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In Finland, agriculture is practiced in variable growing conditions that are further challenged by climate change and under external pressure caused by international competition, changing consumer preferences and demands, and the renewal of the European Union Common Agriculture Policy and Paris Agreement climate targets. Futures studies in agriculture have focused on scenario building with expert panels, though usually without farmers' involvement. This study focuses on farmers' views of shaping the future of Finnish agriculture. It builds on the disaggregative Delphi method and combines interviews and a representative survey of Finnish farmers. The study is based on a bottom-up process in which a farmer panel of 20 farms defined their views of the future in a semi-structured thematic interview. The views were turned into statements in a structured survey sent to the second panel, which comprised all Finnish farmers who had received agricultural subsidies in 2016, with 4401 respondents. The results were analyzed using quantitative factor analysis, which produced five future images for Finnish agriculture. The images were shown to the original farmer panel for reflection. They considered the probability of each future image and their own role in it. Technology solves as a future image was most favored by farmers, followed by Ecological and specializing small-scale production image. Business-as-usual was the least likely future images according to the interviewed farmers. This paper describes the process and discusses both methodological benefits and pitfalls, as well as farmers' future views of the forthcoming decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing the undesirable outcomes of wind power (WP) in the vicinity of homes with forest management practices can increase the acceptance of WP. If forest owners would avoid clear felling and use light forest management close to homes towards wind turbines, residents might be interested in paying for such a 'landscape shield' in the payment for ecosystem services (PES) context. The majority (83.7%) of the survey sample from Finland were interested in participating in the PES mechanism. On average, they were willing to pay €80.9 per hectare annually to participate in landscape value trade arranging a landscape shield against wind turbines. We applied the attitude–behavior framework to understand the factors and structures underlying residents' willingness to pay (WTP). The analysis emphasized the importance of intentions, attitudes, and subjective norms over socio-demographic variables in explaining WTP. WTP and the intention to contribute to the cost of the landscape shield were determined by the intention to discuss landscape protection with forest owners and further by the attitudes towards the landscape shield and the interest of neighbors it. This result strongly emphasizes the importance of communication, both with the providers and other consumers of the service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analysed the timing of pesticide treatments for eventual analysis of temporal environmental risks associated with pesticide use in field vegetable crops. At the same time, we investigated whether farmers followed the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) instructions. The data cover chemical plant protection in field vegetable farms in southwestern Finland in 2009–2019. The timing of treatments, made with different pesticides in the weeks following sowing, corresponded with the known phenology of different pests of carrot, swede and fresh pea. The same was true for the carrot fly, the pea moth and the second generation of the cabbage root fly when phenological flight time models using historical data were used to predict the timing of treatments. We conclude that farmers acted in accordance with the principles of IPM when practising chemical control. For those species that lacked phenological predictive models in the study years, the degree days for the observed timing of treatments can be used as a starting point if such models are developed in the future. Our results can be used as a long-term baseline in future surveys on the changes in pesticide use and their risks regarding the studied crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global agriculture faces severe challenges due to climate change. For boreal agriculture, climate change might also bring opportunities as the growing season lengthens, if the risks of climate change are managed properly. Agricultural production is a source of greenhouse gases, while agricultural land has also a great possibility to mitigate climate change as a carbon sink. Farmers are the central group for implementing these actions. Their views and beliefs contribute to their corresponding pro-environmental agricultural behavior. This research is based on the theory of value-belief-norm (VBN) as a predictive model of pro-environmental agricultural behavior. We extend the theory by studying how opportunities caused by climate change affect pro-environmental behavior in agriculture and present differences between farmer groups and experiment with the longitudinal possibilities of the theoretical model. Based on the structured survey responses from 4,401 farmers in Finland in 2018 and 2000 responses in 2020, we found that all the elements of VBN theory did help to predict intention for climate change mitigation, among which felt possibility to perform mitigation practices was the strongest predictor while risk perception was rather an unimportant one. Furthermore, opportunities caused directly or indirectly by climate change have an effect on Finnish farmer's implementation of mitigation practices. Therefore, future efforts in agricultural research and policy in Finland should concentrate to bring forth concrete farm-level mitigation practices with proven environmental benefits and the direct and indirect opportunities should be given more attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farming communities are becoming more heterogeneous and multifunctional due to various structural and environmental changes. However, it is not known if farmers' values have also become more heterogeneous. We wanted to explore potential heterogeneity in farmers' value priorities in detail across different farmer groups in Finland using the refined Schwartz theory of 19 basic human values. A representative sample of 4,401 Finnish farmers responded to a survey in 2018. The data were analysed with multidimensional scaling, confirmatory factor analysis and one‐way analysis of variance. The results show that farmers' values were heterogeneous, and differences were associated with socio‐demographic characteristics. Our findings confirmed the motivational continuum structure of values, with the exception of societal‐value. Security‐societal was the most important value for the Finnish farmers. The theory of 19 values proved useful in uncovering value priorities in detail. The security‐societal value is more a part of national identity rather than a personal motivational value in the Finnish farming community. The heterogeneity of farmers' values should be considered in more targeted policy planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aims of this study were to examine job resources, work engagement and Finnish dairy farmers’ preferences concerning methods to enhance overall well-being while working on farms. Methods: A postal survey yielded 265 completed questionnaires from 188 dairy farms. The sample was assessed as representative of Finnish dairy farmers. Exploratory factor analysis and a linear mixed model were utilized during the data analyzing process. Results: The variables lowering work engagement were stressors related to the workload and problems with health. Elevated work engagement was associated with the factors work with farm animals and family. The most important resource variables were “child or children,” “own family,” and “animal health.” Female dairy farmers considered resource variables related to the family, love, and work with cattle as significantly more important than male dairy farmers. Male dairy farmers experienced higher work engagement and, concerning the dimensions, especially higher dedication and absorption than male respondents in a reference sample of workers in difference occupations. A sustainable farm economy and the possibility to have a holiday period were the most important methods to improve overall well-being on dairy farms. Conclusion: The results indicate that the family, working with cattle, healthy farm animals, a reasonable workload, and a sustainable farm economy have the capacity to create positive impacts on well-being among dairy farmers. Well-being on farms is a part of sustainable food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northern agriculture faces a rapidly changing climate with increased weather variability. Yield resilience can be assessed through diversity in responses to critical weather patterns, as demonstrated in several European crops. In this study, we extend the work to demonstrate how the response diversity of barley in Finland has developed over time. A total of 257 barley cultivars tested in 18 locations in Finland during 1980–2020 were clustered according to their yield responses to 12 critical agrometeorological variables. Clustering was based on the scores of the principal component analysis used to group the agrometeorological variables based on the yield responses. To identify the development in the response diversity, the diversity of the clusters cultivated was determined annually. The response diversity increased at the beginning of the 21st century but has declined since 2013. Consequently, the Northern barley cultivar selection has become more vulnerable to weather variation despite an increase of cultivars officially tested. The principal component analysis enabled a more interpretable and meaningful clustering than the formerly performed direct clustering of Finnish barley cultivars according to the agrometeorological variables. [Display omitted] • The identification of cultivar clusters allows farmers to enhance yield resilience. • Grouping weather patterns leads to a more stable and interpretable clustering. • Response diversity of northern barley declined since the mid‐2010s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychosocial risks among farmers have increasingly been examined because of the ongoing changes in agriculture, such as restructuring of the industry, transition from family farming towards entrepreneurship, and climate change. The aims of the study were to determine the stressors, prevalence of stress and burnout, and variables associated with these symptoms among Finnish dairy farmers. In total 265 respondents completed a postal survey; their average age was 48 years, 44% were females and 56% males. The farms of the survey sample were larger (54 field hectares, 29 cows) than an average farm in Finland (37 hectares, 24 cows) in 2010. The most common stressors were external, such as "agricultural policy of the EU" (European Union) and "the treatment of farmers in society and the media." In addition, common stressors were related to farm and work, e.g., "amount of work," unpredictability, and "animal diseases." The prevalence of stress (42%) was found to have increased compared with earlier studies and was greater than among the general working population. All respondents as a group were classified as having slight symptoms of burnout, and one tenth (9%) of dairy farmers had experienced severe burnout. Stressors related to the workload and health were associated with stress and burnout symptoms. Also, a poor economic situation and loneliness were related to stress. Burnout correlated with a tie stall barn type and with a farm not being involved in the milk production record system. Factors protecting against burnout included positive features of the work and living environment. The study revealed changes during the past decade and new features of the well-being at work on dairy farms in Finland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At high latitudes of Europe climate change is projected to alter the risk of flooding and drought depending on the season. Farmers are the ones who decide how and when to adapt to excess, scarcity, and even to extreme precipitation events in agriculture. To understand farmer's views on the needs and means to manage future changes in precipitation, a farmer survey was organized in 2018 with 4401 respondents and a follow-up survey in 2020 with 2000 respondents. The aims were: (1) to understand farmers' views on future changes in precipitation patterns, (2) to gain an insight into farmer views on prioritization of the potential key adaptation measures (irrigation, drainage and maintenance of soil conditions) to future floods and drought episodes and thereby, (3) to be better able to support farmers in their primary task of food production in a sustainable manner in a changing climate. This study highlighted that farmers need financial support, but also more information about the costs and benefits of the measures to cope with changing precipitation patterns—not least due to the many uncertainties in projecting future precipitation patterns. As fluctuating precipitation have many environmental impacts in addition to those on production per se, costs and investments of adaptation to climatic constraints should not be payable only by the farmers. Farmers prioritized the soil organic content (SOC) and well-functioning subsurface drainage as the main objects of their attention, and these were clearly ahead of future use of irrigation. Taking care of subsurface drainage, soil structure, SOC and functionality is the long-term means to maintain and improve sustainability and productivity, while the implementation of irrigation is a more flexible, one-off measure that requires short-term reactivity as an adaptation option. • Farmers' views on needs and means to manage future changes in precipitation in Finland were studied. • Farmer surveys in 2018 with 4401 respondents and a follow-up survey in 2020 with 2000 respondents. • Maintaining soil organic content and subsurface drainage were prioritized ahead of future use of irrigation. • Need for financial support as fluctuating precipitation have many environmental impacts in addition to production. • Many uncertainties and hence, more information needed about the costs and benefits of adaptation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By processing large quantities of crop residues, earthworms enhance the mineralization of organic matter but have also been shown to stabilize soil organic carbon (SOC) into soil fractions like microaggregates (53–250 μm) within macroaggregates (>250 μm) especially in no-till soils. Our objective was to find direct evidence on the impact of an anecic, soil surface-feeding earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris L., on the redistribution of SOC and soil nitrogen (N) into macroaggregate-occluded soil fractions of boreal soils. We sampled soil (0–5 cm depth) from the middens of L. terrestris (mounds of collected residue and surface casts at the openings of its permanent burrows) and the adjacent non-midden (bulk) soil at three no-till sites in southern Finland: two clayey sites (sites 1–2) and one coarse textured site (site 3). Compared to bulk soil, the soil in L. terrestris middens featured general increase in aggregate size and content of SOC and N within the large macroaggregates (>2000 μm) at the clayey sites. The microaggregates within the large macroaggregates had accumulated more SOC and N in the midden soil especially at site 1 where 99% of the difference in total SOC between midden and bulk soil was associated with this type of SOC stabilization. At site 2, the increase in SOC found in the large macroaggregates was counteracted by a decrease in SOC in microaggregates within the small macroaggregates (250–2000 μm). No differences in SOC stored in soil fractions were found between midden and non-midden soil at the coarse soil site 3 with higher top soil decomposition rate compared to sites 1 and 2. Across the study sites, the total amount of SOC was 6% higher in midden soil compared to the bulk soil. These results suggest L. terrestris mediates the storage of SOC and N into better protected soil fractions in clay soils under boreal conditions. • Proportions of soil fractions and their C and N content were compared in bulk soil and earthworm midden associated soil at three no-till sites • L. terrestris enhanced soil aggregation especially in clay soils • L. terrestris enhanced protection of C and N in large macroaggreate-occluded soil fractions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Surface and subsurface erosion were lower in no-till compared to moldboard ploughing. • Surface water discharge was significantly higher in no-till. • No-till had higher earthworm density and their number of species. • In topsoil, no-till had more aggregate-bound carbon and particulate organic carbon. We compared soil physical, chemical and biological properties, erosion rate and carbon allocation to soil physical fractions between conventional tillage (CT) and no-till (NT) management at a clay soil site under spring cereal monoculture in southwestern Finland. Subsurface drain discharge, surface runoff and soil erosion were continuously monitored in 2008 − 2018. At the end of the 10-year monitoring period in 2018, various soil properties and earthworm total density, mass and species richness were determined. Total soil erosion was 56 % less in NT than in CT although surface water discharge was higher in NT. NT had a clear effect on the topsoil physical structure by decreasing the pore size and increasing soil aggregate size. The total soil carbon stock in the 700 kg m−2 mineral topsoil layer (approx. 0−60 cm layer) was slightly lower in NT (108 ± 12 Mg C ha-1) than in CT (118 ± 9.0 Mg C ha-1) due to lower carbon content of the 10−30 cm layer in NT. In NT the proportion of large macroaggregates was higher and more organic carbon was bound to large macroaggregates in the 0−10 cm layer which may be related to the higher abundance of earthworms in NT. The results showed that NT is an effective method to reduce erosion rates but other means to increase carbon input especially below the topsoil layer are likely required to achieve a significant increase in the carbon stock of boreal clay soils. For both tillage managements, the rate of erosion through subsurface drains depended clearly on annual precipitation and winter temperature, posing a challenge in the future climate with mild winters and more extreme discharges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing shoots, i.e., sprouts, and older needles of Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst.) have traditionally been used for medicinal purposes due to the high content of vitamins and antioxidants. Currently, sprouts are available as, for example, superfood and supplements. However, end-product quality and nutritive value may decline in the value-chain from raw material sourcing to processing and storage. We studied (1) impacts of different drying and extraction methods on nutritional composition and antioxidative properties of sprouts and needles, (2) differences between sprouts and needles in nutritional composition and microbiological quality, and (3) production scale quality of the sprouts. Additionally, (4) sprout powder was applied in products (ice-cream and sorbet) and consumer acceptance was evaluated. According to our results, older needles have higher content of dry matter, energy, and calcium, but lower microbial quality than sprouts. Sprouts showed a higher concentration of vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus than older needles. Freeze-drying was the best drying method preserving the quality of both sprouts and needles, e.g., vitamin C content. The antioxidative activity of the sprout extracts were lower than that of needles. Ethanol-water extraction resulted in a higher content of active compounds in the extract than water extraction. Sensory evaluation of food products revealed that on average, 76% of consumers considered sprout-containing products very good or good, and a creamy product was preferred over a water-based sorbet.