A production method survey was for the first time conducted in connection with Agricultural Census 2010 in order to collect data on energy consumption, irrigation, field cultivation and animal husbandry. The survey covered some 14,000 agricultural and horticultural enterprises, i.e. every fifth farm in Finland. Of the replies obtained from the farms, results accounting for all the farms in Finland were estimated, and data on field cultivation will be published first.

The plant cover of the fields, tillage methods and the use of manure have a major impact on the growth condition of farmland. There is also a growing need for the data obtained from the production method survey from the point of view of environmental protection and animal well-being.

Half of the arable area tilled during the year

Approximately half of the utilised agricultural area was tilled and/or sown between the beginning of July 2009 and the end of June 2010. Almost half of the tilled or sown arable area is ploughed in autumn. Approximately one fourth of the fields are conservation tilled, while the share of spring ploughing is 14 per cent. Direct sowing on non-tilled soil was carried out on 13 per cent of the tilled or sown arable area.

An average of 20 per cent of the arable area remains bare over the winter. The share of plant-covered arable area in winter is largest on sheep, horse and cattle farms, for which the share of bare soil is only 5-14 per cent due to their large grassland area. On pig, poultry, special crop and horticultural farms, where a lot of annual plants are grown, the share of bare soil in winter is around 30 per cent.

Almost all manure injected or incorporated in soil

Manure was spread on some 40-60 per cent of the arable area on cattle and pig farms between the beginning of July 2009 and the end of June 2010. On these farms, manure is usually in the form of slurry. In other production sectors in animal husbandry, most of the manure is still processed and spread in solid state.

In almost one third of the area on which slurry is spread, it is injected directly into soil, and most of the manure spread on the surface is incorporated after spreading. This promotes the utilisation of the nutrients included in the manure and reduces the release of nutrients into the environment. Manure was not incorporated on only one tenth of the area treated with solid manure.

Agricultural Census 2010 – Preliminary Data on Farmland Management

Background information

The data were derived from the Agricultural Census 2010 survey conducted by Tike. The results of the survey will be published in five parts. Data for the Agricultural Census were collected from all Finnish and horticultural enterprises in 2010 and 2011. 

More information:

Tike, Statistical Service
Project Researcher Pasi Mattila, tel. +358 20 77 21 300
Project Manager Jaana Kyyrä, tel. +358 20 77 21 292
E-mail addresses are in the format: forename.surname@mmmtike.fi