Statistical processing

Source data

Data input are collected from a wide range of sources. The main sources are:

Annual stocks at cereal trading companies (census) Annual stocks of cereals on farms (400 farmers in the sample and 1 per cent does not deliver data) Indirectly are data from other statistics from Statistics Denmark used: the annual harvest survey, manufacturers’ sales of goods and international trade in goods Moreover some information is collected elsewhere, from businesses with industrial activities and industrial organizations.

Frequency of data collection

The are differences in the frequency of the collection of data to this statistics. The stock of cereals at farms and the harvest statistics are collected yearly whereas stock at cereal trading companies are collected biannual. International trade in goods and manufacturers’ sales of goods are published monthly.

Data collection

The Supply and use of Cereals and feed are compiled by aggregating data from various statistics and sources, each with different collection methods: The Statistics on Cereals Stocks and Trade at Cereal Traders involve semi-annual data collection, asking companies. Cereal Stocks at Farmers is a sample-based survey (400 farms in the sample) conducted annually. Data are indirectly incorporated from other statistics by Statistics Denmark, such as the Harvest, Industry Sales of Goods, and Foreign Trade in Goods. Since 2020, specialized data extracts have been made from the Foreign Trade in Goods statistics for selected agricultural sectors. Additionally, specific information is gathered, for example, from companies in the industrial and agricultural sectors, as well as from industry organizations.

Data validation

Data for the compilation of the Supply and Use of Cereals and Feed are derived from other statistics. This ensures that the data are validated before being used in the compilation. Validation of the data in Supply and Use of Cereals and Feed involves comparing data from previous periods and analyzing trends over time. In the case of significant deviations, such as high foreign production, the contact person responsible for the statistics is contacted for validation of the development. In the Statistics on Cereal Stocks at Farmers, data are cross-referenced with information about their cultivated cereal areas. Additionally, cereal stocks are compared with the number of pigs on the farm, as pig farms typically have large quantities of cereals in stock. This information helps assess whether small or large quantities of cereals in stock are plausible.

For the Statistics on Cereal Stocks and Trade at Cereal Traders, incoming data are compared with the same period from the previous year. The size of the harvest is also considered, as it has a significant impact on stock levels. If there are data gaps or the data deviate markedly from other submitted data or data from previous years, the reporter is contacted.

The harvest of cereals etc. and International Trade in Goods are likewise validated in their own statistical productions systems, so information can be found here: Harvest of cereals etc and International trade in goods

Data compilation

The use of feed is calculated using supply balance sheets for the straight feedingstuffs. On the one hand, the total supply is calculated containing domestic production, stocks at beginning of period and imports, and on the other hand uses are calculated containing exports, stocks at end of period and feeds used for animal production. The use of feed for animal production is calculated as a residual in the balance.

• Yield or production ÷ loss at producer
• import
• initial stock = Available total

÷ seed ÷ export ÷ industrial use ÷ human consumption ÷ consumption for other purposes ÷ final stock
= use for feed

The results are calculated on crop years, because this supplies the most accurate results, but balance sheets are also compiled on calendar years as input for compiling Economic Accounts for Agriculture.

Adjustment

Corrections are made on an ongoing basis because of updates in the harvest data and international trade in goods. The statistics is preliminary until 2 years after it has been published for the first time.