According to the first preliminary crop estimate from Tike, the grain crops to be harvest this autumn in Finland are smallest in ten years. The grain crops is estimated to be only 3.1 billion kilograms. The reduced area of land used for grain and the lower than average harvest yield will cause the grain crops remain up to 28% smaller than in 2009. The turnip rape crop will instead reach a record-breaking high. The anticipated crop is 68% higher than last year’s turnip rape crop. The next preliminary crop estimate will be published on 2 September.

The crops have not been harvested yet
In mid-July the field crops have not yet been harvested. At this stage it is not possible to determine the final crops as the remainder of the vegetation period and in particular the harvest-time weather will have a significant effect on the actual crop quantities. This far, the weather in the vegetation period has affected the crops to be harvested in the autumn in several ways. The heavy local showers and hailstorms that took place during sowing both delayed sowing and changed many sowing plans completely. The heat wave in the last few weeks has both spurred and impeded the growth by drying the plant stands and leading even to forced ripening. Lately drought has troubled in particular areas north of Turku and the province of Häme.

Grain crops 3.1 billion kilograms – the smallest in a decade
Even though the harvest outlook is still for the most part normal, we are expecting the grain crops to be the smallest in ten years. The low harvest level is mainly due to the small sowing area: The area sown to grain is approximately 16% smaller than last year. In addition, the anticipated crops are decreased by the estimation that the spring wheat and barley crops per hectare will be below normal.

Barley crop 1.3 billion kilograms – a drop of 39%
Barley is a versatile grain that can be grown even in Northern Finland. The current harvest outlook predicts that the barley crops will decrease 39% from last year. The main reason for the decrease is that the area sown to barley has reduced by a fourth. At the moment the anticipated barley crop per hectare (3,270 kilograms) is below average, as is for the spring wheat as well.

Rye crop increasing
In 2009 the rye crop was exceptionally small. This year the rye crop will increase 68% from last year, reaching the level of 70 million kilograms.

Turnip rape crop at a record-breaking level
As the area sown to grains has decreased, both turnip rape and oilseed rape have gained cultivation area. This summer the area sown to turnip rape, 142,000 hectares, was bigger than ever. The sowing area doubled from 2009. For this reason, the turnip rape crop is expected to be at a record-breaking level of approximately 200 million kilograms, 68% up from the previous year. The area sown to oilseed rape increased as well, to 16,000 hectares and 25 million kilograms.

Background
The Tike crop estimates are based on estimates illustrating the situation of July 15th, created by the local experts of ProAgria Centres in their own areas. The municipality-specific estimates are based on visual observations and local expertise. The data on the areas under crop varieties have been obtained from support application forms submitted by farmers. The date is from the support register on 16 July 2010 when the data from the majority of areas had been recorded. The next preliminary crop estimate illustrating the situation of 25 August will be published at the beginning of September. A table related to the statistics will be published in Matilda, the agricultural statistics service, on the home page of the Preliminary Crop Production Statistics. In addition, the 2010 field area statistic tables have been updated on the homepage of the Utilized Agricultural Area statistics.

Additional information:
Anneli Partala, Researcher, Tel. +358 20 77 21376
Liisa Siitonen, Researcher, Tel. +358 20 77 21390
E-mail addresses are in the format forename.surname@mmmtike.fi