DOI: 10.5255/ukda-sn-8158-2
title: Farm Business Survey, 2015-2016: Special Licence Access
title: Farm Business Survey, 1982- : Special Licence Access
title: FBS

description: This study currently comprises the first submissions of the 2015/16 FBS dataset, derived from version 2 of the FBS2015 database.&lt;br&gt;
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Users should note that data in Section A, that records geographical grid references, has been removed to protect the confidentiality of survey participants. Also, data from sections F3, K, L, N, O, P and R are not included, as these data have not yet been analysed or published by DEFRA.&lt;br&gt;
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&lt;b&gt;Latest edition information&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;
For the second edition (November 2017), a new version of the FBS 2015-2016 dataset was deposited, derived from version 2 of the FBS2015 database. A further extended version of the dataset will be deposited in spring 2018, when additional sections of data will be released.&lt;br&gt;
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 The &lt;i&gt;Farm Business Survey&lt;/i&gt; (FBS) is conducted annually to collect business information from c.2,400 farms in England and Wales. The FBS provides information on the financial position and physical and economic performance of farm businesses, to inform policy decisions on matters affecting farm businesses and to enable analysis of impacts of policy options. It is intended to serve the needs of farmers, farming and land management interest groups, government (both national and European), government partners, and researchers. The primary objective of survey results is to contrast the performance or other business characteristics of different groupings of farm, such as between regions or other geographical or environmental designations, farm types, farm size, age or education of farmer etc.&lt;br&gt;
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Up to and including the 2001/02 survey, FBS estimates were based on matching of the sample between two adjacent years. Farm weights were still calculated to present a matched sample however. From the 2002/03 survey onwards, matching between adjacent years was dropped altogether, and weights are now calculated for the full sample.&lt;br&gt;
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The typology used to determine the FBS farm type classification was revised for 2009 onwards. The FBS typology is now based on standard outputs expressed in euros, with a minimum threshold of 25,000 euro (irrespective of the SLR) for FBS eligibility.  Between 2009 and 2011, FBS farm type classification has been based on 2007 standard output (SO) coefficients.  From 2012, FBS farm type classification is based on 2010 SO coefficients.  The change in typology has had an effect on the distribution of farms by farm type and income averages. Further information regarding the change in typology is available from the 'FBS Documents' section on the gov.uk &lt;a href="https://www.gov.uk/farm-business-survey-technical-notes-and-guidance" title="Farm Business Survey – technical notes and guidance"&gt;Farm Business Survey – technical notes and guidance&lt;/a&gt; webpage.&lt;br&gt;
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The &lt;I&gt;Farm Business Survey&lt;/I&gt; is available under Special Licence access conditions. For further details on how to apply for access to the data, see the Access section below.&lt;br&gt;
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