Fur research farm in Siikasalmi will be closed thanks to lack of money

As the Finnish Fur Animal Breeders' Federation (FFABF) decided not to take charge of the fur research farm of Siikasalmi, fur animal, game bird and coarsefish research will be suspended.

This decision was made after FFABF failed to find any partners during the spring 1999. The most important reason, however, was money. The university of Joensuu , which owns the research farm and which has spent approximately between $36,300 and $54,500 on it annually, withdrew from the project. Moreover, the decision was influenced by the current depression in the fur trade.

On this farm, there are about 2,000 furred animals which will be killed by the next December. FFABF regards Siikasalmi as important as far as the development of fur industry is concerned. Besides fur animal research, research on environment, bioenergy and organic cultivation is done there, too.