Economic accounts

The European System of Accounts (ESA) allows for the compilation of separate satellite accounts. The satellite accounts are designed to expand the analytical capacity of national accounting for selected areas in a flexible manner, without overburdening or disrupting the central system. For agriculture and forestry this takes the form of the Economic Accounts for Agriculture (EAA) and the Economic Accounts for Forestry (EAF).

The EAA and EAF are based on the industry concept. As satellite accounts to the national accounts, their structure very closely matches that of the standard framework. However, the concepts are adapted to the particular nature of the agricultural and forestry industries. The concepts and methodology on which both accounting systems are based have been harmonised at the European level (Eurostat).

The EAA and EAF provide information on the economic situation in the agricultural and forestry industries, for instance concerning the output values of the two industries, intermediate consumption, investments made, right through to income levels. For this purpose the diversity of agricultural/forestry activities is classified according to general criteria and set out in a coherent system of inter-related accounts and tables.

Due to the nature of the EAA and EAF (statistics of synthesis) a wide variety of data sources is used. The main sources of data for the compilation of the EAA include the agricultural basic statistics (crop statistics, slaughter statistics, livestock censuses, statistics on agricultural and forestry producer prices, etc.) and the national Farm Accountancy Data Network of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (BMFLUW). Important data sources for the EAF are the annual wood felling reports by the BMLFUW and the results obtained from accountancy networks of forestry holdings.

The reference period is the calendar year. The EAA and EAF are elaborated at the national level and, at the regional level, for the federal provinces. In the case of the EAA, consistent time series are available at the nationwide level from 1990 and at the federal province level from 1995. In the case of the EAF, back calculations were carried out at the nationwide level to 1988 and at the regional level to 1995.

The data of the EAA/EAF provides an important basis for more in-depth analyses and policy measures.

Overview: Sequence of accounts of the EAA and EAF