Neova maps out possibilities to increase the production of bedding peat

Neova Oy’s peat production area is approximately 20,000 hectares. In recent years, about half of the surface area has been harvested for energy peat, and the other half mainly for growth and dry matter peat, as well as peat as a raw material for activated carbon.

In recent years, there has been a regional scarcity of the availability of litter peat in Finland. This summer, Neova produced almost the same amount of dehydrated peat as the previous few summers. The targets were higher, but the weather conditions did not favour production. “The demand for bedding peat is not decreasing but, on the contrary, it is growing all the time,” says Ari Huunonen, who is responsible for the sale of bedding peat at Neova Oy.

“Our goal is to improve the availability of dehydrated peat over the next few years. As the availability of new peat production areas has been very limited, we have launched a mapping project during which we will find out to what extent we are able to utilise areas that have left energy peat production, where there is suitable peat for litter, either as such or mixed with lighter peat grades,” says Pasi Rantonen, Director of Peat Production at Neova.

“According to Neova’s production plans, peat production was at its lowest this year, but we will increase production in the next few years. Increasing production of bedding peat is directed to the Finnish market, and growing peat is increasingly produced for export,” Rantonen says.

“Peat production for the current season in Finland proceeded almost as planned, however, there is a lot of variation regionally. We are able to deliver all our energy customers the quantities of energy security grades they pre-order. Bedrock peat will be available from Neova in the coming winter all over Finland, however, there are regional variations and transport distances in some areas will increase. I believe that our measures to ensure the availability of litter peat are good news for many livestock and poultry farms, which are completely dependent on the secure availability of litter,” says Rantonen.

For more information:

• Pasi Rantonen, Director, Peat and Renewable Materials at Neova, tel. +358 40 544 8328
• Ari Huunonen, Director, Sales & Customer Service at Neova, tel. +358 400 200 351