Finland: Grain harvests average again

The total harvest is expected to reach 3.3 million tonnes

Finland's grain harvest is expected to increase again this year. After a weak previous year, volumes in 2023/24 are expected to approach the ten-year average again.

According to the first harvest estimates from the Finnish Institute of Natural Resources (LUKE), this year's harvest is expected to be around 3.3 million tonnes. This would mean an increase of 11% compared to the previous year.

Large differences are expected between cereal species

According to LUKE, oat cultivation has developed well this year and has displaced barley as the most important grain in terms of quantity. This year's harvest is estimated at 1.26 million tonnes, which would mean an increase of 25% compared to 2023. Even compared to the ten-year average, the amount of oats harvested is about 25% higher.

Barley is expected to grow by 5% to 1.12 million tonnes, although the harvest will still be around 20% below the 10-year average. According to Finnish statisticians, barley cultivation has been in steady decline for around a decade, attributed to lower demand for feed grains.

Significant decline in rye production

According to estimates, Finnish farmers are to thresh a total of 0.8 million tons of wheat, which is 8 percent more than last year. The harvest was therefore in line with the ten-year average.

According to market experts, there will be a significant drop in rye. At just 50,000 tonnes, the expected harvest will be 42 percent below the previous year's volume and about 40 percent below the ten-year average. According to LUKE, the harvested rye will only be enough to cover Finland's needs for a little over six months.

The pea harvest is estimated at 117,000 tonnes, which would mean an increase of 34% compared to the year.

According to LUKE, the initial harvest estimates are based on August data. The next estimate is due in mid-September.