Agriculture and Forestry in Norway 2011

The intention of "Agriculture and Forestry in Norway 2011" is to show the development in agriculture, forestry and hunting in a 50 years perspective.

Agricultural and forestry properties

In 2010, there was 189 000 agricultural and forestry properties in Norway. These properties managed a total area of 24.8 million hectares, which constitutes 77 per cent of the Mainland. Agricultural land and productive forest land amounted to 1.1 and 7.1 million hectares respectively. Other areas amounted to 16.7 million hectares.

Agriculture

The number of agricultural holdings has decreased from 198 000 in 1959 to 45 500 in 2011. In 2011 these holdings operated 1.0 million hectares agricultural land. 65 per cent of the utilised agricultural area was temporary grass or permanent grassland, while 30 per cent were cereals or oil seed crops. Close to 90 per cent of the agricultural area is used for feed production. In 2011, livestock farming generated amongst others 323 000 tonnes meat, 1 480 million litres of cow's milk and 60 000 tonnes of eggs. The labour input in agriculture has been reduced by 85 per cent from 1959 to 2011 and is estimated to 49 400 man-years in 2011. Agriculture amounted to 1.8 per cent of the total employment and 0.3 per cent of the gross domestic product. About three fourths of the agricultural income originates from livestock farming.

Forestry

One fourth of Norwegian land area is productive forest. In 2011, the growing stock of timber was 878 million cubic metres. The annual increment was almost 25 million cubic metres. In 2011, the forest owners cut 8.5 million cubic metres industrial roundwood for sale. In addition, 2.5 million cubic metres fire wood was used by the households. The average timber price was NOK 364 per cubic metre. In total, forest owners invested NOK 372 million in silviculture and forest roads. In 2011, almost 19 000 persons were employed in Norwegian paper mills, sawmills and woodworking industry, and the aggregated turnover in these industries came to NOK 42.2 billion. The export value from this industry amounted to NOK 11.9 billion.

Hunting

Every year 200 000 Norwegians pay the hunting license fee, while 150 000 go hunting. In 2011, seven per cent of Norwegian men participated in hunting. The share of female hunters increases gradually, and amounted to 7 per cent of the hunters in 2011. In the last decades, the stock of cervids has increased. In the hunting year 2011/12, 36 400 moose and 36 800 red deer were shot. In addition 5 400 wild reindeer and 25 900 roe deer were shot. Grouse is the most popular game among small game hunters. In the last ten years, the grouse bag has decreased. In the hunting year 2011/12, the bag was 230 000 grouses.