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In 2011, greenhouse enterprises consumed 1 700 GWh, about 2% less than in 2008, the previous year of research. Production efficiency has improved to a significant extent because production vol-umes increased simultaneously. This information is based on the results of a horticultural survey compiled by the Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Tike).

At the beginning of the millennium, there were 18,200 more farms in Finland than in 2011. About every farm in five ceased operations after 2000. However, the decline in the number of farms in this millennium has clearly slowed down as compared to previous years because in 1990–2000, the number of farms decreased by a total of nearly 50,000 farms. Of the farms, 88% were owned by private persons and 10% by heirs and farming syndicates. Incorporated company-based farms amounted to 1%.

The outdoor vegetable harvest was 186 million kilos, the berry harvest 16 million kilos and the greenhouse vegetable harvest was 81 million kilos. In addition, the number of potted vegetables increased to 98 million pots. The information is based on Tike's (the Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) recently completed advance information about 2011 horticultural statistics.

Producer prices of agricultural products increased last year. The nominal price of many products, such as bread wheat and eggs, rose to a record high since Finland joined the EU. However, 2011 prices were still noticeably lower than nominal prices in 1994. These figures are based on the Producer Prices for Agricultural Products statistics compiled by Tike (Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry).

In 2010, agricultural and horticultural companies consumed about 10 terawatt hours (i.e. 10 billion kilowatt hours of energy). The energy consumption of agricultural and horticultural production was less than 3% of the entire energy consumption in Finland.

According to Tike's harvest statistics, the total grain harvest in 2011 is about 3.7 billion kilograms. The grain harvest increased by almost 25% (about 680 million kilograms) from the previous year. The harvest information has been specified further from the advance information published in November, and they also include harvest information about turf and other field plants.

The production of organic wheat, used for food and animal feed, increased to 15 million kilos in 2011. The production of mixed crops, which includes cereals and protein plants, used for animal feed, increased to 10 million kilos. This information is indicated by recently prepared statistics on organic harvest by Tike (Information Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry).

Based on the quantity and quality of spring and winter wheat, 2011 was a very good growing season for bread grain. The milling-quality crops of spring and autumn wheat were the highest during the past decade. The protein content of feed grain, i.e. barley and oats, was high but their hectolitre weight remained low, especially in the case of barley. Only less than a third of malting barley fulfilled the criteria of protein content and kernel size, set by maltsters.

In 2011, the cereal industry and traders purchased a total of 1.7 billion kilos of cereals from farms. In addition, a total of 100 million kilos of turnip rape and oilseed rape seed was purchased. Industry used a total of 1.4 billion kilos of domestic and foreign cereals in 2011. This information is indicated by recently prepared statistics by Tike (Information Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry).

By the middle of January, the inventory level on farms totalled 124 million kilos of food potato. This is 16 million kilos more than in the previous January, which is mainly caused by a better harvest and an increase in cultivated area. However, the inventory level of food potato has lowered more rapidly than in the previous year. From the middle of October, the inventory level of food potato has decreased at a monthly rate of 32 million kilos.

The fourth release of the 2010 Agricultural Census information addresses the advance information provided by production method research on livestock buildings, manure handling and storage, as well as grazing. Statistics related to these themes illustrate the current status of agricultural production, the wellbeing of animals and environmental protection.

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 autumn grain harvest in 2011 was average, but the wheat harvest was large. Most of the wheat and rye met the quality requirements for bread grain. The hectolitre weight of feed grain was small. There was extensive quality variation between and within regions. The information is included in a summary based on grain harvest information of the Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Tike), and on the analysis results of grain quality monitoring performed by the Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira.

At mid-October, the amount of food potato in stock totalled 221 million kilos, exceeding last autumn's amount by 21 million kilos. The total volume of potatoes stocked for the purpose of direct consumption and the food processing industry reached 274 million kilos. The data is based on statistics on potato farms’ food potato stocks compiled by Tike (the Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Finland) twice a year.

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 grain crop in 2010, 3 billion kilograms, was about a third smaller than in 2009. The harvests of wheat and oats exceeded domestic consumption, while in barley production the situation is the opposite. All grain stocks were reduced; mainly barley, as a result of diminishing production and growing exports.

The grain crop this year is expected to be 3.6 billion kilograms. Although the figure is the second smallest since 2000, it is still 20 percent more than last year. The largest crop since 2000 was harvested two years ago (4.3 billion kilograms) and the smallest last year (3.0 billion kilograms). The average yield per hectare is estimated to be slightly above the ten year average.

  In the crop year, the cereal industry and traders purchased a total of 1.8 billion kilos of cereals from farms, which equals 60 per cent of the crop yield of last summer. The industrial use of domestic and foreign cereals totalled 1.4 billion kilos in the crop year, which is one-half of last summer’s crop yield.

With an estimated 3.5 billion kilograms, this year’s grain crops will be considerably better than last year’s, although it will not reach 2009’s yield (4.1 billion kilograms). There will be an approximate 30 per cent drop from last year’s record-breaking turnip rape crop.

On average, every Finn consumed 183 kilos of liquid dairy products, 81 kilos of fruit and berries, 80 kilos of cereals, 76 kilos of meat and 68 kilos of vegetables in 2010. This information is presented in the preliminary Balance Sheet for Food Commodities 2010, which is compiled by the Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Tike).

About a third of Finland’s 64,000 farms and horticultural enterprises also engage in other gainful activities besides agriculture. The most popular line of business is the provision of services.

Structural changes continue in agriculture in Finland. According to the Information Service of Tike, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the number of people employed in agriculture has fallen by one third from 2000. At the same time, the number of farms and horticultural enterprises has fallen by one fifth.

  The grain cultivation area will grow by 100,000 hectares compared with 2010; the area is now approximately 1,111,000 hectares. The area will partly recover from the 200,000 hectare drop recorded last year. The grain cultivation area constitutes almost half of all the utilised agricultural area, which amounts to approximately 2.3 million hectares.

Open-field cultivation was hit hard by the dry and hot summer. The vegetable crop only reached 163 million kilos and the berry crop 12 million kilos. On the other hand, the production of greenhouse vegetables surpassed the previous year, totalling 75 million kilos. Potted vegetable production soared to record figures, 81 million units. The figures are based on the 2010 horticultural statistics compiled by Tike (Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry).

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).

The producer prices of cereals swung to brisk growth last year. The price of food potatoes bottomed out in early 2010, then doubled by the turn of the year. The decline in the producer price of milk turned around in the autumn. Meat prices were down, with the exception of lamb. These figures are based on the Producer Prices for Agricultural Products statistics compiled by Tike (Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry).

About 384 million kilos of meat were produced in 2010, almost the same amount as in the previous year. Production of beef, poultry and mutton increased, while pork production decreased. These figures are based on the statistics compiled by Tike (Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry).

According to crop production statistics compiled by Tike (Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry), the yield of grain crops was only 3 million tonnes. Compared to the preliminary information published in November, the crop production data are now finalised and also include grass and other field crops. The hot, dry summer dropped the yield of grain crops by 1.3 million tonnes from the record level of 2009 (4.3 million tonnes). Autumn-sown winter grains benefited from the hot summer

The hot summer of 2010 in Finland produced small crops with a high protein content and small and light kernels. The protein content and kernel size directly influence the usability of grain. The information is obtained from Tike’s (Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) final crops data and the Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira’s quality monitoring for grain.

Potato storages are lower than during the two previous years. In mid-January, the inventory level at farms was 108 million kilos of food potatoes. This is 24 million kilos less than during the previous year, which is caused by a much smaller harvest from last summer and significant export activities to Russia.

In 2010, cereal industry and traders bought altogether 2.1 billion kilos of cereals from the growers in Finland. In addition, 158 million kilos of turnip rape and rape were traded. The industrial use of domestic and foreign cereals totalled 1.3 billion kilos in 2010. This information can be found in the newly compiled statistics by Tike (Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry).

Milk production was 2,268 million liters in 2010, which was slightly more than the year before. Egg production grew to record numbers since the year 2000, to some 61 million kilos. The source for this information is Tike (The Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry).

According to preliminary data on crop production statistics from Tike, the yield of grain crops will total 3 million tonnes. In addition to dried grain, 0.2 million tonnes of fresh grain were harvested in our grain fields. The yield of grain crops was down 1.3 million tonnes in comparison to last year. The yield of bread grains (rye and wheat) decreased 15% while the yield of feed grains (barley and oats) fell by almost 35%. Dry weather took its toll on per-hectare yields, whereas a reduction in the total area of cultivated land reduced the yield of feed grains. Crop production data will be finalised in February 2011 when Tike publishes its final crop production statistics for 2010.

A dry summer produced a small yield of grains but also lifted protein density in all grain crops to high levels. The amount of millable wheat rose to a six-year-high of around 480 million kilograms. The falling number for wheat was the highest since 1997. At around 60 million kilograms, the yield of malting barley was smaller this year as a result of high protein density and a weak overall yield. The quality of feed grains was weakened by a low hectolitre weight and the small kernel size of oats. Of the almost-70-million-kilogram yield of rye, more than 90 per cent was suitable as bread grain.

Food potato stocks in mid-October totalled 200 million kilograms, 24 million kilograms lower than the previous year. This is the third time that Tike – the Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry – has published statistics for on-farm food potato stocks in Finland.

Tike (the Information Centre of the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) has completed the cereals balance sheet for the crop year 2009 – 2010. The good grain harvest in 2009 (4.2 million tonnes), which was the third good harvest in a row, increased Finland’s grain stockpiles at the end of the crop year to a level corresponding to annual consumption. Thus domestic needs would have been covered until late June or early July of next year, even without the 2010 crops. At the end of June, the amount of stockpiled grain, 2.8 million tonnes, was almost 860 000 tonnes higher than a year earlier.

According to the second preliminary crop estimate from Tike, the grain crops will shrink to 2.9 billion kilograms. In mid-July, the crop estimate was slightly higher, approximately 3.1 billion kilograms. The reduced area of land used for grain and the low harvest yield decrease the grain crops by a third from 2009, and the grain harvest will be the smallest in a decade. This crop estimate is based on estimates created by the experts at ProAgria Centres, and it will be specified on 23 November when crop information from farmers will be available.

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.

According to the preliminary figures in Tike's (Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) Balance Sheet for Food Commodities, Finnish people consumed on average 80 kg of cereals, 71 kg of vegetables, 79 kg of fruit and 74 kg of meat last year. The Balance Sheet for Food Commodities compiled annually by Tike is a summary of the production, domestic use and consumption of the most important food groups in Finland.

Total production of organic grain remained on a par with the previous year. According to the data collected by Tike (the Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry), production of organic grain totalled 76 million kg in 2009, representing 2% of Finnish grain production. Organic turnip rape and pea production saw year-on-year growth. The statistics include organic broad beans for the first time.

According to the subsidy applications of the farmers the grain cultivation area this year is the smallest in 15 years and turnip rape area is the larger than ever before. Other significant changes are also expected in the arable area. Besides farmers own sowing decisions the final use of arable land in Finland is affected by capricious spring weather. Heavy rain and hail storms have destroyed some sowings at least in Southwest Finland in spring 2010. Tike will publish the next advance information on use of arable land of summer 2010 on 22 June, when information pertaining to particular areas will also be available.

This year marks a hundred years since the first agricultural census. In honour of the jubilee year, the interesting history of agricultural censuses is collected in the web at www.maatalouslaskenta.fi

According to Tike’s (Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) horticultural statistics for 2009, open-field vegetable production was exceptionally high. The berry crop was also good last year. The production of greenhouse vegetables returned to a normal level after breaking records in 2008.

About 384 million kilos of meat was produced in 2009, which is four per cent less than in 2008. Beef production rose slightly on 2008, and beef producer prices continued to rise. After eight years of growth, 2009 saw a downswing in pork and poultry production. Pork and poultry producer prices also fell. These figures are based on the latest statistics compiled by Tike (Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry).

2009 saw an upswing in milk production, which increased by one per cent to 2,264 million litres. At the same time, milk producer prices fell by 10 per cent. Fewer eggs were produced in 2009 than in 2008, and egg producer prices also fell. These figures are based on the latest statistics compiled by Tike (Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry).

Tike examines the trend in the number of farms, their arable area, production sectors and farmers in its annual Farm Structure statistics. The data for the statistics is sourced from the Farm Register. In 2009, farms with more than 100 hectares already accounted for a quarter of Finland’s arable area. Young farmers operated the largest farms.

In 2009, trade, industry and the Agency for Rural Affairs’ Intervention Unit purchased a total of 2 billion kilos of cereals from farms. Industry used a total of 1.3 billion kilos of domestic and imported cereals.

A record amount of food and processed food potatoes was produced last summer, 452 million kilos. In mid-October, on-farm stocks of food potatoes amounted to 225 million kilos. However, by mid-January, on-farm stocks had dwindled at a faster rate than in the previous year, amounting to 132 million kilos on 15 January.

The advance information Tike released in November 2009 included most of the harvest statistics data. The now-completed final Crop Production Statistics did not deviate greatly from the advance estimate. Historical data on grain harvests is also available: Findikaattori (www.findikaattori.fi, in Finnish and Swedish only) contains data on all recorded grain harvests in Finland since 1920. Historical data and even more information on the statistics will also be available from February onwards from Matilda, Tike’s overhauled online information service (www.agriculturalstatstics.fi).

The autumn 2009 wheat harvest broke records. However, the protein content of the harvest was low, and thus only a third of it fulfilled the quality requirements set for bread wheat. Of the malting barley harvest, 86 per cent fulfilled the requirements in terms of grain size and protein content. The average hectolitre weight of the feed grain crop was good, but its protein content fell short of the ten-year average.

A record-breaking crop of spring wheat was harvested this autumn. However, the quality of the harvest was weakened by its low protein content, which was at its lowest level in ten years. 82 per cent of the malting barley harvest exceeded the quality requirements for malting in terms of protein content and grain size. The exceptionally low protein content also decreased the malting-quality harvest. The quality of the feed grain crop was mainly good.A quarter of the wheat is of bread grain quality

According to Tike’s advance harvest estimates, the dry grain harvest amounted to almost 4.3 billion kg. In addition, 0.2 billion kg of cereals were harvested green. Crops of barley (2.2 billion kg) and wheat (0.9 billion kg) hit an all-time high. The oat harvest (1.1 billion kg) declined by 100 million kg and the rye harvest (42 million kg) by a third compared to 2008. More accurate harvest figures will be available in January 2010, when Tike will publish the final harvest statistics for 2009.

In mid-October, the amount of food potatoes in storage was 225 million kilos, an increase of 33.6 million kilos on last autumn. This is the second time that Tike (The Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) has gathered statistics on the amount of potatoes in the food potato storages of farms. Food potato stocks saw year-on-year growth due to the increase in the production area and the good crop yield, and because the potatoes in storage from the previous year lasted until August.

Tike (the Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) has completed the cereals balance sheet for the crop year 2008 - 2009. The good grain harvest in 2008 (4.2 billion kg) covered domestic needs for wheat, barley and oats, but 86 million kg of rye had to be imported for food milling. At the end of June, the amount of stockpiled grain, 1 960 million kg, was almost 475 million kg higher than a year earlier.

The total grain harvest could rise to as much as 4.4 billion kilos if the threshing weather remains favourable. The harvest would then be about 160 million kilos more than in autumn 2008. This is the forecast issued by Tike, the Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, in its second and last advance harvest estimate.

According to Tike’s (Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) first harvest estimate, the grain harvest will reach 4.3 billion kilos this autumn. Tike’s next advance forecast will be published at the beginning of September.

According to the Balance Sheet for Food Commodities that has just been completed by Tike (Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry), Finnish people ate 76.7 kg of meat per capita last year – half a kilogram more than in 2007. Poultry meat consumption increased by 0.9 kg, and for the first time, it exceeded beef consumption.

Total production of organic grain decreased compared with the previous year. According to the data collected by Tike (The Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and For-estry), production of organic grain totalled 76 million kg in 2008, representing 2% of Finnish grain production. Most of the organic grain was also used and sold as organic. Production of organic potatoes rose on the previous year.

According to the advance information of Tike (the Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry), the area sown to cereals decreased sharply, while the area under rape and turnip rape increased. The area sown to cereals declined by 32,000 hectares compared to 2008, whereas a year earlier it grew by 86,000 hectares. In percentage terms, however, this decrease amounted to only a few per cent. Slightly over half of the utilised agricultural area was sown to cereals, 1,219,000 hectares.

The greenhouse energy consumption data for 2008 has been completed. According to data collected by Tike (The Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry), the energy consumption of greenhouses increased slightly compared with 2006, when statistics were last collected. Less imported energy is used for heating and the use of domestic energy has grown since 2006.

According to Tike’s (Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) horticultural statistics, the production of greenhouse vegetables rose to a record high of 76 million kilos. The cut narcissus was the flower that shot up the fastest – production increased by a third to 2.5 million bulbs. There were a total of 936 horticultural enterprises cultivating greenhouse vegetables in 2008. The total area under cultivation – 256 hectares – remained almost the same as in 2007, but production rose to a record high of 76 million kilos.

Total meat production rose to about 400 million kilos last year. Pork production broke records once again with production reaching 217 million kilos. Poultry meat production exceeded 100 million kilos for the first time. Just over seven per cent less beef was produced than in 2007. Meat producer prices have been rising.

Decline in milk production continuesMilk production last year totalled 2,244 million litres, which is slightly under two per cent, and approximately 43 million litres, less than in 2007. Total milk production has now been on the decline for the sixth year running.

The number of moderate vigour apple trees is rising briskly. No less than 86 per cent of apple trees planted in 2003–2007 were moderate vigour trees. In 2008, Tike, the Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, conducted a survey on the varieties, ages and planting densities of apple trees in commercial orchards.

Tike (the Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) has published the Farm Register information for 2008. Changes in the farm structure have trended in the same direction for several years - the number of farms has declined, the average farm size has grown and livestock farms account for a smaller share of all farms. Trends in the agricultural support areas vary by production sector. Within the production sectors, the greatest relative decline was seen in farms engaged in pig husbandry.

A fifth of the wheat crop and less than a third of the rye crop met quality requirements on bread grain. The percentage of malt-grade barley was greater than in previous years. The otherwise good utility grade of malt barley and feed grain was diminished by the occurrence of moulded and sprouting grains, which were more abundant than last year. The present data are based on information gathered by Tike and Evira on grain harvest and quality for 2008.

2008 yielded a record barley harvest. However, most of the other crops fell short of 2007. Tike’s harvest statistics, which are included in the Official Statistics of Finland (OSF), were completed at the turn of the year. Advance harvest estimates were released at the end of July and the beginning of September. Advance information on the final harvest figures was published at the end of November.

According to Tike’s advance harvest estimates, this year’s grain harvest will reach 4.1 billion kg. The grain crop will fall only slightly short (50 million kg) of the previous year. The bulk of the harvest is feed grain: 2.1 billion kg of barley and 1.1 billion kg of oats. The yield of bread grain – rye and wheat – was lower than in 2007: this year, the rye harvest amounted to 60 million kg and the wheat harvest to 778 million kg. More accurate harvest figures will be available in January 2009, when Tike will publish the final harvest statistics for 2008.

The Finnish grain harvest amounted to over 4 billion kg, but its quality does not measure up to previous years in all respects. Only 19 per cent of the wheat is of bread grain quality. On the other hand, as much as 80 per cent of the malting barley is of malting quality on the basis of protein content and grain size. Abundant rain during the growing season increased the incidence of mould in certain areas, but toxicity remained low. Tike and Evira have compiled advance information on the 2008 grain harvest.

Tike, the Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, has completed the cereals balance sheet for the crop year 2007 - 2008. During the crop year, 3.4 billion kilograms of cereals were used in Finland. Of this amount, 63% was used for fodder and 14% for food. Thanks to the good cereals harvest in 2007 (4.1 billion kilograms), 720 million kilograms could be exported.

The weather in the current growing season has not been ideal for field crops in all areas. Germination of grain crops was hampered by the colder and drier than average weather conditions in May. The cool weather continued into June, but the drought was replaced by copious rains. The first two weeks of July have also continued with the rainy and cool weather.

Last year, Finnish people ate a good 76 kg of meat per capita on the average, i.e. 3.5 per cent more than in 2006. The consumption of vegetables increased by just under 6 per cent and that of fruit by about 7 per cent from the year before. Of dairy products, the popularity of yoghurt and skimmed milk continued to grow. Tike (Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) compiles an annual summery of the production, domestic use and consumption of the most important food groups in Finland.

Tike's advance information shows an increase on last year of about 86,000 hectares in the area sown to cereals. The increase on the year before is just short of 7%. In summer 2008, grain is grown in almost 55% of all fields. Conversely, the area under other crops has declined by over 32,000 hectares.

Last year, farms and horticultural enterprises employed about 145,000 people. The total number of working days accumulated was 22 million. The source of the information on the labour force on farms and in horticultural enterprises is the Farm Structure Survey conducted by Tike. The survey also examined other business activities on farms, the share of which is almost the same as in 2005. The results now published also include those of commercial greenhouses, unlike in previous years. Employee numbers declined by a fifth in the 2000s

Tike statistics on livestock numbers show that on 1 December 2007 there were just under three percent fewer bovine animals than in the previous year. The number of dairy cows decreased and the number of suckler cows increased, as in previous years. Pig numbers decreased slightly, with the largest decrease in the number of sows. The numbers of hens, sheep, and horses kept on farms, however, increased last year. Steady growth rate in the number of suckler cows continues

Tike (Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) has completed the preliminary data on the number of horticultural enterprises in 2007, and on the cultivated areas and production quantities of the various crops. Both the number of horticultural enterprises and cultivated area fell. With vegetables grown in the open and in greenhouses, as well as berries and ornamental plants, there were both risers and fallers in terms of both cultivated area and production quantities. There were 5,245 horticultural enterprises in 2007.

Tike statistics show a drop in milk production last year of a good two percent to 2,287 million litres. Milk producer prices were up on the previous year. Real prices, on the other hand, remained 7 - 9 percent below the top prices in the last decade. The volume of egg production remained almost the same as the year before, or 57 million kilos. The nominal egg producer prise rose by a quarter from the year 2006.

Tike statistics show that more meat was produced last year in Finland than ever before: 398 million kilos. Production increased by almost four percent from 2006. Pork and broiler meat production was at record levels. Beef production grew for a second consecutive year - although it has never been this low since the 1960s. Nominal meat prices rose on the previous year.

The Tike crop statistics show that the field harvest of 2007 was good. The grain harvest rose to 4.1 billion kilos from the 3.8 billion kilos of the previous year. There was an even steeper rise in the silage crop: it was all of 63% higher than in the drought year 2006. Based on information submitted by farmers, yields of sugar beet per hectare also reached record levels. Nevertheless, the total harvest of sugar beet was one third lower than last year, due to the drop in cultivated area. Grain harvest for 2007 4.1 billion kilos

84 percent of the Finnish rye fulfilled the quality criteria for bread grain. For the wheat harvest the proportion was half, which was clearly higher than in 2006. The proportion of malting quality barley was also higher than in 2006. The information is based on the 2007 harvest information collected by Tike and Evira. Plenty of regional variation in spring wheat

According to Tike´s advance harvest estimates, this year´s cereal harvest will reach 4.2 billion kilos. The grain crop is 460 million kilos higher than last year. 80% of the harvest is feed grain: 2.0 billion kilos of barley and 1.3 billion kilos of oats. The rye harvest is 87 million kilos, or 37 million kilos more than the harvest of 2006. More accurate harvest figures will be available in January 2008, when Tike publishes the final harvest statistics for 2007. Cereal harvest for 2007 4.2 billion kilos

The quality of the Finnish grain harvest is good. Half of the wheat is of bread grain quality and 42 % of the malting barley is of malting quality. 94 % of the oats fulfil the general quality requirements set by the feed industry. Only barley is of lower quality than last year. Even so, 71 % of the barley exceeds the 64 kg hectolitre weight. Tike and Evira have compiled the advance information on the 2007 harvest. The final harvest information will be published in January 2008. Half of the wheat is of bread grain quality

According to Tike's second advance estimate, the harvest outlook is bright at the start of the threshing season. The grain crop may reach 4 billion kilograms, which is approx. 250 million kilograms more than in the previous year. The final harvest statistics will be completed in January 2008, but Tike (Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) will publish an advance notification on the figures in November 2007.Rye crop may reach 90 million kilograms - the import of rye will decrease

During the vegetation period, the ratio of heat to rainfall has been suitable in respect of growth of field crops almost in the entire country. At the beginning of the summer, turnip rape was taxed by a flea beetle attack, which made one or more repeat sowings necessary. The grain crop may reach 4 billion kilograms, if the growth conditions continue to be as favourable as earlier. For almost all cereals, the crops per hectare seem to be one tenth higher than average. The preliminary harvest estimate reflects the harvest situation in the middle of July.

Tike (Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) compiles an annual summary of the production, domestic use and consumption of the most important food groups in Finland. Last year, Finnish people ate 73.5 kg of meat per capita, i.e. slightly under one per cent more than the year before. The consumption of vegetables and fruit remained approx. 4 per cent below the level of 2005.

In 2006, the total number of farms in Finland was 69,071, which is around 500 fewer than in 2005. The information is from the Farm Register maintained by Tike.  The final data will be published, as well as in Matilda, in printed form in late summer 2007. Average arable area almost unchangedThe average arable area on Finnish farms in 2006 was 33.31 hectares per farm, which was only a little higher than the year before (33.03 ha). Thus, it would seem that the growth of average arable area has levelled off.

In recent years, the social and economic significance of information on the operation of the food chain and food quality and safety has increased a great deal. Food crises, subsequent publicity and increased consumer awareness have highlighted the importance of understanding the functioning of the food chain. The new statistical publication compiled by Tike, the Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Pellolta pöytään [From Field to Table], fulfils the increasing need for information.

Tike (Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) statis-tics showed a rise in pork production volumes to a new record of 208.3 million kilograms in 2006. There was a slight downturn in pork producer prices. For the second year running, poultry meat production exceeded that of beef. Beef production increased slightly on the previous year. Beef producer prices rose for the second consecutive year.

Milk production continued to declineMilk production continued to decline for the fourth consecutive year. Milk production fell by about 20 million litres (-0.8%) from 2005. The milk volumes delivered from farms to dairies fell in the first half year by 0.3% and in the second by about one percent. The 2006 milk production volume (2,343 mill. litres) is the lowest since the compilation of comparable statistical records began in the1950s. Despite the decline in total milk production, domestic production continues to exceed consumption.