Alpine grazing in danger: farmers are fighting new challenges!

Alpine grazing in danger: farmers are fighting new challenges!

The 2025 alpine season is just around the corner and brings with it both anticipation and challenges. Josef Höller, the chairman of the Pongau Farmers' Chamber, provides insights into the tasks and difficulties that the alpine farmers face in a recent interview. A central theme is the new predators that threaten the traditional image of mountain pastures filled with cows.

“The biggest burden on agriculture on the Alpine pastures is legal uncertainty,” says Höller. These uncertainties not only affect the alpine farmers themselves, but also affect local agriculture, which increasingly has to deal with new challenges. In addition, weather extremes and rising costs cause additional burdens.

Historical background of alpine farming

Alpine farming has a long tradition that dates back to the 5th millennium BC. BC. The original use of the pasture areas in the Alps changed over the centuries. During the Bronze and Iron Ages, these areas were used for livestock farming and for clearing for salt and ore extraction. The heyday of alpine farming was between the 14th and 16th centuries, when cows were driven to the alpine pastures and dairy products, especially cheese, were produced.

In the 19th century, the expansion of the iron industry posed a major challenge for pasture farming. However, from the end of the 19th century, laws were passed to promote alpine farming. After a low point in the 1960s and 1970s due to the structural change after the Second World War, alpine farming experienced a resurgence from the 1980s onwards due to subsidies and new interest from farmers.

Meaning and perspectives

Alpine farming not only has economic advantages, but also plays a crucial role for tourism. It offers farmers additional sources of income and ensures the promotion of biodiversity in the alpine pastures. These areas are a habitat for numerous plant and insect species and contribute to CO2 storage. They are also essential for the protective functions of the landscape as they reduce the risk of avalanches, mudslides and floods.

Alpine farming is more than just an industry; it is deeply rooted in the socio-cultural heritage of the region. Traditions and customs are closely linked to alpine activity, which contributes to the identity of the people in the Alps. Before staying on the alpine pasture, potential alpine farmers should consider time, financial and physical aspects. For those interested, there are numerous literature and information sources that can help you prepare for alpine work.

The challenges arising from new influences ask farmers how they can maintain their traditions and livelihoods in the face of constant change. It is up to the community to find ways to make the alpine pastures future-proof and to preserve the valuable contribution of the alpine economy.

Alpine farming therefore remains a central part of the agricultural structure in the Alps and shows how important it is to combine tradition and adaptation to current circumstances. The region has a responsibility to preserve and promote both ecological and cultural values.

For further information about the challenges and history of alpine farming, it is worth taking a look at the reporting from sn.at as well as the comprehensive analyzes of perspektive-landwirtschaft.at.