Conventional feed barley and oats have been grown in Hedetniemi farm for a long time. In recent years their profitability has been weakened especially because of low grain price and increased production costs. Limited growing of spring cereals also weakens soil growth conditions as well as contains risks concerning weather, crop, quality and price. The objective of this thesis was to diversify crop assortment in author’s parents’ farm situated in Haapajärvi and in that way to meet the challenges mentioned above. The purpose of the thesis was to find at least one new cultivated plant theoretically suitable to the farm. Practical experiments could not be carried out due to timetable and season.

In this thesis case study was used as the research strategy. The empirical data was acquired from the farm and the theoretical framework from digital sources. The data was processed with qualitative and quantitative methods. New cultivated plants chosen for inspection had to be suitable for the existing machinery, equipment and facilities of the farm. Pea, caraway, winter rye, winter turnip rape and hemp oil plant were chosen because they fulfilled this condition and interested the farm and the author most. The characteristics of the plants were searched from the references first whereafter the suitability of the plants for crop rotation and their value as preceding crop in rotation were investigated. The demand of the crop was inquired from the buyers then and the growing times of the plants were examined. The suitability of the plants to the soil types of the fields was investigated next and eventually the profitability of new cultivated plants was compared.

According to the results, winter turnip rape would suit best for the farm because it was the most profitable and the most credible new cultivated plant. Winter turnip rape would fulfil all the set requirements for a new cultivated plant. The soil types of the farm excluded pea, caraway and winter rye and the growing time excluded hemp oil plant. The results of the thesis are indicative and the real suitability of winter turnip rape to the farm would not be found until in practice. In future, it would be interesting to study and possibly also to try out other new plants, too. Buckwheat, for example, could be one alternative. It was left away out from this thesis because of its assumed sensitivity to ground frost and need for pollinators.