Production of potatoes and forage plants, 2007, preliminary figures

The total yield of all meadows for mowing in 2007 was about 2.6 million tonnes in dry hay. This corresponds to a yield of 590 kilos of hay per decare. The total yield of meadows for mowing in 2007 was slightly higher than in 2006.

At the first cut in 2007, yield from 43 per cent of the harvested area of meadows for mowing was stored in silos as silage, whereas yield from 58 per cent was harvested as round bales. Corresponding figures for the later cut were 32 and 65 per cent respectively. The grass from 6 per cent of the first cut was dried as hay, while 1 per cent was fed fresh. For the later cut, 1 per cent was harvested as hay while 2 per cent was fed fresh.

The total yield of other crops for green fodder and silage showed a further decline in 2007. This was particularly due to a drop in the area of these crops from 149 100 decares in 2006 to 135 700 decares in 2007. Rye grass covered 47 per cent of the area of other fodder crops, and green forage mixtures and grain for green fodder and silage covered 45 per cent. The average decare yield of rye grass was 2 216 kilos, and for green forage mixtures and grain for green fodder 1 539 kilos.

Tables:

• Table 1 Yield of potatoes and forage plants. 2004-2007*
• Table 2 Yield of potatoes and forage plants, by county. 1 000 tons
• Table 3 Yield per decare of patoes and meadows for mowing, by county. Kilos