Finnish farmer faces hundreds of thousands in goose damage as bird culling proposal sparks debate

A farmer in Orimattila, southern Finland, reports hundreds of thousands of euros in crop losses due to barnacle geese, as the government prepares a controversial bill to allow protective hunting of the species, Yle reports.

John Jordas, who manages the AgriSimola farm in Artjärvi, says geese have destroyed crops for over a decade, with state compensation covering only about half the actual damages. “They have to be reduced by any means necessary—this situation can’t continue,” Jordas told Yle. Current non-lethal deterrence methods, such as noise devices, have proven insufficient, and permits for culling are rarely granted.

The proposed law, drafted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, would permit protective hunting of barnacle geese and great cormorants, species whose populations have surged in recent years. In 2023, barnacle geese alone caused an estimated €3.7 million in crop damage nationwide, with an additional €3.3 million spent on prevention and compensation. The ministry aims to submit the bill to Parliament during the current spring session.

Conservation groups warn of broader ecological harm

BirdLife Finland, a nature conservation organisation, strongly opposes the proposal, arguing it would undermine the existing permit system and accelerate biodiversity loss. “This is an irresponsible move,” said Aki Arkiomaa, the group’s executive director. “Spring and summer culling would disrupt nesting for other bird species, leading to abandoned nests and declining populations.”

Arkiomaa called for faster processing of individual culling permits rather than blanket hunting rights. BirdLife also warned the law could later extend to other species, further threatening Finland’s already strained ecosystems.

The Central Union of Agricultural Producers (MTK) supports the reform, stating that current compensation fails to cover farmers’ losses. Many have abandoned autumn crops or leased extra land to offset feed shortages caused by geese. “Every form of deterrence currently requires a permit, and lethal permits are nearly impossible to obtain,” said MTK field director Timo Leskinen.

Migratory shifts drive conflict

Barnacle goose migration routes have shifted westward over the past 20 years, with 1.6–1.7 million now passing through Finland annually—up from earlier paths over Russia’s Karelia. Great cormorant numbers have also risen, with over 120,000 in Finnish waters and roughly two million across Europe.

While the Ministry of the Environment confirmed that compensation for goose damage would continue even if the species were classified as game, BirdLife insists non-lethal solutions and stricter permit enforcement are preferable. “The government is escalating this into a war,” Arkiomaa said. “The conflict will only intensify.”