Organic farmers will need an alpine pasture in the future
business
In the future, organic farmers must have an alpine pasture and send their animals to pasture. Anyone who has too little pasture area or runs a farm on a direct road is faced with a special situation. The new EU regulation will be gilded from January 1, 2022.
The exemptions have expired. Up to 300 organic farmers are affected in Salzburg. Many organic farmers have invested large sums in playpens and have relied on the previous rules to remain in place.
Now, however, the EU is demanding that in future all animals have permanent access to the pastures. When – that will apply from the beginning of 2022. There are almost 3,700 organic farms in Salzburg.
“Problem unsolvable for some farmers in the locality”
For 200 to 300 of them, the obligation for pasture areas for all animals will be a problem, says Salzburg Chamber of Agriculture President Rupert Quehenberger.
“For farmers in a central location, this requirement will be a big problem and for some of them probably unsolvable – especially if they have their farm in the village and the animals have to cross a federal road, for example.”
A problem especially for organic farmers in Flachgau
In the mountain regions, pasture farming is common among organic farmers. It is more difficult for some farms in Flachgau, where a road leads past the farm and therefore there is no direct access to the areas.
It is a great challenge to find solutions here so that the farmers can meet the requirements and receive their organic status, emphasized the President of the Chamber of Agriculture.