the National Exotic Forest Description survey (NEFD) run by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
For the 2002 Census, and the 2003 and 2004 surveys, the year ended date was 31 December. For Agricultural Production collections prior to the 2002 Agricultural Production Census the year ended date was 30 June.
Fawns
Since the 2005 survey, the data relates to fawns born on the farm that were alive at four months. This change takes into account industry recommendations. In 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2003, and 2004, data related to fawns weaned on the farm. In 2002, data related to fawns born on the farm.
Deer
Users should note that deer figures since the 2004 survey are not directly comparable with 2002 and 2003 figures. Improvements made to the questions about deer in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 surveys have resulted in improved deer number estimates. While it is not possible to quantify the exact extent of the previous undercoverage, Statistics NZ estimates an undercount of about 70,000 deer at 30 June 2002 and 50,000 at 30 June 2003.
Imputation
Values have been imputed for farmers and foresters who did not return a completed questionnaire. Imputation involves replacing missing items with values based on other information available.
The method of imputation used is random 'hot deck' imputation. A proportion of non-respondents were estimated as ineligible. The remaining non-respondents were grouped into imputation cells based on regional council area, ANZSIC06 (Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification 2006) group, and previous years' production data. Each non-respondent was then randomly assigned to a respondent in the same imputation cell, and the farm production data of the respondent was copied across to the non-respondent. In order to improve the imputation process, respondents with uncharacteristically high levels of agricultural activity were removed from their respective imputation cells, as it was considered unlikely that any of the non-respondents would have similar characteristics to them.
| Imputation levels for the 2007 Agricultural Production Census |
| |
% of total estimate imputed |
| Breeding ewes 2-tooth and older put to ram |
12 |
| Ewe hoggets put to ram |
11 |
| Total sheep |
12 |
| Lambs born to ewe hoggets |
11 |
| Lambs born to ewes |
11 |
| Total lambs |
11 |
| Beef cows and heifers in calf (aged 2 years and older) |
11 |
| Beef cows and heifers in calf (aged 1–2 years) |
11 |
| Total beef cattle |
11 |
| Calves born alive to beef heifers/cows |
11 |
| Dairy cows and heifers, in milk or calf |
16 |
| Total dairy cattle |
15 |
| Female deer mated |
10 |
| Total deer |
10 |
| Fawns born on the farm |
10 |
| Area planted in apples (hectares) |
9 |
| Canopy area planted in kiwifruit (hectares) |
11 |
| Area planted in peaches (hectares) |
12 |
| Area planted in wine grapes (hectares) |
9 |
| Area planted in avocados (hectares) |
10 |
| Harvested area of potatoes (hectares) |
9 |
| Harvested area of onions (hectares) |
5 |
| Harvested area of squash (hectares) |
5 |
| Area of new forestry plantings (hectares) |
6 |
| Area of forestry replantings (hectares) |
2 |
| Exotic timber harvested (hectares) |
4 |
| Exotic timber harvested (cubic metres) |
3 |
| Wheat tonnage harvested |
11 |
| Wheat area harvested (hectares) |
11 |
| Barley tonnage harvested |
12 |
| Barley area harvested (hectares) |
12 |
| Oats tonnage harvested |
9 |
| Oats area harvested (hectares) |
11 |
| Maize grain tonnage harvested |
10 |
| Maize grain area harvested (hectares) |
10 |
| Other cereal grains tonnage harvested |
17 |
| Other cereal grains area harvested (hectares) |
17 |
Response rates
The estimated proportion of eligible businesses that responded to the 2007 Agricultural Production Census was 87 percent. These businesses represent 89 percent of the total estimated value of agricultural operations.
Reliability of sample survey estimates
This release contains statistics from the 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 Agricultural Production Surveys, which are sample surveys. Users should note that estimates from sample surveys are subject to sampling and non-sampling errors.
Sampling error arises from selecting a sample of businesses and weighting the results, rather than taking a complete enumeration, and is not applicable when there is a census. The 1981-1990, 1994, 2002 and 2007 Agricultural Production Censuses and the 2000 Horticultural Production Survey are not subject to sampling error.
Non-sampling error arises from biases in the patterns of response and non-response, inaccuracies in reporting by respondents, and errors in the recording and classification of data. Statistics NZ adopts procedures to detect and minimise these types of errors, but they may still occur and are not easy to quantify.
Confidentiality
Data collected and information contained in this release must conform to the provisions of the Statistics Act 1975. This requires that published information maintains the confidentiality of individual respondents.
More information
For more information, follow the link from the Technical notes of this release on the Statistics New Zealand website.
Copyright
Information obtained from Statistics NZ may be freely used, reproduced, or quoted unless otherwise specified. In all cases Statistics NZ must be acknowledged as the source.
Liability
While care has been used in processing, analysing and extracting information, Statistics NZ gives no warranty that the information supplied is free from error. Statistics NZ shall not be liable for any loss suffered through the use, directly or indirectly, of any information, product or service.
Timing
Timed statistical releases are delivered using postal and electronic services provided by third parties. Delivery of these releases may be delayed by circumstances outside the control of Statistics NZ. Statistics NZ accepts no responsibility for any such delays.