Agriculture in Hokkaido

Hokkaido University
Sapporo, Japan

Agriculture in Hokkaido (Second edition 2009, v2)
Printed byLaboratory of Crops Science, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido
University
N9 W9 Kita-Ku, Sapporo 060-8589, JapanNOTICE
No part of this work may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by anymeans, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilm, andrecording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the contributors.

CONTENTS
EDITORS and CONTRIBUTORSvPREFACEvi

Chapter 1
Characteristics of Ecological System
1. What is Hokkaido Island?
2. Vegetation
3. Biodiversity Features
4. Importance of Conservation

Masashi Ohara
1-1
1-3
1-9
1-13

Chapter 2
Cultivation of Field Crops
1. History
2. Present status

Kazuto Iwama
2-1
2-7

Chapter 3
Cultivation of Horticulture Crops
1. Fruit tree
2. Vegetables
3. Flower

Hajime Araki
3-1
3-5
3-11

Chapter 4
Forage Crops
1. History of Hokkaido’s grasslands
2. Forage Crops
3. Breeding Program
4. Utilization of Forage Crops
5. Status and Future Prospects

Toshihiko Yamada
4-1
4-3
4-13
4-17
4-19Chapter 5
Livestock Production
1. Dairy
2. Beef cattle
3. Pigs
4. Chickens
5. Sheep
6. Horses

Hiroki Nakatsuji
5-1
5-5
5-7
5-7
5-95-9iii

Chapter 6
Agricultural Machinery Technology
Takashi Kataoka
1. Beginning of Mechanization in Agriculture in Hokkaido
6-1
2. Tractor
6-7
3. Agricultural Machinery for Different Operations
6-9
Chapter 7
Agricultural Economy
Yasutaka Yamamoto
1. Food Self-Sufficiency Ratio and Producer Support in Japan 7-1
2. Hokkaido’s Agriculture in Japan
7-3
3. Farms in Hokkaido
7-5
4. Multifunctionality of Agriculture7-9iv

EDITORS and CONTRIBUTORS
Editor and Chapter 2

Kazuto Iwama

Professor, Laboratory of Crop Science, Research Faculty of Agriculture,
Hokkaido University
Chapter 1

Email:iwama@res.agr.hokudai.ac.jp

Masashi Ohara

Professor, Course in Ecological Conservation, Faculty of Environmental EarthScience, Hokkaido University
Chapter 3

Email:ohara@ees.hokudai.ac.jp

Hajime Araki

Professor, Section of Bioresource Development, Field Science Center for
Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University
Chapter 4

Email:araki@fsc.hokudai.ac.jp

Toshihiko Yamada

Professor, Laboratory of Bioresource Exploitation and Utilization Research,
Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University
Email:yamada@fsc.hokudai.ac.jp
Chapter 5

Hiroki Nakatsuji

Associate Professor, Laboratory of Animal Production system, Research Facultyof Agriculture, Hokkaido University
Chapter 6

Email:nakahiro@anim.agr.hokudai.ac.jp

Takashi Kataoka

Associate Professor, Laboratory of Crop Production Engineering, Research
Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University
Email:tkataoka@bpe.agr.hokudai.ac.jp
Chapter 7

Yasutaka Yamamoto

Associate Professor, Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental, Research
Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University
Email:yamay@agecon.agr.hokudai.ac.jp
Associate Editor

Hiroshi Uchino

Post-doctoral Researcher, Laboratory of Crop Science, Research Faculty ofAgriculture, Hokkaido University
Technical Editor (English editing)Jai Gopal

Former Invited Professor, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido Universityv

PREFACEAgriculture in Hokkaido dawned in 1868; the time when the Meiji
Government was established. Warriors who were deprived of their positions by
the new government after the Meiji Revolution, and farmers who could afford
only small area in the main islands of Japan, immigrated to Hokkaido. They
cleared the land and planted crops facing sever winters of Hokkaido. Presently,
Hokkaido leads agriculture in Japan, proudly tops the production of rice, wheat,potato, beans, sugar beet, vegetables, and especially dairy products.
The people of Hokkaido, however, shall never forget that it is the hard workof their predecessors for more than hundred years that has earned the present
position for Hokkaido. At the same time, misunderstanding between immigrants
and native Ainu people, and environmental degradation caused by reclamationof Hokkaido, should be matters of concern.
This book describes past, present and future of Hokkaido's agriculture. The
articles for this have been contributed by the professors outstanding in theirrespective fields in Hokkaido University. All chapters have been written in a
simple language and illustrated with relevant photographs. Though this bookhas been produced as a textbook for the foreign students at Hokkaido
University, it can serve a wide range of readers. It will be a great pleasure for us
if this book is read by all concerned including visitors to this lovely land ofHokkaido.
Representing the contributors, Kazuto Iwama
March 2009vi