Hot, arid summer guts a third of Sweden’s cereal harvest
An unusually dry, hot summer means Sweden will see smaller yields of crops like wheat, barley and oats, according to the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
The government board, which handles issues related to agriculture and horticulture, is predicting a 30 percent drop in yields compared to last year. And about 25 percent drop in comparison with the last 5 years.
Harald Svensson is the chief economist at the Swedish Board of Agriculture. He tells Radio Sweden that the lower prognosis is very much due to the weather.
The smaller yields will likely mean higher prices for buyers but Svensson says it’s unclear how much more people like bakers or shoppers at supermarkets will have to pay.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Global warming ‘pause’ about to end, raise Earth’s temperatures further, CBC News
Finland: Poor harvest caused by dry summer may force Finnish farmers to slaughter livestock, YLE News
Norway: Arctic Europe’s July records melted under extreme temperatures, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Forest fires are raging across the Barents region, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Analysis – How do Sweden’s political parties plan to tackle climate change?, Radio Sweden
United States: Alaska Senator Murkowski vocal on climate change, but where’s the action?, Alaska Public Media
