skörden

Skörden is a Swedish noun meaning the harvest. In agricultural usage, it refers to both the act of gathering mature crops and the crop yield that results. As the definite form of skörd, the term is commonly used in farm records, weather summaries, and discussions of seasonal work and production.

Timing and scope: In Sweden’s climate, skörden takes place during late summer and autumn, varying by crop and region. Typical staples include cereals such as barley, oats, and wheat, as well as potatoes, vegetables, and forage crops for livestock. Modern farms often rely on machinery—combine harvesters, threshers, and efficient storage facilities—to complete the skörden.

Economic and social significance: The skörden marks the transition from field work to storage, processing, and marketing. Yields influence farm income, supply chains, and regional economies, and weather conditions during the growing season can have a decisive impact on the size of the skörden. The period historically involved coordinated labor and seasonal activity in rural communities.

History and usage: The concept of the harvest has long been central in agrarian societies. In Sweden, skörden appears in farming regulations, agricultural statistics, and everyday language describing seasonal cycles and food production. Today the term remains a key reference point for the agricultural calendar and the management of crop yields.