Harvest estimate 2025 specified: average cereal harvest, record pea harvest
According to the second harvest estimate for 2025 of the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), wheat, sugar beet, pea and rapeseed saw a 25 per cent higher harvest than average. However, the harvest estimate for broad bean and our most significant grain, barley, will be clearly below the ten-year average.
Roughly one million hectares of Finland are used to grow crops, which covers almost half of the entire arable area. This year’s total grain harvest is estimated at 3.5 million tonnes, which is only slightly above average. The wheat harvest is one fourth higher and the oat harvest is over 10 per cent higher than average. The harvest estimate for rye is also slightly higher than average. Only the barley harvest is smaller than the ten-year average, by almost one fifth.
Sufficient rye harvest for the year
The harvest estimate for rye has risen to 90 000 tonnes, which closely corresponds to the annual usage. Over the last ten years, the harvest has matched consumption every two years on average. The rye harvest varies significantly from year to year, as heavy rainfall in the autumn may not allow sowing. This risk has been realised this autumn, which means next year's rye area may remain small.
Pea harvest equal to last year
The food and feed pea area has quadrupled in ten years. This year, the pea harvest estimate slightly exceeds 100 000 tonnes, which was also last year’s harvest. Therefore, this year's pea harvest is likely to fall slightly short of last year's record.
"The growth of the pea harvest reflects farmer interest in domestic plant protein and the market demand”, says Anneli Partala, senior statistician at Luke.
Recovery of the rape and turnip rape harvests after a ten-year dip?
There has been significant variation in the annual rape and turnip rape harvests. The largest harvest, almost 150 000 tonnes, was in 2006. That record harvest was almost twice as large as this year’s estimated harvest, which is about 80 000 tonnes. However, this year's estimate is the highest in eight years.
Rising sugar beet harvest
The sugar beet harvest estimate has risen to 700 000 tonnes, which, if realised, would be the largest in almost two decades. The harvesting of potato and sugar beet takes place late in autumn and has not yet been fully completed. In the late 1990s, Finland's beet harvests reached their peak in 1997, with a harvest that was almost 50 per cent higher than this year’s estimate.
Good grass and feed harvest that is sufficient for livestock
Grass is an important source of feed for cattle in particular. The silage fodder harvest is two to three times larger than the total cereal harvest. The total harvest estimate for silage exceeds 8 million tonnes. It is, however, more difficult to estimate than other crops. Despite the barley harvest, our most important feed crop, likely being 20 per cent lower than the ten-year average, its roughly 1.1 million tonnes harvest is almost as high as the oats harvest.
How are the statistics compiled?
Luke’s harvest estimates for the crop production statistics are based on estimates supplied by specialists at regional ProAgria Rural Advisory Centres and reflect the situation on 22 September. The estimates for each municipality are based on visual observations and local expertise. Cultivation areas are obtained from the data systems of the Finnish Food Authority’s administrative body of rural industries. The crop production statistics will be further specified on 20 November, when Luke will publish regional crop production data based on data obtained directly from farms.
