The significance of mountain agriculture
In this regard agriculture plays a pivotal role in mountainous areas. In Austria with 49% of all
agricultural and forestry holdings situated in the mountain areas it is also of great national concern.
These farms manage 49% of the agricultural area and 75% of the woodland. The major significance
of animal husbandry is expressed in the high proportion of managed grassland (area ratio 78%).
These holdings keep 63% of the dairy cows, 61% of all cattle, 60% of all horses and 79% of sheep
(Dax 1998c). Owing to the unsuitable production conditions, the widespread market production and
the general mechanisation and specialisation tendency, arable farming is of only secondary
importance, with a 20% share of the total arable land. The main function of arable land for the
mountain farms is for feed cropping.
As can be seen from these figures, a production distribution with strong regional characteristics has
emerged in connection with the different local conditions in Austria. The emphasis of agricultural
production in the alpine region is now on grassland farming (cattle raising, milk production). Austrian
agricultural holdings are overwhelmingly family owned and operated by family labour input. Historical
development and the natural farming difficulties mean that mountain farming in Austria is
characterised by a small-farming structure: the average farm size of farms in mountain areas is only
11.1 ha utilised agricultural area and 10.9 ha woodland. Only 31% of these farms are still operated
on a full-time basis.
Farms in the alpine area are of considerable importance for forest protection. Around two thirds of
the forest area is in the alpine area. Forestry in Austria, not least because of its special ecological
significance, is subject to strict control by the authorities, with its own forestry law which regulates
forest management on the basis of legally binding plans. The forestry authorities are also responsible
for the planning of hazard zones, which determine the technical measures for avalanche- and torrent-
regulation.
The alpine pasture areas account for some 20% of the Austrian land registry area. Thus alpine
pasture grazing represents an important area for a large section of the Austrian mountain farmers and
ecological situation of mountains The management of these extremely sensitive eco-systems through