2120 final report.pdf - Agra CEAS Consulting

THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF THE VARIOUS SYSTEMS TO KEEP LAYING HENS30%25%Proportion of laying flock20%15%10%5%0%1-49 50-99 100-299 300-499 500-799 800-999 1,000-1,9992,000-2,9993,000-3,9994,000-4,9995,000-5,9996,000-7,9998,000-9,99910,000+Flock size1990 2000Figure A1.15: Evolution of laying flock structure 1990-2000Source: Finnish agricultural census data.Finland is still self sufficient in eggs (115%) despite the decline in production implied by the above.Sweden is the traditional market for shell egg exports (used in the Swedish processing industry) andaccounts for over two thirds of total exports. Like Finland, Sweden has salmonella-free status and asa result can only import eggs for consumption in shell from Finland.The Finnish government, in conjunction with the egg industry has prepared a strategy forrestructuring up to 2012 64 . It is expected that there will be around 300 to 350 significant producers 65 ,just a third of the current number, at the end of this period.There are few producers concentrating solely on egg production in Finland, although egg productionis often the most significant enterprise. Most egg producers also have forest and/or crops andcropping area is used to spread manure in order to meet the requirements of environmentallegislation. That said, it is quite common for the egg enterprise to be classified as a separate businessfor taxation purposes. Specialisation is increasing as concentration takes place.As seen elsewhere in the EU, the age profile of Finnish farmers shows a reasonably high average andthis age structure is thought to be reflected in the egg sector. The industry believes that many of theolder egg producers (who also tend to be smaller scale having up to 2,000 to 3,000 laying hens) will64 Työryhmämuistio MMM 2003:14 Kananmunien tuotantostrategia: Uusiin tuotantomuotoihin siirtyminen vuonna 2012 LoppuraporttiHelsinki 200365 Those with more than 100 laying hens.147