Suitia - a research farm of the University of Helsinki
At Suitia farm there are 270 ha of arable land, 480 ha of forest and 2 ha of garden. In addition the farm leases 30-40 ha of arable land. Total area of Suitia farm is 855 ha. The cattle on the farm, 80
milking cows, are of Holstein-Frisian breed.
We have 19 persons employed at Suitia (3 research-workers, 6 persons in the cowshed, 4 tractor drivers, 1 maintaining the forests, 2 the machinery, 1 the buildings and 2 in management). Yearly, there are 10-12 trainees from the University or other agricultural institutes working at Suitia.
History
The estate of Suitia was founded in 1420. It has been owned by several families of noble birth. Suitia manor house was built during 1540-45. The most famous owner was the Fleming family in the 15th and 17th centuries during 250 years. General Karl Henrik Wrangel owned Suitia farm 1730-1755 and noble family Reuterholm from 1755-1818. In the 18th and 19th centuries the estate was owned by many different families, many of them were officers. The last private owner was baron August Wrede. He bought the estate in 1898, but went bankrupt in 1934. Since 1934 the estate has belonged to the State of Finland. From 1975 it has been administrated by the University of Helsinki. Suitia manor house has been restorated 1997-1999. (More about the history of Suitia)
The most interesting room of the Suitia manor house is the knight's room. It has wooden panels made of oak by the carpenter Karl Österblom. To do these panels took 6 years. Here you can see several coat of arms which are linked to the former owners. A painting made by artist Axel von Haartman 1906 shows the battle of Kirkholm in Poland in september 1605. On the painting the next Swedish king Karl IX (coronation 1607) has lost his horse and is in danger. A cavalry captain by the name of Henrik Wrede saved the life of the Swedish king by giving him his own horse. Captain Henrik Wrede from Lithuaniawas killed, but his two sons were raised to nobility some years later. Wredes widow Certruth von Ungern moved to Finland 1607.
The activities at the Suitia today
The research activities at Suitia is connected to that of the University and is closely linked to teaching. The main emphasis of the agricultural research is given to the production of feed, milk and beef. Furthermore, emphasis is given to technological and economic questions. The forests at the farm are mainly used for observations and demonstrations. Students can get the experience needed at Suitia and farmers can get acquianted with the methods used at the farm.
The further Education Centre in Länsi-Uusimaa
Centre for continuing education in Western-Uusimaa is also situated at Suitia. The Education centre is administrated by the University of Helsinki. Further education and open university courses are arranged on the Suitia farm.
The Suitia Research Unit for Animal Production Environments
In 1997 the University of Helsinki has set up at Suitia a research unit for full scale testing of various animal production environments, production buildings and non-insulated loose housing systems.
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