Structural changes in agriculture followed the same trend in 2010 as in the past several years. In particular, the number of livestock farms declined and the average farm size grew. In 2010, there were 62,767 farms in Finland, or 1,400 less than in the previous year and over one-fifth less than at the beginning of the millennium. The average age of farmers (50.6 years) has risen by about three years in the space of a decade. These figures are based on statistics compiled by Tike (Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry).
 
Rate of decline in the number of farms levels off
In the first decade of the 21st century, the number of farms decreased by about one-fifth. In 2010, there were about 17,000 fewer farms in Finland than at the beginning of the millennium. The rate of decline has been moderate compared with the early 1990s and the first years of Finland’s membership of the EU. Between 1990 and 2000, the number of farms was down by almost 50,000. Since 2009, the greatest decline in the number of farms was seen in Ostrobothnia, Kainuu and Lapland (-4%), and the lowest in Northern Ostrobothnia (-0.9%). Of the farms, 88 per cent were owned by private individuals and 10 per cent by heirs and farming syndicates. One per cent of farms were operated as limited companies.

Average arable area is largest in Uusimaa
Last year, the average arable area of farms rose to 36.7 hectares (+0.8 hectares). The largest average arable area was in Uusimaa (46.1 hectares) and the smallest in South Savo (24.5 hectares). The average arable area has grown by slightly less than 9 hectares since 2000. Examined by field size class, the number of farms with less than 75 hectares has declined since last year, while the number of larger farms has increased. The share of all farms accounted for by those with more than 100 hectares of arable land has risen from two to six per cent in the space of ten years; the annual increase has been 200-300 farms. One-fifth of all farms had less than 10 hectares of arable land. 60 per cent of farms had rented arable land. The average area of rented arable land was 21 hectares. On average, farms in Uusimaa had the most rented arable land (28 hectares) and farms in Lapland the least (16 hectares).

Number of dairy and pig farms has fallen by a half in ten years
Two-thirds of farms grew crops and one-third livestock as their principal line of production. The number of livestock farms has seen a steeper decline than crop farms. For example, the number of dairy and pig farms has fallen by a half in the space of ten years. Milk production is the most common production sector in North Savo, Northern Karelia and Kainuu. In almost all other areas, cereal production is the most common production sector.

The youngest farmers work on large farms
The average age of farmers rose to 50.6 years in 2010. On average, the youngest farmers were to be found in Northern Ostrobothnia (49 years) and the oldest in the Åland Islands and Uusimaa (52 years). On farms with more than 75 hectares of arable land, the average age of farmers was under 46 years, while on farms with less than three hectares the average age was over 56 years. On average, farmers were slightly younger on farms with livestock as the principal line of production than on crop farms. Eleven per cent of farmers were women. The largest share of female farmers was on farms engaging in horse husbandry as their principal line of production (43%).

Background to the statistics
Data for the statistics is sourced from the statistical Farm Register, an annual compilation of information on all agricultural farms in Finland. The statistical tables are available on the Matilda agricultural statistics service on the home page of the Farm Structure statistics. The Farm Register will not be published in 2011 due to the agricultural census. Online and printed reports on the agricultural census will be published this year.

Contact information
Tike, Statistical Services
Researcher Mika Kuoppa-aho, tel. +358 20 77 21 366
Head of Statistics Unit Esa Katajamäki, tel. +358 20 77 21 237

E-mail addresses are in the format forename.surname@mmmtike.fi