The landscape of Jämtland is characterised by a mosaic of arable land, forests, and pastures. Agricultural fields are typically small yet numerous, a factor contributing to the predominance of dairy and beef production. Dairy farms are often found near the county's larger lakes, where the land is better suited to more intensive crop cultivation.
In contrast, Härjedalen’s landscape is shaped by a major river, extensive forests, and surrounding mountains. Land use here is largely restricted to producing forage crops and grazing, with small field sizes adding to the challenges of cultivation.
Municipalities
Geographical size
Human population
Number of livestock farmers
Livestock farming systems
Large carnivore species
Wolf population
SOCIOECONOMIC CONTEXT
Jämtland is renowned for its diverse landscapes. The western parts are mountainous and close to the Norwegian border, with little arable land. In contrast, the southern and southeastern areas, particularly around the main lake, are agricultural regions with extensive arable land and favourable conditions for crop and forage production. The northern and northeastern parts are dominated by forests.
The socioeconomic standard in Jämtland is relatively high. The forestry industry is a major employer and constitutes a significant part of the local economy. Tourism and recreational activities are also important, with several ski resorts and well-known hiking trails located in the western parts of Jämtland and Härjedalen.
Jämtland-Härjedalen is classified as a Northern Sparsely Populated Area (NSPA) by the European Union. This classification entails several challenges, including long distances between settlements and from markets, limited access to services, harsh climates, and a low population density. These factors impact local farming and food production, which must cope with long transport distances and a lack of agricultural infrastructure, such as dairies, abattoirs, and veterinarians.
FARMING CONTEXT
Agricultural practices in the region vary. Most dairy farms are located around the main lake, with an average herd size of 60 to 130 cows and typically one or two milking robots. In the outer regions, beef production is more common, primarily through extensive systems, such as cow-calf operations, although some intensive beef production also occurs. Access to land is a key factor for all farmers. In areas with abundant lowland pastures, mountains, and forests, extensive beef production is particularly well-suited.
Main Challenges:
A common challenge across all production systems is the ageing farmer population, particularly among full-time and large-scale farms. Most farms are family-run and often too small to employ external staff. This results in a reliance on family members and cooperation with neighbouring farms—a system that can be fragile. Long distances and limited infrastructure (dairies, abattoirs) are persistent issues, though the specific impact varies. While some farms benefit from good land consolidation, they still face long transport distances for dairy trucks, feed deliveries, and veterinary services. Notably, there is only one abattoir in the county, requiring animals to be transported long distances.
LOCAL CONFLICT ASSOCIATED WITH LARGE CARNIVORES
Number of attacks: 1
Large carnivore predation is minimal in the area, with most farmers not perceiving it as a significant problem. Farmers tend to have neutral or even positive attitudes towards large carnivores, primarily due to the absence of wolves in the area. If wolves were present, these attitudes would likely be more negative.
In the past, some farmers suspected that they had lost livestock to bears or lynx, but these incidents were not always confirmed due to a lack of evidence and were not pursued with local wildlife authorities. Bears appear to be the only large carnivore causing occasional problems for farmers. However these incidents are rare and are often attributed to abnormal bear behaviour (e.g. old or sick animals) or to livestock straying. There has been only one confirmed bear attack in recent years, involving a calf that became separated from the herd in forest pastures.
In the municipality of Östersund, moose and roe deer cause significant problems by consuming and contaminating stored forage and damaging fences, particularly in winter. The severity varies locally.
Wolves are largely absent from the area due to reindeer grazing areas, which cover almost the entire region. These designated grazing areas belong to Sámi villages (samebyar) who are authorised to eliminate problematic carnivores, including wolverines, bears and, occasionally, wolves.
Social conflict:
The presence of reindeer grazing areas is not universally viewed positively. Farmers have reported that reindeer can damage crops by trampling fields and breaking fences during their seasonal migrations. They also consume and contaminate forage in the fields and pastures.
The discussion surrounding reindeer, Sámi villages, and grazing rights is sensitive, with some farmers expressing concerns about voicing their opinions, fearing that they will be perceived as anti-Sámi. Experiences vary depending on the specific Sámi village; some farmers report good communication with reindeer owners, while others feel unheard and concerned.
Farmers in Härjedalen feel excluded from discussions about wildlife and large carnivore management, which are typically held between Sámi villages, forestry companies and local wildlife authorities. Several farmers have voiced their desire to be included in these discussions, in order to present their perspectives, given the significant impact that these issues have on their operations.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.