Finland
July 20, 2015
Photo:Anneli Partala/ Luke
Sowing was not done in early spring as usual but continued well into the height of summer due to the heavy rains at the beginning of the summer. Finnish fields are expected to yield less barley and wheat (-20%) as well as oat and potatoes (-10%) compared with last year. A greater harvest than last year is expected from peas (+100%), broad beans (+50%) and rye (+40%).
The 2015 harvesting is due to begin in a little over a month. Hence, this mid-July estimate of the harvest is still highly dependent on weather. The early summer weather has already restricted the harvest, and, in general, the yields of most arable crops are likely to be smaller than normal. Local variation in harvests can be great, as local rain showers have caused and may still cause damage to growing crops.
The grain harvest estimate is the smallest in five years
Barley, in particular, has suffered from the wet weather in the early summer. The expected per-hectare yield of barley (3,000 kilos per hectare) is one-fifths smaller than last year. The most commonly cultivated grain in Finland is barley, which means that the reduction in its harvest (-420 million kilos) has the greatest impact on the overall grain harvest, decreasing it by 760 million kilos from 2014. The current estimate of the grain harvest is currently just under 3.4 billion kilos, 18 per cent less than last year.
The rye harvest will likely cover domestic consumption
Rye is the only grain in Finland that is regularly imported to compensate for domestic underproduction. Most of the rye was sown last autumn, so the rains last spring actually increased its harvest, i.e. rain has an opposite effect on rye compared to the majority of Finnish cereals. The rye harvest estimate is 104 million kilos, which would just cover annual domestic consumption. This has not happened in fifteen years.
Peas and broad beans gain ground
This summer, the most peas in more than two decades are growing in Finnish fields, and more broad beans than ever during the one hundred years in which statistics have been compiled. The increasing cultivation of these protein plants is welcome for domestic protein self-sufficiency. The increase in the cultivation of turnip rape and oilseed rape from last year is also welcomed by the Finnish market, where there continues to be demand for them. Although the harvests of all these plants have grown, their estimated per-hectare yield is currently clearly smaller than last year.
A table on these statistics is available on the Agricultural statistics service.
Background to the statistics
Luke’s preliminary crop estimate is based on local estimates supplied by experts at ProAgria Rural Advisory Centres and reflects the situation as on 13 July. The estimates for each municipality are based on visual observations and local knowledge. The areas under cultivation are obtained from the data system of the administrative body of rural industries on 16 July 2015.
The next statistics, reflecting the situation on 24 August, will be published on 28 August 2015.