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.

More spring wheat, forage barley, malt barley and oats have been sown than in summer 2007. The areas under winter cereals, sugar beet, pea, turnip rape and rape, on the other hand, have fallen from the previous year. The information is based on data extracted from subsidy applications.

With about 95% of the information extracted from subsidy applications entered, it would seem that the cultivated area has grown by slightly over 2%, i.e. by 46,200 hectares. Despite the removal of the set-aside obligation, fields are still lying fallow or are maintained as uncultivated arable land to the tune of almost 190,000 hectares. The area has reduced by about 45,000 hectares (-24%) on last year.

More spring cereals, less winter cereals

Of the area under grain, almost half or about 614,000 hectares is still barley. Almost 380,000 hectares have been sown to oats, and about 220,000 hectares to wheat. The area sown to malt barley is almost 163,000 hectares, which is about a quarter more than the previous year. The area under forage barley has also increased, but only by approx. 7%. The area under spring wheat has increased by 17%, but that under winter wheat has decreased by 35%. Overall, however, more wheat is being grown than in the previous year. The area under rye has reduced by over 20% on last year.

The area of grasslands under 5 years has remained roughly at the same level as last year. This summer, the area sown to grass is short of 650,000 hectares. Of other crops, the areas under both sugar beet and potato fell. The area under potato is 26,300 hectares, and that under sugar beet about half of this.

The areas under pea, turnip rape and rape also declined. Only 3,300 hectares were sown to pea. Turnip rape and rape are sown considerably less than the year before, with only a good 65,000 hectares. The drop on the previous year is 28%. The area under reed canary grass increased by 1,100 hectares, standing currently at about 20,200 hectares.

Information based on subsidy applications
The advance information from the statistics on the utilised agricultural area, compiled by Tike, is based on the data in subsidy application forms submitted by farmers by 30 April 2008. The results are based on the situation as entered on 5 June, when about 95% of the data on cultivation parcels had been recorded. The advance information makes the assumption that the utilised agricultural area in 2008 is the same as that last year, if the recorded area does not exceed that of the year before. Farmers may notify changes to their sown areas up to 15 June.

Tike will publish in its Matilda information service (www.matilda.fi) advance information based on more extensive data on the utilised agricultural area on 24 June. Regional data will also be available at that time.


Additional information
Researcher Jaana Kyyrä, tel. +358 (0)20 77 21292
Researcher Mirva Kokkinen, tel. +358 (0)20 77 21371
Email addresses are in the form forename.surname@mmmtike.fi