About three fourths of the land can be cultivated. Much of it is difficult to work. The soil is kept fertile by the use of fertilizers. The combination of mild climate, usable soil, skillful scientific farming, and government aid has made Denmark one of Europe's richest farming countries. Most farmers are small landowners.
Laws forbid the merging of small farms into larger units.
Denmark has the most successful system of rural cooperatives in the world. They include nearly nine tenths of the farmers in the country. The cooperative societies pool capital and buy farm machinery. They handle the marketing of milk, butter, cheese, eggs, and bacon. They also help to keep members informed about the best agricultural methods.