niitto

Niiitto is the Finnish term for the agricultural practice of mowing or reaping forage plants, such as grasses and legumes, to produce hay, silage, or other livestock feed. The word derives from niittää, meaning to mow or reap.

Niiitto is a central activity in Finnish forage production. It typically involves cutting forage at a growth stage that balances yield and nutritional quality, with timing influenced by plant species, weather, and the intended use. In Nordic agriculture, niitto often occurs from late spring through summer, with some crops cut later in the season for late-season hay.

Methods and practice: Traditional niitto used a scythe or sickle; modern farms commonly employ mower equipment, sometimes with conditioning or swathing attachments. After cutting, the forage is left to dry in the field to reduce moisture. It may be raked into windrows and baled as hay or collected for silage, which involves chopping, fermenting, and storing the material in silos or sealed piles.

Quality and storage: Drying time and weather conditions strongly affect hay quality. For silage, effective chopping, compaction, and timely sealing minimize spoilage and preserve nutritional value. Cutting height and grazing regrowth management also influence subsequent forage yields.

See also: agriculture in Finland, haymaking, silage, forage management.