Census of agriculture (discontinued), 1999

Compared with 1979 the number of greenhouse producers has been cut in half. During the same period, the area covered by greenhouses has declined from just over 1 900 decares, a drop of 16 per cent. The average area of the greenhouse has increased in the last 20 years from 346 m² to 599 m².

Just over one in four producers and nearly one-third of the area covered by greenhouses were located in Rogaland in south-western Norway. Buskerud and Vestfold counties have the most producers after Rogaland.

In 1998, 1 750 man-years were worked in the greenhouse industry. Women accounted for nearly half of the labour input, which is a high rate within the primary industries.

More electricity

The trend in energy consumption shows a distinct switch towards increased use of electricity instead of heating oils. In 10 years, electricity consumption has increased by 65 per cent to 424 000 kWh. At the same time consumption of light heating oils has been reduced from 48.5 million litres in 1988 to 35.6 million in 1998, a reduction of around 25 per cent. Consumption of heavy oil has plummeted by nearly 75 per cent. Consumption of bioenergy generated by wood chips, straw etc. has been pegged at just over 4 000 tonnes, a 30 per cent decline. Coal is now completely out as a means of energy in greenhouses. Using gas for heating has practically only been used in Rogaland.

Half report investments

In 1996-1998, altogether NOK 327 million was invested by half or 400 of the greenhouse producers. NOK 275 million went for new greenhouses with equipment and heating systems, while NOK 52 million went for associated buildings such as packing rooms and warehouses. Nearly half of the investments were made in 1998.

Half have own shops

Half of the greenhouse producers have their own shops for selling greenhouse products. 300 have their shops at the greenhouse, while 70 have shops elsewhere. 70 producers use their vehicles to sell their products.

15 million heads of lettuce

Production in greenhouses is equally divided areawise between vegetables and flowers, each having 640 decares. Cut flowers cover 184 decares and berries 25 decares.

Tomatoes are the biggest vegetable crop, accounting for 316 decares in 1998. Cucumbers were cultivated on around 230 decares. The trend shows an increase in cucumber growing, while tomato growing has dipped slightly. More than 15 million heads of lettuce were harvested in 1998. New types of lettuce and changes in varieties etc. make it difficult to compare lettuce production in 1998 with earlier censuses. For example, rapid lettuce is a relatively new product. Around 10.5 million were harvested in 1998.

The area statistic for 1999 is not directly comparable with earlier surveys as the term "annual square metres" is now used. Annual square metres takes into account whether the same space has been used for several different crops weighed up against how much of the year each crop has been grown. In earlier surveys, the same space was counted several times if it was used for different crops.

Flower production

Statistics Norway has preliminarily not chosen not to release figures for most of the flower production. The reason is that such production is concentrated in few and large holdings. Because the processing of the forms has not been completed, new data could surface, causing major revisions of the statistics. The statistics will be published later.

Tables:

• Table 1 Number of holdings with green-houses and green-house area, by county and size of green-houses. 1979, 1985, 1989 and 1999*
• Table 2 Total number of man-hours in green-house by sex and county. 1 000 man-hours. 1998*.
• Table 3 Consumption of energy in green-houses , by county and size of green-house area. 1978, 1984, 1988 and 1998*
• Table 4 Investments in green-houses, included implements and heatingsystem by size of green-house area. 1 000 NOK
• Table 5 Vegetables produced in green-houses , by county and size of green-house area. 1978, 1984, 1988 and 1998*
• Table 6 Number of holdings with own shop for green-house products, by county and size of green-house area. 1999*
• Table 7 Summer flowers for out door planting (for sale to consumers), by county and size of green-house area. 1 000 pcs. 1998*