Agricultural Austria: Main Produce And Exports

Austria's agricultural sector is small but highly efficient and diversified. The country's mountainous terrain means that only about half of the land can be cultivated, with arable land found mainly in the east. Despite the challenges posed by its climate and topography, agriculture plays an important role in Austria's economy, contributing to renewable energy, landscape management, and tourism. While agricultural production accounts for less than 1.5% of Austria's GDP, the sector provides essential services that positively impact other industries.

Austria's arable land

The east of Austria provides the country's farmers with the ideal conditions for arable farming. In contrast, the west of the country is more mountainous, with two-thirds of the country's 165,000 farms located in the Austrian Alps. Mountainous regions are used for pasture, with cattle and sheep rearing common, as well as dairy production.

Austria's total land area is around 84,000 square kilometres, of which about 67,000 square kilometres is used for farming and forestry. Of this, roughly half is forest, and the remainder is arable land and pasture. The average farm size is 45 acres, and around two-thirds of farms are located in the alpine mountains.

Agriculture in Austria has seen a decline in the number of workers since World War II, with the sector now employing only a small percentage of the country's workforce. However, it continues to be an important element of the economy due to its social and political significance. The government has played a crucial role in supporting the sector, focusing on mitigating the social, regional, and economic consequences of its decline.

Austrian farmers also provide essential services that positively impact other industries, such as contributing to the country's high share of renewable energy and maintaining the cultural landscape, which is vital for tourism.

Austrian wine

Wine is one of Austria's main agricultural products, with the country being responsible for 1% of the world's wine production. Austrian wines are predominantly dry white wines, often made from the Grüner Veltliner grape, which alone accounts for almost 30% of Austrian vineyards. However, about 30% of Austrian wines are red, made from Blaufränkisch, Pinot Noir, and locally-bred varieties such as Zweigelt.

Austria has a long history of winemaking, with archaeological evidence of grape-growing in Traisental dating back 4,000 years. Viticulture thrived under the Romans once Marcus Aurelius Probus (Roman emperor 276-282) had overturned the ban on growing grapes north of the Alps. However, the invasions of Bavarians, Slavs, and Avars after the fall of the Roman Empire took their toll on the industry. It wasn't until the rule of Charlemagne in 788 that vineyards saw considerable reconstruction. Austrian viticulture was then nurtured by the Church and encouraged among the general population. The first vineyard names recorded are Kremser Sandgrube in 1208 and Steiner Pfaffenberg in 1230.

In the 16th century, the wine business boomed, but the Thirty Years' War and other conflicts in the 17th century, along with heavy taxation, disrupted the industry once more. It wasn't until the late 18th century that various drink taxes were unified as part of a drive by Maria Theresa and Joseph II to encourage viticulture. An imperial decree in 1784 gave birth to the Austrian tradition of inns called Heurigen, derived from the German word for "new wine". This decree allowed winemakers to sell home-grown food with their wine all year round.

In the 19th century, Austrian vineyards were hit by various biological invaders, including powdery mildew, downy mildew, and the phylloxera root aphid, which wiped out most of the vineyards in Central Europe. After World War I, Austria was the third-biggest wine producer in the world, but the wine was mostly exported in bulk for blending. During the 20th century, Austrian wine became a high-volume, industrialised business, with much of it being sold in bulk to Germany.

However, a scandal in 1985, known as the "antifreeze scandal", changed the course of Austrian wine production. It was revealed that some wine brokers had been adulterating their wines with diethylene glycol to make them sweeter and more bodied. This destroyed the market for Austrian wine and forced the country to tackle low standards of bulk wine production and reposition itself as a producer of quality wines. Strict new regulations were introduced, and producers moved towards more red wine and a dry style of white wine. The middlemen, who had been involved in the scandal, went out of business, forcing producers to sell directly to customers and encouraging the expression of local terroir. There was a massive change in the culture of wine production in Austria, with a new emphasis on quality.

Today, Austria is known for its exceptional wine quality, with its wine-growing landscapes boasting a variety of soils and climates. Austrian wines are renowned among fine wine lovers, with nine of the 16 Austrian wine regions classified as DAC (Districtus Austriae Controllatus), equivalent to the French AOC. The country continues to set benchmarks in environmentally conscious viticulture, with almost 12,000 hectares of certified sustainable vineyards.

Austrian farmers

Farming in Austria is largely focused on mountainous regions in the west and arable land in the east. Two-thirds of the country's 165,000 farms are located in the alpine mountains, where rearing cattle and sheep is common. These "mountain farmers" play a crucial role in maintaining and preserving the alpine pastures, which attract over 31 million tourists each year. Cattle farming in these regions also contributes to dairy and beef production.

In the eastern regions of Austria, the climate and soil conditions are ideal for growing crops such as corn, cereals (wheat, barley, and rye), sugar beets, rapeseed, and sunflower. In recent years, Austria has become the second-biggest soybean producer in the European Union. Pig and poultry production are also significant in these arable regions.

While agriculture's share of Austria's GDP is relatively small, the sector is highly diversified and efficient, with a focus on local consumption and exports to neighbouring countries. The government has played a crucial role in supporting the agricultural sector, providing subsidies and implementing policies to protect domestic production, stabilise markets, and maintain farm incomes.

Agricultural output

Agriculture in Austria is highly diversified and efficient, with a focus on local consumption. The country's agricultural output includes both crops and animal products, with the former accounting for around 50% of the agricultural output, and the latter, slightly over 40%. Milk production is the main contributor to animal output.

In terms of crops, the best cropland is in the east of the country, where the terrain is more level. Here, the climate and soil conditions are ideal for growing corn, cereals like wheat, barley, and rye, as well as sugar beets, rapeseed, and sunflowers. In recent years, Austria has become the second biggest soybean producer in the European Union.

Animal husbandry is also an important part of Austria's agricultural output, with two-thirds of the country's farms located in the alpine mountains, where rearing cattle and sheep are most popular. Austrian farmers produce dairy products and beef, while also maintaining and preserving the pastures of the Alps.

Pig and poultry production are common in the arable regions, and Austria is also a significant wine producer, with around 30% of its wine production being exported.

While agriculture only accounts for a small portion of Austria's GDP and workforce, the sector is important for the country's economy due to its social and political significance. The government has played a crucial role in supporting and protecting the agricultural sector, with policies aimed at preserving the existing number of farms and maintaining farm incomes.

Farm machinery

Agricultural machinery in Austria is a highly specialised, flexible, and innovative industry. The country is a leader in the mechanisation of agriculture, with a focus on tractors and other machines for soil cultivation and grassland management.

Tractors are a key component of agricultural machinery production in Austria, with several companies specialising in their development and manufacturing. In addition, Austrian companies produce a wide range of machines and appliances for soil cultivation, such as harrows and ploughs, and for grassland management, including mowers and gyroscopes.

Other important machinery produced in Austria includes municipal vehicles, agricultural trailers, animal housing equipment, irrigation systems, and wood chipping machines. These machines help increase efficiency and productivity in the agricultural sector.

One family-run business has played a significant role in the mechanisation of agriculture with its innovations in agricultural machine production. This company now offers a comprehensive range of products covering the entire harvesting chain, including hay harvesting machines, loading and harvesting vehicles, silage trailers, and soil cultivation appliances.

Austria's agricultural machinery industry is known for its sustainability and resourcefulness, with a strong focus on organic farming. The country has been a pioneer in organic farming since the 1970s, and today, it leads the EU in the share of organic farms, with over 20% of its utilised agricultural area dedicated to ecological farming.

The Austrian government has played a crucial role in supporting the agricultural sector, especially after World War II. Their efforts have been directed towards mitigating social, regional, economic, and environmental consequences of the sector's decline and promoting sustainable practices.

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