Census of agriculture, 2010

Horticultural production in Norway represents about 15 per cent of production income in Norwegian agriculture, whilst the area comprises slightly more than 1 per cent of the total agricultural area. The survey of Horticulture was conducted as a part of the Census of Agriculture 2010.

More areas of field-grown vegetables

The area of field-grown vegetables has increased since 2000, and covers now 71 500 decares. This represents 13 000 decares more than 1999. The area of fruit trees has fallen by 20 per cent, while the area of berries and greenhouses shows minor changes.

The number of holdings reveals a different development after 1999. Now there are 3 000 holdings; a decrease of 40 per cent. The number of berry-producers is halved and greenhouse and fruit producers have fallen by a third. Four out of 10 producers of field-grown vegetables have given up since 1999.

Largest area of field-grown vegetables in Vestfold

A quarter (19 000 decares) of the total area of vegetables is in the county of Vestfold. The county of Buskerud is second, with approximately 11 000 decares¹. About 8 000 of Norway’s 22 000 decares of fruit trees are sited in the county of Hordaland. This makes Hordaland twice as big as the next one; the county of Sogn og Fjordane, which has 3 500 decares. The county of Rogaland has the largest area of greenhouses, and more than a third of a total area of 2 000 decares is located here. Number two on the ranking is Buskerud, with 250 decares of greenhouses.

The production of cut flowers and pot plants is becoming increasingly important, and measured by labour input represents almost two thirds of the man-hours in greenhouse production.

Foreign labour force important

Foreign labour force is becoming more important in horticulture. In 1999, when Statistics Norway surveyed the use of foreign labour force in horticulture for the first time, foreign nationals represented 18 per cent of the labour input. In 2009/2010 this kind of labour force conducted 2 200 man-years, or just above 40 per cent¹ of the total labour input. Foreign nationals conduct more than half of the labour input in the production of field-grown vegetables. Fifty-five per cent of the man-hours in the production of greenhouse vegetables, and 62 per cent of labour input in the production of field-grown vegetables are conducted by foreign nationals. In the production of fruit and berries, the foreign labour force conducted 1 300 man-years; slightly less than half of the total labour input in these productions.

Tables:

• Table 1 Holdings in various sectors of horticulture, by county. 1979, 1989, 1999 and 2010
• Table 2 Horticultural area, total and area of field-grown vegetables, fruit trees, field-grown berries, greenhouses and nurseries, by county. 1979, 1989, 1999 and 2010. Decares
• Table 3 Labour input in horticulture, and labour input executed, by foreign workers, by various sectors of horticulture and county. 19982
• Table 4 Labour input in horticulture, total and in various sectors of horticulture, executed, by foreign labour, by county. 1998/99 and 2009/10. Per cent
• Table 5 Holdings and area of field-grown vegetables, by size of area used for vegetables and county. 1979, 1989, 1999 and 2010
• Table 6 Holdings which cultivated fruit, by species of fruit trees, county and area of fruit trees. 1979, 1989, 1999 and 2010
• Table 7 Area of fruit trees, by species, county and area. 1979, 1989, 1999 and 2010. Decares
• Table 8 Holdings and area of fruit trees, by size of area used for fruit trees and county. 1979, 1989, 1999 and 2010
• Table 9 Holdings with field-grown berries, by species and county. 1979, 1989, 1999 and 2010
• Table 10 Area of field-grown berries, by species and county. 1979, 1989, 1999 and 2010. Decares
• Table 11 Holdings with greenhouses and area of greenhouses, by size of greenhouse area and county. 1979, 1989, 1999 and 2010