DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14197440
title: THÜNEN AGRARATLAS (2022)

description: German agricultural statistics are a vital resource for assessing the environmental impacts of agricultural activities and estimating trends in the sector. However, access to small-scale data is often restricted due to data protection regulations. To address this limitation, the Agraratlas project was launched, aiming to create a comprehensive dataset at the community level, focusing on land use and livestock.

Background and Objective

German agricultural statistics on land use and livestock are crucial indicators for assessing environmental impacts. These statistics form the foundation for estimating trends and evaluating policy impacts within the Thünen-Modellverbund. However, access to detailed data at the municipality level is restricted due to data security concerns. Additionally, changes in regional boundaries and updates to data collection classifications make it challenging to establish consistent comparisons over extended periods.

The Agraratlas project aims to address these challenges by developing a coherent dataset at the community level, spanning from 1999 to the present. This will be achieved by integrating data from the Farm Structure Survey, agricultural statistics, and geo-referenced land use information, while adhering to strict data security requirements to make the dataset publicly available.

The project's outcomes contribute to the Thünen Institute's work on geo-referenced data infrastructure and will be published as part of this initiative.

Approach

The following steps are necessary to create a consistent, unrestricted dataset:



Obtain permissions from the federal states to access community-level data.

Analyze data at the Forschungsdatenzentrum (FDZ - Research Data Centre) using cluster analysis to comply with data security requirements.

Integrate data through a Bayesian estimation procedure, combining:



Public agricultural statistics

Unconditional data generated by the cluster analysis

Geo-referenced (GIS) land use data from the German Landscape Model (DLM)



Validate results at the FDZ by comparing them with observed community data.

Publish the dataset via the Thünen geo-referenced data infrastructure (GDI).

Develop a visualization tool at www.agraratlas.de to facilitate the analysis of land use and livestock densities.


Data and Methods

We employ geographic and geo-referenced methods, integrated with data preparation tools for model analysis, to address structural breaks and new classifications, close data gaps, and create a dataset that remains consistent across time and regions.

Data sources



2010 until 2020 – district data of the Farm Structure Survey (FSS) of the statistical offices of the federal states and cluster estimations on basis of the research data centre (RDC), the FSS of the statistical offices of the federation and the federal states (DOI:10.21242/41121.2020.00.01.1.1.0, AFiD-Panel Agrarstruktur 2010/2013/2016/2020, On-Site-Zugang) 

1999 until 2007 – district data and cluster estimators on basis of the RDC, the statistical offices of the federation and the federal states (DOI:10.21242/41121.2007.00.01.1.1.0, AFiD-Panel Agrarstruktur 1999/2001/2003/2005/2007, On-Site-Zugang)

1999 until 2020 Basis-DLM – © GeoBasis-DE/BKG (2020); Terms of use: http://sg.geodatenzentrum.de/web_public/nutzungsbedingungen.pdf


Preliminary Results

The results of the project are also visually published on the Agraratlas website. Details of the methodological approach are available in the publication listed below.

Explaining the data

Three datasets are provided: crops, animal_heads, and animal_lu. The data is presented in wide format and includes the following columns:



"reg": Municipality identifier

"unit": Measurement unit

"allYear": Year

Codes for crop or animal activities


The municipality identifiers are based on the 2010 administrative regulation and follow the format "2010_" + the official municipality code ("Amtlicher Gemeindeschlüssel (AGS)"). This ensures that agricultural production activity values for municipalities are trackable over time.

Handling Missing DataIf any values are missing (NA), they can be safely treated as zero.

Units of Measurement



For crops: LEVL represents 1,000 hectares.

For animals: LEVL represents 1,000 heads (or 1,000,000 heads for poultry).

LU represents livestock units measured in 1,000 units.


Data AvailabilityThe datasets include information for the years 1999, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2016, and 2020.

Mapping official and Agraratlas codes

The code of crop and animal production are based on the official agricultural statistics (description of official codes). The following table shows the mapping.




Code official agricultural statistics
Code Agraratlas
Description (German)
Description (English)


C0101
WWHE
Winterweizen einschl. Dinkel und Einkorn
Winter wheat including spelt and einkorn


C0102
SWHE
Sommerweizen (ohne Durum)
Spring wheat (excluding durum)


C0103
SWHE
Hartweizen (Durum)
Durum wheat (hard wheat)


C0104
RYEM
Roggen und Wintermenggetreide
Rye and winter mixed grain


C0105
OCER
Triticale
Triticale


C0106
WBAR
Wintergerste
Winter barley


C0107
SBAR
Sommergerste
Spring barley


C0108
OATS
Hafer
Oats


C0109
OATS
Sommermenggetreide
Spring mixed grain


C0110
MAIZ
Körnermais/Mais zum Ausreifen (einschl. Corn-Cob-Mix)
Grain corn/maize for ripening (including Corn-Cob-Mix)


C0111
OCER
Anderes Getreide zur Körnergewinnung (z.B. Hirse, Sorghum, Kanariensaat)
Other grains for grain harvesting (e.g., millet, sorghum, canary seed)


C0121
OFAR
Getreide zur Ganzpflanzenernte einschl. Teigreife (Verwendung als Futter, zur Biogaserzeugung usw.)
Grains for whole plant harvesting including dough stage (used as fodder, for biogas production, etc.)


C0122
MAIF
Silomais/Grünmais einschl. Lieschkolbenschrot (LKS)
Silage maize/green maize including crushed ear maize (LKS)


C0123
OFAR
Leguminosen zur Ganzpflanzenernte (z.B. Klee, Luzerne, Mischungen ab 80% Leguminosen)
Legumes for whole plant harvesting (e.g., clover, alfalfa, mixtures with at least 80% legumes)


C0124
OFAR
Feldgras/Grasanbau auf dem Ackerland (einschl. Mischungen mit überwiegendem Grasanteil)
Field grass/grass cultivation on arable land (including mixtures predominantly of grass)


C0125
OFAR
andere Pflanzen zur Ganzpflanzenernte (z.B. Phacelia, Sonnenblumen, weitere Mischkulturen)
Other plants for whole plant harvesting (e.g., phacelia, sunflowers, other mixed cultures)


C0131
PULT
Erbsen (ohne Frischerbsen)
Peas (excluding fresh peas)


C0132
PULT
Ackerbohnen
Fava beans


C0133
PULT
Süßlupinen (einschl. Speiselupinen)
Sweet lupins (including edible lupins)


C0134
PULT
andere Hülsenfrüchte und Mischkulturen zur Körnergewinnung
Other legumes and mixed cultures for grain harvesting


C0135
PULT
Sojabohnen
Soybeans


C0140
POTA
Kartoffeln insgesamt
Potatoes in total


C0145
SUGB
Zuckerrüben (auch zur Ethanolerzeugung) ohne Saatguterzeugung
Sugar beets (also for ethanol production) excluding seed production


C0146
ROOF
andere Hackfrüchte ohne Saatguterzeugung (Futter- Runkel-, Kohlrüben, Futterkohl, -möhren)
Other root crops excluding seed production (fodder beet, turnip, kohlrabi, fodder carrot)


C0161
RAPE
Winterraps
Winter rapeseed


C0162
RAPE
Sommerraps, Winter- und Sommerrübsen
Summer rapeseed, winter and summer turnip rape


C0163
INDC
Sonnenblumen
Sunflowers


C0164
INDC
Öllein (Leinsamen)
Oil flax (linseed)


C0165
INDC
andere Ölfrüchte zur Körnergewinnung (z.B. Senf, Mohn)
Other oilseeds for grain harvesting (e.g., mustard, poppy)


C0171
INDC
Hopfen
Hops


C0172
INDC
Tabak
Tobacco


C0173
INDC
vor 2020: Heil-, Duft- und Gewürzpflanzen (einschließlich Speisekräuter) 
Before 2020: Medicinal, aromatic and spice plants (including culinary herbs)


C0174
INDC
Hanf
Hemp


C0175
INDC
andere Pflanzen zur Fasergewinnung (z.B. Flachs, Kenaf)
Other plants for fiber production (e.g., flax, kenaf)


C0176
INDC
ausschl. zur Energieerzeugung genutzte Handelsgewächse (z.B. Miscanthus)
Crops exclusively used for energy production (e.g., Miscanthus)


C0177
INDC
andere Handelsgewächse (z.B. Zichorie, Rollrasen)
Other commercial crops (e.g., chicory, sod)


C0178
INDC
Heil-, Duft- und Gewürzpflanzen im Freiland
Medicinal, aromatic and spice plants in open fields


C0179
INDC
Heil-, Duft- und Gewürzpflanzen unter hohen begehbaren Schutzabdeckungen einschl. Gewächshäusern
Medicinal, aromatic and spice plants under high walk-in protective covers including greenhouses


C0181
VEGE
Gemüse und Erdbeeren (einschl. Spargel, ohne Pilze) im Freiland im Wechsel mit landwirtschaftlichen Kulturen
Vegetables and strawberries (including asparagus, excluding mushrooms) in open fields in rotation with agricultural crops


C0182
VEGE
Gemüse und Erdbeeren (einschl. Spargel, ohne Pilze) im Freiland im Wechsel mit anderen Gartengewächsen
Vegetables and strawberries (including asparagus, excluding mushrooms) in open fields in rotation with other horticultural crops


C0183
VEGE
Gemüse und Erdbeeren (einschl. Spargel, ohne Pilze) unter hohen begehbaren Schutzabdeckungen einschl. Gewächshäusern
Vegetables and strawberries (including asparagus, excluding mushrooms) under high walk-in protective covers including greenhouses


C0184
OCRP
Blumen und Zierpflanzen (ohne Baumschulen) im Freiland 
Flowers and ornamental plants (excluding nurseries) in open fields


C0185
OCRP
Blumen und Zierpflanzen (ohne Baumschulen) unter hohen begehbaren Schutzabdeckungen einschl. Gewächshäusern 
Flowers and ornamental plants (excluding nurseries) under high walk-in protective covers including greenhouses


C0186
OCRP
vor 2020: Gartenbausämereien und Jungpflanzenerzeugung zum Verkauf unter hohen begehbaren Schutzabdeckungen einschließlich Gewächshäusern und im Freiland 
Before 2020: Horticultural seeds and young plant production for sale under high walk-in protective covers including greenhouses and in open fields


C0187
OCRP
Gartenbausämereien und Jungpflanzenerzeugung zum Verkauf im Freiland
Horticultural seeds and young plant production for sale in open fields


C0188
OCRP
Gartenbausämereien und Jungpflanzenerzeugung zum Verkauf unter hohen begehbaren Schutzabdeckungen einschl. Gewächshäusern 
Horticultural seeds and young plant production for sale under high walk-in protective covers including greenhouses


C0195
INDC
Saat- und Pflanzenguterzeugung für Gräser, Hackfrüchte (ohne Kartoffeln), Handelsgewächse (ohne Ölfrüchte)
Seed and planting stock production for grasses, root crops (excluding potatoes), commercial crops (excluding oilseeds)


C0196
INDC
Sonstige Kulturen auf dem Ackerland
Other crops on arable land


C0200
SETA
Brache 
Fallow land


C0201
SETA
vor 2020: Stillgelegtes/aus der landwirtschaftlichen Erzeugung genommenes Ackerland/Brache mit Beihilfe-/Prämienanspruch ohne wirtschaftliche Nutzung und ohne nachwachsende Rohstoffe
Before 2020: Set-aside/arable land taken out of agricultural production/fallow with subsidy/premium entitlement without economic use and without renewable raw materials


C0202
SETA
vor 2020: Brache ohne Beihilfe-/Prämienanspruch
Before 2020: Fallow without subsidy/premium entitlement


C0210
ARAB
Ackerland insgesamt (Summe C0101 bis C0200)
Total arable land (sum of C0101 to C0200)


C0211
FRUT
vor 2020: Baumobstanlagen
Before 2020: Tree fruit orchards


C0212
FRUT
Beerenobstanlagen (ohne Erdbeeren) im Freiland
Berry fruit orchards (excluding strawberries) in open fields


C0213
FRUT
Nüsse (Walnüsse, Haselnüsse, Esskastanien/Maronen)
Nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts, chestnuts/marrons)


C0214
FRUT
Beerenobstanlagen (ohne Erdbeeren) unter hohen begehbaren Schutzabdeckungen einschl. Gewächshäusern
Berry fruit orchards (excluding strawberries) under high walk-in protective covers including greenhouses


C0215
WINE
Rebflächen für Keltertrauben insgesamt
Vineyards for wine grapes in total


C0216
WINE
Rebflächen für Tafeltrauben
Vineyards for table grapes


C0217
OPER
Baumschulen im Freiland (ohne forstliche Pflanzgärten in Eigenbedarf)
Nurseries in open fields (excluding forest nurseries for own use)


C0218
OPER
Weihnachtsbaumkulturen (außerhalb des Waldes)
Christmas tree cultures (outside the forest)


C0219
OPER
andere Dauerkulturen (z.B. Korbweidenanlagen)
Other perennial crops (e.g., willow plantations)


C0220
FRUT
vor 2020: Dauerkulturen unter hohen begehbaren Schutzabdeckungen einschließlich Gewächshäusern (z. Baumschulflächen unter Glas; ohne Schutz- und Schattennetze) 
Before 2020: Perennial crops under high walk-in protective covers including greenhouses (e.g., nursery areas under glass; excluding shade and netting)


C0221
FRUT
Baumobstanlagen für Kernobst im Freiland
Tree fruit orchards for pome fruit in open fields


C0222
FRUT
Baumobstanlagen für Kernobst unter hohen begehbaren Schutzabdeckungen einschl. Gewächshäusern
Tree fruit orchards for pome fruit under high walk-in protective covers including greenhouses


C0223
FRUT
Baumobstanlagen für Steinobst im Freiland
Tree fruit orchards for stone fruit in open fields


C0224
FRUT
Baumobstanlagen für Steinobst unter hohen begehbaren Schutzabdeckungen einschl. Gewächshäusern
Tree fruit orchards for stone fruit under high walk-in protective covers including greenhouses


C0231
MGRA
Wiesen (hauptsächliche Schnittnutzung)
Meadows (mainly for mowing)


C0232
PGRA
Weiden (einschl. Mähweiden und Almen)
Pastures (including mown pastures and alpine pastures)


C0233
HGRA
Ertragsarmes Dauergrünland (z.B. Hutungen, Heiden)
Low-yield permanent grassland (e.g., pastures, heaths)


C0234
NGRA
aus der Erzeugung genommenes Dauergrünland mit Beihilfe-/Prämienanspruch
Permanent grassland taken out of production with subsidy/premium entitlement


C0231+C0232+C0233+C0234
GRAS
Gesamtes Grünland
Total grassland


C0236
OPER
Baumschulen unter hohen begehbaren Schutzabdeckungen einschl. Gewächshäusern (ohne forstliche Pflanzgärten in Eigenbedarf)
Nurseries under high walk-in protective covers including greenhouses (excluding forest nurseries for own use)


C0239
OPER
Haus- und Nutzgärten 
Home and utility gardens


C0240
UAAR
Landwirtschaftlich genutzte Fläche (Summe C0210 bis C0239)
Agriculturally used area (sum of C0210 to C0239)


C0241
FALL
dauerhaft aus der landwirtschaftlichen Produktion genommene Flächen ohne Prämienanspruch
Permanently removed from agricultural production areas without premium entitlement


C3310
CATO
GVE Rinder insgesamt (Summe C3312 bis C3321, C3324)
Total livestock units (LU) of cattle (sum of C3312 to C3321, C3324)


C3312
BULL
GVE Rinder 1 bis unter 2 Jahre alt, männlich
LU cattle 1 to under 2 years old, male


C3313
HEIT
GVE Rinder 1 bis unter 2 Jahre alt, weiblich
LU cattle 1 to under 2 years old, female


C3314
BULL
GVE Rinder 2 Jahre und älter, männlich
LU cattle 2 years and older, male


C3315
HEIT
GVE Rinder 2 Jahre und älter, weiblich (noch nicht gekalbt)
LU cattle 2 years and older, female (not yet calved)


C3316
DCOW
GVE Milchkühe (jeden Alters)
LU dairy cows (of any age)


C3317
SCOW
GVE andere Kühe (jeden Alters, bereits gekalbt)
LU other cows (of any age, already calved)


C3318
CALV
GVE Kälber unter 8 Monate alt, männlich
LU calves under 8 months old, male


C3319
CALV
GVE Kälber unter 8 Monate alt, weiblich
LU calves under 8 months old, female


C3320
CALV
GVE Jungrinder 8 Monate bis unter 1 Jahr, männlich
LU young cattle 8 months to under 1 year, male


C3321
CALV
GVE Jungrinder 8 Monate bis unter 1 Jahr, weiblich
LU young cattle 8 months to under 1 year, female


C3330
PITO
GVE Schweine insgesamt
Total LU pigs


C3331
SOWS
GVE Ferkel unter 20 kg
LU piglets under 20 kg


C3332
SOWS
GVE Zuchtsauen einschl. hierfür bestimmte Jungsauen ab 50 kg und mehr Lebendgewicht
LU breeding sows including gilts intended for breeding from 50 kg live weight and more


C3337
PIGF
GVE andere Schweine
LU other pigs


C3350
RETO
GVE Schafe insgesamt (Summe C3352, C3353, C3355 bis C3357)
Total LU sheep (sum of C3352, C3353, C3355 to C3357)


C3352
SHGM
GVE Milchschafe einschl. gedeckte Lämmer, die für die Erzeugung von Milch bestimmt sind
LU dairy sheep including covered lambs intended for milk production


C3353
SHGM
GVE andere Mutterschafe einschl. gedeckte Lämmer
LU other ewes including covered lambs


C3355
SHGM
GVE Schafe unter 1 Jahr (ohne gedeckte Lämmer)
LU sheep under 1 year (excluding covered lambs)


C3356
SHGM
GVE Schafböcke zur Zucht
LU breeding rams


C3357
SHGM
GVE andere Schafe (z.B. Hammel)
LU other sheep (e.g., wethers)


C3360
RETO
GVE Ziegen insgesamt (Summe C3361, C3362)
Total LU goats (sum of C3361, C3362)


C3361
SHGM
GVE weibliche Ziegen zur Zucht, einschl. gedeckte Jungziegen
LU female goats for breeding, including covered young goats


C3362
SHGM
GVE andere Ziegen (z.B. Zicklein, Ziegenböcke)
LU other goats (e.g., kids, billy goats)


C3370
POTO
GVE Hühner insgesamt (Summe C3371 bis C3373)
Total LU chickens (sum of C3371 to C3373)


C3371
HENS
GVE Legehennen
LU laying hens


C3372
HENS
GVE Junghennen und Junghennenküken
LU pullets and pullet chicks


C3373
POUF
GVE Masthühner, Masthähne und übrige Küken
LU broilers, cockerels and other chicks


C3380
POTO
GVE Gänse, Enten, Truthühner insgesamt (Summe C3381 bis C3383)
Total LU geese, ducks, turkeys (sum of C3381 to C3383)


C3381
POUF
GVE Gänse einschl. Küken insgesamt
LU geese including chicks in total


C3382
POUF
GVE Enten einschl. Küken insgesamt
LU ducks including chicks in total


C3383
POUF
GVE Truthühner einschl. Küken insgesamt
LU turkeys including chicks in total


C3390
OANI
GVE Einhufer (Pferde, Esel, Maultiere u. a.)
LU equines (horses, donkeys, mules, etc.)


C3390
RETO
GVE Einhufer (Pferde, Esel, Maultiere u. a.)
LU equines (horses, donkeys, mules, etc.)


C3391
ANTO
GVE insgesamt
Total LU




Single Agraratlas codes are belonging to some aggregates. This mapping can be found in the table below.




 
UAAR
ARAB
CERE
OLIS
OTCR
FOAG
REST
SEFA
PERM
GRAS
ANTO
CATO
PITO
POTO
RETO


SWHE
Y
Y
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


WWHE
Y
Y
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


OATS
Y
Y
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


RYEM
Y
Y
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


WBAR
Y
Y
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


SBAR
Y
Y
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


OCER
Y
Y
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


MAIZ
Y
Y
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


RAPE
Y
Y
 
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


POTA
Y
Y
 
 
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


PULT
Y
Y
 
 
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


SUGB
Y
Y
 
 
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


MAIF
Y
Y
 
 
 
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


ROOF
Y
Y
 
 
 
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


OFAR
Y
Y
 
 
 
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


VEGE
Y
Y
 
 
 
 
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


INDC
Y
Y
 
 
 
 
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


OCRP
Y
Y
 
 
 
 
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


SETA
Y
Y
 
 
 
 
 
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


FALL
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


FRUT
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 


WINE
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 


OPER
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 


MGRA
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Y
 
 
 
 
 


PGRA
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Y
 
 
 
 
 


HGRA
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Y
 
 
 
 
 


NGRA
Y
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Y
 
 
 
 
 


DCOW
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Y
Y
 
 
 


SCOW
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Y
Y
 
 
 


BULL
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Y
Y
 
 
 


CALV
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Y
Y
 
 
 


HEIT
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Y
Y
 
 
 


SOWS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Y
 
Y
 
 


PIGF
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Y
 
Y
 
 


HENS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Y
 
 
Y
 


POUF
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Y
 
 
Y
 


SHGM
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Y
 
 
 
Y


OANI
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Y
 
 
 
Y




 

References

Gocht A, Röder N (2014) Using a Bayesian estimator to combine information from a cluster analysis and remote sensing data to estimate high-resolution data for agricultural production in Germany. Int J Geogr Inf Sci 28(9):1744-1764, doi:10.1080/13658816.2014.897348

For more information about the project: project page.

Status: data has not yet been validated against observed municipality data.