It is above all the unpredictable weather in southern Sweden that has cast a shadow over this year’s harvest. Here, floods and extreme weather conditions have destroyed the harvest and left a dire shortage of grain in their wake. According to the trade organization Foder och Spannmål, this year’s harvest is predicted to decrease by as much as 25 percent compared to the previous year.
Erik Bäckström, an experienced farmer from Umeå, claims that the answer to the weather problems lies in the north, where there is an unused cultivation potential that should be exploited. Bäckström believes that spring sowing of grain is one of the keys to increased production, and his experience and knowledge make him an advocate for maximizing the potential of northern agriculture.
– There are 6,300 farmers from Söderhamn to Överkalix, so this is where the opportunity for production increase exists. In addition, we have the sun with us with bright hours during the summer, which means that the crops grow faster than to the south, says Erik Bäckström.
But farming is one thing – someone also has to buy up the grain. The Lantmännen cooperative has recently given the go-ahead for the cultivation of spring wheat in Västerbotten, a welcome step for the farmers in terms of strengthening domestic grain production. However, it is not enough. In order to encourage larger investments in the form of mills and the like, according to Lantmännen, a greater regional need is required than what we have today.
Large consumers want local farming
Increased grain production also help reduce vulnerability when the weather throws a wrench in the wheel. Companies like Polarbröd, which last year bought 21,000 tons of flour, are keen to see increased grain cultivation in northern Sweden. Even the smaller bakeries look forward to this.
– If locally grown flour becomes available, I will choose it, says Olof Wikström, who runs the bakery Hagabagaren in Umeå.
But it’s not just bread that’s at stake. According to Lantmännen, there will be a deficit of grain this year and then it will be necessary to import grain, which will lead to price increases of up to 15 percent.
However, it is important to point out that an increase in the price of bread is not an automatic consequence of this deficit. There are several factors that affect the final price, including production, distribution and sales margins.
The farmer: Daily bread must not become a luxury item
Erik Bäckström, who not only looks after his own land but also cultivates fields for 63 other landowners, welcomes the news of spring wheat cultivation with open arms. He stands ready to put the plow in the ground and fight to stabilize grain harvests going forward.
– It is now up to the government, industry organizations and companies to take the lead and ensure that our country does not end up in a situation where our daily bread becomes a luxury item, says Erik Bäckström.