Harvest estimate 2026: small rye harvest, record pea harvest
According to the second harvest estimate for 2026 of the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Finland’s cereal harvest is expected to be average. The pea harvest, in turn, is set to be the largest in the more than 100-year history of the statistics. The pea cultivation area has more than quadrupled in ten years and is now already three times the potato area.
The cereal area decreased by approximately 70,000 hectares from last year and fell slightly below one million hectares. Cereals therefore covered just over 40 per cent of the arable area.
This year’s total cereal harvest is estimated at 3.2 million tons. The cereal harvest consists of four main cereals. According to the current harvest estimate, the wheat and oat harvests are expected to be nearly 10 per cent higher than the ten-year average. In contrast, the harvest of barley, our main cereal, is expected to be more than 10 per cent below average, while the harvest of rye, our bread grain, is expected to be approximately one quarter below average.
Rye harvest expected to be small
The rye harvest estimate is only around 62,000 tons, which is insufficient to cover annual consumption. The shortfall can be covered by stocks held by farms and industry from previous years and, if necessary, by imports.
Pea harvest set to reach a record high
The food and feed pea area has quadrupled in ten years. This year, the pea harvest estimate exceeds 140,000 tons. If realised, the pea harvest will be more than five times the harvest of ten years ago and the largest in the history of the statistics.
Turnip rape and rapeseed harvest recovering from a years-long dip
The harvests of turnip rape and rapeseed have been recorded for nearly five decades. Harvests have remained small for the past seven years. This year’s harvest estimate exceeds 90,000 tons, which, if realised, would reach the average harvest volume for the past five decades. The largest harvest was almost 180,000 tons in 2010, while the smallest was about 30,000 tons in 2020.
Autumn rains cast a shadow over the potato harvest
The outlook for the potato harvest is currently good, at more than 620,000 tons. The harvest estimate is approximately 10 per cent above average. However, the outlook is clouded by rainfall coinciding with the potato harvesting period and affecting the main potato-growing areas. The coming weeks will determine the final volume and quality of the potato harvest.
Grass feed harvest largely successful
Grass is an important source of feed for cattle in particular. Silage is generally harvested two or three times from the same grass field during the growing season. In terms of both area and harvest volume, grass is Finland’s largest feed crop. Measured in dry matter, the grass feed harvest is approximately equal to the combined barley and oat harvest, at around 2.5 million tonnes.
How are the statistics compiled?
Luke’s harvest estimates for the crop production statistics are based on estimates supplied by specialists at regional ProAgria Centres and reflect the harvest outlook on 21 September. The municipality-specific estimates are based on visual observations and local expertise. The areas under different crops are based on data in the Finnish Food Authority’s information system for rural business administration.
The harvest data will be specified on 20 November, when Luke publishes regional harvest data based on information collected from farms.
