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.

A total of 16 million kg of organic bread grain (wheat and rye) was produced, 2 million kg less than in 2007. Organic production of feed grain (barley, oats and mixed crops) totalled 59 million kg, down almost 4 million kg on 2007.

Organic production volumes of oats, mixed crops and wheat in 2008 were on a par with 2007. Oats were produced in the greatest quantity, 42 million kg. Mixed crop production amounted to 11 million kg and wheat to 10 million kg.

Measured in terms of grains, organic production volumes of rye and barley were lower than in the previous year. Rye production in 2008 amounted to 6 million kg, a decline of more than 2 million kg compared with 2007. The area under rye was also smaller than in the previous year. Barley production amounted to 7 million kg, about 2 million kg less than in the previous year. In addition to grain, a large amount of organic barley was used to produce whole crop silage in 2008.

Part of the organic harvest used as conventional grain
Most of the organically produced grain was used as organic on the farms or sold as organic grain. Part of the organic grain was used or sold as conventional grain. Seventy-four per cent of bread grain (wheat and rye) went for organic use, but only 58% of feed grain (oats, barley and mixed crops) was reported as being used as organic.

Organic potato on the rise
The organic turnip rape harvest was slightly over one million kg, like last year, and the bulk of it went for organic use. The organic pea yield amounted to 0.6 million kg, only about a half of previous year’s harvest, due to the smaller cultivated area. On the other hand, close to five million kg of organic potatoes were produced, one million kg more than in 2007.

Background to the statistics
Information on organic crop production and use is collected with a sampling survey of organic farmers. The survey carried out in March 2009 was sent to 1,000 certified organic farms that represent a cross-section of Finnish organic production sectors and farm sizes.

For more detailed statistics on organic production and use, consult the Matilda information service at www.matilda.fi. Organic information is also provided in From Farm to Fork, a statistical publication that is released in December.

 

For additional information

Actuary Sirpa Karppinen, tel. +358 20 77 21341

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