Finnish agriculture after the accession into the European union

The preconditions for agriculture are in general worse in Finland than in most EU countries. The growing period is shorter and the effective temperature sum is lower. Mainly due to the unfavourable natural conditions the yield level in Finland is low in comparison with the EU countries. Finnish farms are considerably smaller than farms in the most important EU countries. Regional income disparities are a great problem. The Finnish producer prices were a lot higher than in the EU. It was clear that Finnish agriculture would face great difficulties after accession into the EU. The agricultural chapter of the Accession Treaty can be divided into three groups: conditions related to production; agreements on the support system; and the arrangements concerning the transitional period. It was important for Finland to reach an adequate level of support. Finally Finland was allowed to pay nordic support which was a new form in the support system of the EU. This nordic support is paid on the basis of the hectares o...