According to advance information in Tike's harvest statistics, the total grain harvest in 2011 is about 3.7 billion kilograms. The grain harvest increased by 25% (about 755 million kilograms) from the previous year. The cultivation areas and yield per hectare of all grains increased from 2010. The production of barley and wheat increased the most. The wheat harvest of more than 980 million kilograms is the largest ever in Finland.

The cultivation area of wheat increased by 20% from 2010. The cultivation area of winter wheat increased relatively the most, by 76%. Winter wheat production almost doubled from 2010, as the crop yield also increased in addition to the cultivation area. Spring wheat production increased by 27%.

Rye cultivation area increased by 10% from 2010. The crop yield also increased, which means that rye production increased by 14% compared to 2010 and totalled about 78 million kilograms.

Feed grain harvest increased by more than 20%

Barley still remains the most extensively cultivated grain type in Finland. The barley harvest of last summer (1.5 billion kilograms) was 13% larger than in 2010. However, the total barley harvest is the second worst in the 21st century regardless of the increase.

Feed barley production increased by 9%. The increase was mainly related to higher yields per hectare as the cultivation area increased very little. The cultivation area of malting barley increased by 11% and the yields per hectare increased by 18%. Malting barley production increased by less than one-third.

The oat harvest was increased by the more extensive sowing area, 16% larger than in 2010, and the higher yield per hectare (18%). The total oat harvest, approximately 1.1 billion kilograms, is 36% higher than in 2010.

A slump in turnip rape production

In 2010, the turnip rape cultivation area increased to over 140,000 hectares, which is double the area in 2009. The cultivation expanse was short-term because in 2011, the turnip rape cultivation area decreased to less than 77,000 hectares (-46%). The yield per hectare for turnip rape increased from the previous year's 1,120 kilograms to 1,200 kilograms, which rounded out the decrease in total production. The total production of turnip rape decreased from about 159 million kilograms to about 92 million kilograms (-42%).

The cultivation area of turnip rape decreased by about 10% from the previous year. However, the yield per hectare increased by more than 40%, due to which the total production of turnip rape increased from about 20 million kilograms to about 26 million kilograms (+29%).

The potato harvest improved slightly

The yield per hectare for potato increased by 7% from 2010. The cultivation area of potato decreased, but the total harvest, 687 million kilograms, was about 4% higher than last year. The cultivation area of sugar beet decreased by 4% from the previous year, but the yield per hectare increased by 20% to almost 45,000 kilograms. The total sugar beet harvest increased by 17% from 2010 and is about 632 million kilograms.

The broad bean harvest increased and pea harvest decreased
   
This was the second year that broad bean was included in the enquiry of crop yield. The cultivation area of broad bean is establishing to about 10,000 hectares as the cultivation area increased by only 3% from the previous year. The yield per hectare for broad bean increased by 25% and the total production increased to almost 21 million kilograms. The cultivation area of pea decreased by 20%, but the yield per hectare increased by 15%. The total pea production decreased by slightly more than one million kilograms, from over 13 million kilograms to about 12 million kilograms.

Background of the statistics   

This is advance information from the final harvest statistics that will be released on 28 February 2012. The harvest statistics are based on information provided by farmers. The information has been compiled from about 4200 farmers through the online service and phone interviews. The harvest areas of crop varieties have been calculated by deducting the currently known famine area from the cultivation areas in the data system of the administrative body of rural industries.

More information:
Tike, Statistical Service
Researcher Lauri Juntti, tel. +358 20 77 21 251
Email: firstname.lastname@mmmtike.fi