"Green"-General Messages

Farmers have been enjoying good returns and business growth, and low costs on veterinary and medicine. Swedish production systems, the report claims, are efficient with feed inputs,but are burdened with the high costs of labour, machinery and buildings.

Also featured is the mantra of producing as effectively as global competitors in a manner which means Swedish profits.

The report also provides an overview of Swedish food in an international perspective. "The report helps farmers to assess their own competitiveness and find ways to develop entrepreneurship," hopes Lennart Nilsson, Head of the foods business unit at the Swedish Farmer's Federation.

"The intention is to annually update the Green competitiveness to get an idea how Sweden and competitor countries' productivity evolves over time."

International Development

The reports stated that Europe's share of world production of agricultural products has decreased where several nations have increased their share. Whilst acknowledging Farming conditions in Sweden are quite similar to those in our neighboring countries Denmark, Finland, Germany and the UK meaning that Sweden has eveolved in a manner similar to the rest of Europe.

"The report shows,despite Sweden's attributes in livestock, such as good health status of pig production and high yield in dairy cows, we are performing worse thatn out neighbours," says Harold Smith, chief economist at the Agriculture Department.

Report Conlusions

Milk

The Swedish dairy companies are characterized by a relatively good animal health that provide a high yield per cow and high feed efficiency. Availability and price of land is also a strength for the Swedish dairy companies in an international comparison.

The disadvantages include the costs of labor, machinery and buildings is generally relatively high. The international comparison shows that there are major differences in the individual company costs for these factors of production within a country than between countries.

Beef Production

The Swedish animal material in Swedish beef production is characterised strong genetics, good durability and a very good level of health. The high proportion of roughage allows to minimize imports of protein feed and contribute to environmentally sustainable production.

The high cost situation makes it difficult, however, opportunities to achieve economic sustainability in today's general price levels.

Pork Production

The pig industry is characterised by a relatively high production efficiency, with a good state of health that contribute to a healthy growth of pigs and low veterinary and medicine costs. The environmental impact is low and with a good supply of available land.

Swedish pig production has higher construction and labor costs than many other countries, which may be partly linked to welfare standards in the country.