Farming at the Arctic Circle – When night becomes day
Between almost 24 hours of sunshine in summer and months of darkness in winter, Alf Utby runs a farm in the north of Norway. He told us why dark sand leads to better potato yields and how he copes with the extreme conditions.
Alf Utby's farm is located in the province of Troms, in the far north of Norway. Here, just a few hundred kilometres from the Arctic Circle, the conditions for farming are anything but easy: a long, snowy winter and a very late vegetation start. While the sun barely sets in summer, it remains hidden behind the horizon for months in winter. Farming in this region is a challenge and a question of attitude.
Family farm
Alf Utby's farm is a real family business with three generations working together: Alf himself, his father and his son. Alf's father originally kept sheep, but increasing losses caused by lynxes that killed about half the lambs each year, made them abandon this branch. The family switched to Charolais cattle and began growing potatoes in the 1990s. Initially on a small scale on just one hectare. Today they grow around 45 hectares of potatoes. They also cultivate around 100 hectares of grassland to feed the 50 cattle. Some of the beef goes directly to a restaurant in Tromsø - the rest is marketed conventionally. “It's more of a hobby than a business,” Alf says. “But I think it's nice to have a bit of variety.” The grassland provides two to three cuts in the short season - enough for their own supply. “Potatoes are our mainstay - that's how we earn our money,” Alf Utby states. Eight people are employed on the farm during the season.
Every day counts
The challenges of farming north of the Arctic Circle begin in spring. While in the southern parts of Norway crops are sown as early as April, the soil in Troms is often still covered in snow at this time. To speed up the start of the season, Alf Utby resorts to an unusual but effective method: dark sand is spread on areas of snow at the end of March/beginning of April to absorb more solar radiation and accelerate the melting of the snow. The sand is fine and deep black - ideal for quickly removing the snow cover.The challenges of farming north of the Arctic Circle begin in spring. While in the southern parts of Norway crops are sown as early as April, the soil in Troms is often still covered in snow at this time. To speed up the start of the season, Alf Utby resorts to an unusual but effective method: dark sand is spread on areas of snow at the end of March/beginning of April to absorb more solar radiation and accelerate the melting of the snow. The sand is fine and deep black - ideal for quickly removing the snow cover.
As soon as you can drive on the fields, time is of the essence. Potato planting usually begins at the end of May and should be completed by 20th June at the latest. The time frame is tight, every day counts. “One good day in May can possibly mean one week more for growth in autumn,” Alf Utby confirms. In northern Norway, the vegetation season is extremely short - typically only from June to the beginning of September. Any opportunity to plant earlier is therefore worth its weight in gold. For during the weeks of the midnight sun, the sun shines almost around the clock which encourages the growth of the plants. Potatoes that are planted earlier can make better use of this phenomenon. However, the later they are planted, the less the plants benefit - and the more the growth is affected by the increasing cold in autumn. A single day in May can therefore be particularly valuable as the plants can use the light all day long compared to autumn, and this head start achieves measurably higher yields in autumn. “There's no comparison to farming in the southern regions of Norway - they have much more leeway there,” Alf Utby explains.
Appropriate technology
Alf Utby has adapted to the conditions and works with them in the best possible way: "If it's too windy during the day, I spray at night. The sun shines anyway. The headlights on the boom of the crop care sprayer are practically redundant in our region," he says with a smile. To be able to work efficiently during the short time windows, he opted for the Leeb LT with a tank capacity of 6,000 litres. The machine is reliable, precise and a real asset with regard to a precise application even in difficult conditions. He is impressed by the boom control system and the intuitive operation: “The menu navigation is easy, and the spraying process can be automated almost completely which is invaluable on stressful days,” he states. What Alf Utby particularly appreciates is the service and the co-operation: "If I have a question, I can reach someone. That's important when you're working with such a complex technology."
There are only a few large farms in the region around Troms. Many farms are run as part-time farms or have specialised in individual branches of the agricultural sector. In addition to his own farm, the farmer carries out contract work for other farms in the area - including plant protection measures for which the efficiency of the Leeb LT comes in handy.
Potato variety
Alf Utby's potato cultivation is perfectly organised. Six different varieties are on the plan this year, some tried and tested, others new. "What works in the south doesn't necessarily work here. Every year, we test anew what suits our conditions." The potatoes are marketed using an own sorting and packaging facility which is operated by several farmers. Alf Utby delivers the potatoes from his own warehouse to this facility throughout the winter. From there, they are washed and packaged for sale. Crop rotation plays an important role for Alf Utby even if it is not always easy to implement. His objective: grow at least two years of grass on the same field after one year of potatoes. “Three years of grass after one year of potatoes would be ideal,” he admits. However, this is not possible everywhere especially as many of his fields are leased. The limited availability of land and the terms of the leases make long-term planning difficult. Nevertheless, Alf Utby is working on gradually improving his crop rotation.
Positive attitude
Despite the short vegetation season, unpredictable weather and logistical challenges, Alf Utby is satisfied. He copes with the special conditions with pragmatism, experience and the right instinct. "You have to be flexible and keep cool. I like what I do," he says. Investments in technology are carefully considered, but he only wants to realise larger projects, such as a new warehouse with workshop, if the future of the farm is secure. His son is actively helping, but succession is still open.