ammattiviljelmien

Ammattiviljelmät are professional cultivation enterprises in Finland where plant production is organized as a business. They are characterized by market orientation, commercial scale, and professional management, distinguishing them from hobby or subsistence cultivation. Ammattiviljelmät can include diverse production forms, such as arable fields, horticultural operations (greenhouses, open-field vegetables, fruit orchards, berry patches), and specialized plant production (nurseries, ornamentals). The common aim is to generate income from sale of crops or seedlings, often with year-round planning and integrated resource management.

Operations typically rely on modern agricultural practices, including mechanization, precision farming, irrigation, disease and pest control, fertilization plans, and quality and safety standards. Labour is organized to meet seasonal peaks and can involve hired workers, subcontractors, or family members participating as a business. Access to financing, inputs, and advisory services is typical for ammattiviljelmät, as is engagement with supply chains, cooperatives, and market institutions.

In policy and statistics, ammattiviljelmät are used to distinguish professional farming from amateur farming. They are influenced by agricultural policy, subsidies, and environmental regulations, including soil and water protection, pesticide use, and animal welfare where applicable. Their size is often measured in hectares of land under cultivation or production value, and they form a significant portion of rural employment and regional economies.