Shinobu Oono is a 40-year-old farming 30ha of mixed crops with his father and mother at Obihiro on the northern island of Hokkaido. His farm is typical of the region in terms of the size and the diversity of the crops.

It produces 9ha of wheat, 4ha of potatoes, 3ha of Chinese Yam, 7ha of green onions, 5.3ha of maize corn and 2.5ha of beans. These are labour intensive crops and labour availability is a big issue on these Japanese farms as very few young people want to do farm work.

Crop yields are measured in term of tonnes per 0.1 hectares so conversions are needed as you visit the farm.

Shinobu said that potato yields for starch production ranged from 40 to 50 tonnes per hectare with prices in the region of 30 Yen/kg (€0.22/kg) giving an output figure of about €8,000 per hectare.

The Chinese yam is the most profitable farm crop, according to Shinobu. It requires a lot of labour and mechanisation. The soil is deep tilled followed by planting in May; the crop then needs to be supported with an extensive netting support system. It is harvested by hand in November. Yam is difficult to grow – every job with the crop is tough and women in the fields seemed to be doing most of it.

Shinobu said the aim of the farm is get a return of 20,000 Yen (€2,700) per ha growing sugar beet, soya beans, barley and potatoes for starch production.

The farm is heavily mechanised with nine Kubota tractors and a range of tilling and harvesting machines for the crops.