What we will do with your data

We use the data to create statistics that measure the financial performance of farming in Scotland. The data are used widely by farmers, farmer’s unions, the agricultural industry, government, and the general public. They allow the Scottish Government to assess the impact of existing and future policies. Such as the effect changes to support payments can have on farms financial viability. They are used by Scottish Government to develop and tailor policies to support the agricultural sector.

Other uses of the data include:

• providing benchmarking information to assist with farm business planning
• understanding potential impacts of crisis situations, like disease outbreaks
• estimating the extent and nature of diversification by farmers
• providing information for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures which help us estimate the contribution of agriculture to the national economy
• comparing farming across the UK and with farming elsewhere
• helping to estimate environmental impact by producing nitrogen use efficiency estimates of farms.

Personal data

We use your contact information and some non-personal data from your June Census survey form to verify your identity, contact you by post, email or telephone and to maintain our records. We also collect personal data to contact you in your preferred way in relation to the SFBS and to provide information about areas of Scotland and age and gender of workers.

Survey data

Data collected through this survey may constitute personal data as you may be identifiable from information that relates to you. Survey data are treated as personal data. The survey collects a range of management accounting information about your farm business as well as other information about your farm. Data collected through the survey is sent to the Scottish Government anonymously. No-one other than relevant SACC staff working for the survey know your identity.

Results of the survey are published only as grouped information or averages. It is not possible to identify individual farm businesses.