In Finland, the agricultural season is experiencing delays due to a cold, wet start to the year. ProAgria, a farming consultancy, reports that spring sowing is lagging by 5–10 days across various regions. Adverse weather conditions, including rain, low temperatures, late frosts, and snowstorms, have postponed sowing activities, according to the rural advisory organization.
Should weather conditions improve to dry and warm, it is anticipated that sowing in southern Finland could commence within a week, aligning with Mother's Day on 12 May. However, significant snow cover persists in northern Finland, necessitating a delay in sowing operations there.
The commencement of the domestic harvest season is expected in mid-May with the first hothouse strawberries, which were planted in Western Finland in mid-February. Despite the delayed field harvest season, which is predicted to start one to two weeks later than usual due to the cold, rainy spring hindering field drying, there is no immediate concern as long as sowing concludes by the end of May. ProAgria emphasizes the importance of completing sowing within this timeframe. Furthermore, the wintering of autumn cereals has seen mixed success, with a notable portion of rye in poor condition, while winter wheat exhibits less damage.
Source: yle.fi
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