Areas sown in the autumn, 2015:
Large winter wheat areas again despite late harvest
Statistical news from Statistics Sweden and Swedish Board of Agriculture 2015-11-30 9.30
The rainy and cool summer led to a delay in the harvest and preparation for the autumn sowing in many parts of the country. Even so, 382 400 hectares of winter wheat were harvested, which is at the level of last year's large areas. This year's autumn sown areas in northern Götaland and in Svealand were smaller than last year for most of the crops and counties in the area. Meanwhile, areas in southern Götaland were the same or somewhat larger compared to last year.
This year's autumn sowing of cereals and oilseed crops amounted to 529 100 hectares. This is at the level of last year's large areas and 13 percent above the average for the last five years. Autumn sown areas help to reduce nutrient leaching and the information can also be used as a basis for the first forecast of areas and total harvests for 2016.
Decrease for rye and triticale areas
28 300 hectares of winter triticale were sown this autumn. This is at the level of the five year average but a decrease of 26 percent compared to areas of last year. Areas for winter rye have also decreased. Only 15 600 hectares of winter rye were sown, a decrease of more than 30 percent compared with both last year and the five-year average. The late harvest could have led to difficulties in acquiring seeds and a lack of time to accomplish sowing before the winter.
Winter rape areas close to last year's large areas
83 600 hectares of winter rape have been sown this autumn, which is at the level of last year's large area. Compared to the five year average, this is an increase of 11 percent. More than half of the winter rape areas are in Skåne. Many farmers have reported problems about damage from snails in the winter rape after sowing. As a result, many of the autumn sown areas have already been ruined.
Upward trend for winter barley
Cultivation of winter barley is estimated at 18 300 hectares, which is an increase of 45 percent compared to the five year average. Winter barley also seems to be greater than previous years, but the difference is within the margin of error.
Cultivation of organic winter rape increased
This autumn 4 600 hectares of organically cultivated winter rape were sown, which is an increase of 1 000 hectares compared to the previous year. However, organic cultivation of winter rye and winter triticale decreased. The other autumn-sown crops that are organically cultivated are at about the same level as last year.
Hectares
Hectares
Note that the tables for cereals and oilseed crops use different scales!
Definitions and explanations
The information is based on a survey where nearly 4 000 farmers submitted information to Statistics Sweden about the autumn sown areas.
Publication
A more detailed report of this survey is published in the Statistical Report JO18SM1501 and on the Swedish Board of Agriculture website.
Feel free to use the facts from this statistical news but remember to state Source: Statistics Sweden.