Huldén family farm in Alaveteli transforms into major agricultural operation in Finland

The Huldén family farm in Alaveteli, Ostrobothnia, has experienced significant changes over the decades. When brothers Krister and Dan Huldén took over after their father’s passing 50 years ago, the farm had just seven cows. “They were sold, but we got my mother a thousand chickens for company,” recalls Krister Huldén.

The farm has since expanded into pig and beef production, now housing 10,000 pigs and 700 cattle. The Huldéns produce 2.5 million kilograms of pork and 150,000 kilograms of beef annually. Additionally, they operate on 850 hectares of land and have ventured into specialized transportation for concrete elements. The farm employs about twenty people, with Krister Huldén’s son, Jonas Huldén, serving as CEO for the past five years.

The transformation at the Huldén farm reflects a broader trend among farms in Finland. As the number of agricultural operations has decreased—by nearly 1,500 in Ostrobothnia and Central Ostrobothnia over the past decade—average farm sizes have increased by over ten hectares. According to statistics from the Natural Resources Institute Finland, there were about 5,000 farms in South Ostrobothnia and over 3,500 in Ostrobothnia last year.

Jonas Huldén emphasizes the need for larger farms to maintain profitability. “Agricultural profitability is constantly declining. Units must grow, even as risks increase,” he states. Huldén also highlights the importance of self-sufficiency in agriculture amid current global challenges, noting the harsh impact of inflation and rising interest rates.

As the structure of agriculture continues to evolve in Finland and worldwide, many smaller dairy farms have diminished, reflecting ongoing shifts in the food production system.