The circumstances during the autumn season 2022 were favourable and large areas were sown with wheat and rape. Severe weather changes during the winter months, however, led to that considerable areas of crops did not survive. Some crop areas needed to be resown in springtime with spring-sown crops. However, the establishment of those crops were weak because of prolonged cold winter weather and a following early summer draught.

The weather became more diverse after midsummer. However, the dry weather remained in the north-western and south-eastern parts of the country. During late summer, the weather became very unstable and large amounts of rain fell, especially in Örebro county, Västmanland county, Halland county, southern Västergötland county and southern Gävleborg county. Many farmers have reported that crop areas have been left unharvested due to floodings, poor crop establishment, or a combination of both.

Oilseed rape and oilseed turnip rape harvest decreased 27 percent

The preliminary estimate of the total production of oilseed rape and oilseed turnip rape is 310 500 tonnes, which is 27 percent less than last year. At the national level, the yield per hectare of winter rape, which is the dominant crop, was 23 percent below the five-year average.

Total harvest of peas is 36 percent less than last year

The total production of peas is estimated at 54 900 tonnes, which is 36 percent less than last year’s harvest and 18 percent below the five-year average. The preliminary estimate of the total production of field beans is 48 400 tonnes, which is 38 percent less than last year’s total harvest and 14 percent below the five-year average. The yields per hectare for peas and field beans were 42 and 32 percent, respectively, less than in 2022.

Statistical databases

Time series with the final harvest statistics are available in Statistics Sweden’s Statistical Database (www.scb.se) and the Swedish Board of Agriculture’s statistical database (www.jordbruksverket.se). The Swedish Board of Agriculture’s statistical database also contains preliminary harvest statistics. Time series on harvest statistics are available from 1913 onwards for some of the crops.

A more detailed report on this survey and the results for individual crops have been published in the Statistical Report Production of cereals, dried pulses and oilseeds in 2023, national preliminary statistics, available on the Swedish Board of Agriculture’s website:

The Swedish Board of Agriculture

These preliminary statistics are based on data from a subsample of 1 110 farms. More accurate results based on the entire sample of 4 442 farms will be presented on 13 December. The results will then also be published by county and by the eight production areas of agriculture.

Information on autumn-sown areas in 2023 will be published on 30 November.