Classification of agricultural area by use

The standard classifies agricultural area by actual use. Firstly, agricultural area is divided into utilised and unutilised agricultural area. Utilised agricultural area is area that is harvested at least once within a year, included area of permanent crops from the year they are planted and fallow land. Usually, agricultural statistics comprise only utilised agricultural area.

Agricultural area by use 1999

The classification of agricultural area by use was documented in Statistics Norway’s database for classifications after the Census of Agriculture 1999. The classification is mainly based on the division of agricultural area in this census. The standard classifies agricultural area by actual use. Firstly, agricultural area is divided into utilised and unutilised agricultural area. Utilised agricultural area is area that is harvested at least once within a year, included area of permanent crops from the year they are planted, and fallow land. Usually, agricultural statistics comprise only utilised agricultural area. The main feature of the classification of utilised agricultural area has been stable since 1907. However, minor changes have occurred, preferably connected to the censuses with 10 years interval. As from 1984, the application form for governmental subsidies in agriculture has been the main source for data on utilised agricultural area and the form is crucial for the classification. In 1999, the application form was somewhat changed to better fit the EU classification of utilised agricultural area. Furthermore, in 2018 the classification was revised and updated with changes in the application form. In 2025, vegetables on open field and berries were specified.