Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (CSB) is launching a survey to collect up-to-date data on agriculture in Latvia. In 2026, data are collected through two related questionnaires: Integrated Farm Statistics (IFS 2026) and Annual Crop Survey (2 LS). To minimise the time required from respondents, the two questionnaires have been combined into one, and overlapping questions are asked only once. Moreover, CSB uses administrative data, so respondents will only need to provide information that is not available there.
‘Our priority is to ensure high-quality agricultural statistics while keeping the response burden as low as possible. Better use of data already available in national administrative registers allows us to reduce repeated data requests and make participation in statistical surveys more efficient,’ emphasises Raimonds Lapiņš, Director General of the CSB.
Agricultural statistics support informed policy decisions
Survey results provide an evidence base for agricultural policy in Latvia and the European Union and are used in decisions on the allocation of support and direct payments and in the planning of investment funding. The data are also used to plan support measures under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), helping to develop targeted programmes for small and medium-sized family farms and young farmers. Information provided by holding managers also helps assess and substantiate losses caused by market crises or natural disasters.
The survey will collect comprehensive and internationally comparable statistics on the structure of agricultural holdings and land use, crop production, the volume and use of agricultural output, livestock, fertiliser management, organic farming, the labour force in agriculture and labour input, and other gainful activities.
Less repeated reporting for respondents
Of all agricultural holdings selected for the survey, 2 500 respondents would have to report the same information twice because they are required to complete both questionnaires. With the combined questionnaire, overlapping questions are asked only once.
Repeated reporting is also reduced by using data from administrative registers. Information on crop areas, livestock numbers and livestock housing infrastructure already reported to the Rural Support Service (RSS) or recorded in other national information systems will not be requested again. Respondents will only need to provide information that is not available from these sources and, where necessary, check or clarify the data already obtained.
Participation in the survey
Respondents included in the survey sample will receive an invitation from the CSB by official electronic address (e-address), email or post. The online questionnaire will be available in the CSB Electronic Data Collection (EDV) system e.csp.gov.lv until the deadline specified in the invitation. Access to the online questionnaire is available only to invitation addressees, who can log in using Internet banking, e-identification, or an e-signature. More detailed login instructions will be provided in the invitation.
If it is not possible to submit the questionnaire through the EDV system, it may be sent by post to Talejas iela 1, Rīga, LV-1026, Latvia, or by email to lauksaimnieciba@csp.gov.lv.
Respondents who do not complete the online questionnaire during the web-interviewing period, as well as other respondents included in the survey sample, will be contacted by a CSB interviewer to provide the information by telephone or arrange a face-to-face interview.
Key facts and trends from previous surveys
Results from previous surveys clearly show the structural changes taking place in Latvian agriculture and the importance of monitoring changes in farm structure and productivity.
- In 2023, Latvia had 57.4 thousand economically active agricultural holdings. The utilised agricultural area stood at 1.97 million hectares, while the average area managed by one holding was 34.3 hectares.
- There were 3.7 thousand organic farms in 2023, managing 15.1 % of the total utilised agricultural area in Latvia.
- Large holdings show a shift towards more environmentally friendly sowing methods, with direct seeding (zero tillage) applied on 39.5 % of arable land.
- Despite unfavourable weather conditions, such as prolonged rainfall, flooded areas and late sowing, the average cereal yield increased by 4.22 tonnes per hectare in 2025 (by 7.1 % compared with 2024). In total, almost 3.2 million tonnes of cereals were harvested, and winter wheat accounted for 75.2 % of the total cereal harvest in Latvia.
Survey questionnaires and other related information in Latvian: Integrated Farm Statistics and Annual Crop Survey
Further information for respondents
Methodological information:
Integrated Farm Statistics and the Annual Crop Survey are conducted in accordance with the Statistics Law, the Official Statistics Programme 2026–2028, and Regulations (EU) 2018/1091 on integrated farm statistics and (EU) 2022/2379 on statistics on agricultural input and output (SAIO).
The information acquired will only be published as a summarised data and used to analyse economic and social phenomena and processes.