The first grains to be harvested in Finland are usually rye and barley and this year’s hot weather and drought have aided the threshing work. Many farmers are waiting a few more days for the crop to mature and dry in the warm outdoor weather. Forecasts suggest that the crop this year will surpass last year’s yield, at least in the South.
According to agricultural advisory organisation ProAgria, yield prospects for barley and oat feed grains are mixed this year.
Terhi Taulavuori, Development Manager at ProAgria, says regional differences have also grown. The cold and rainy weather earlier in the summer delayed the start of growth, especially in Eastern Finland, with no resolution of that gap in July.
“And then there are areas like South Ostrobothnia, where the growing season was ahead, and it stayed that way all summer,” says Taulavuori.
Planting time is crucial
He says the hot weather will particularly affect those crops that were planted last. Crops sown in late May and early June are most vulnerable.
“Yields will most likely be lower. Grains sown in late April, under good conditions, have fared much better,” he says.
Taulavuori says that at the moment, it looks like spring wheat that was planted early is doing the best.
“The yield for barley and oat feed grain will be the most variable. It looks as if those crops that were sown early will reach average levels, but even there, we won’t reach top yields.”
