Implementation of environmental fallow scheme: farmer survey, Finland, 2009

Data on the implementation of a new environmental fallow scheme were derived from the national statistical register and collected in autumn 2009 by a questionnaire sent to 300 farmers with environmental fallow contracts in six regions around Finland. This represented 2% of the farmers with the contracts in the regions. The farmers were selected at random, but so that an equal ratio of each of the EF type was represented for each of the regions. The questionnaire included general questions on the farm and specific ones on up to four environmental fallow fields for a farm. The specific questions covered issues on the EF parcel history, establishment, management, and likely use without the agri-environment option. The methods are described in the following publication: Herzon, I., Helenius, J., Kuussaari, M., Mäkinen, T. & Tiainen, J. 2010. Agri-environmental programme in Finland serving biodiversity: working forward. Aspects of Applied Biology 100.