Martin Brückler, Andreas Reindl
Organic farming has been an important part of agricultural production in Austria for many years. Already about 20% of the agricultural land is farmed organically. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (BMFLUW) is making efforts to promote and further develop organic farming by focusing on specific measures. Information on the yields per hectare of the various crops as well as total quantities, local differences, potential demand and actual differences in yields compared to conventional production are fundamental to this.
The aim of the project was to present the Austria-wide volume yields from organic farming. Based on existing data, specific evaluations were to be made by region (dryland, occasionally dryland and wetland), as well as main agricultural production areas. Existing data sets should be aggregated to give an overview of the quantities produced in organic agriculture and thus improve the availability of statistical information in organic production.
In 2017, a survey was conducted on alfalfa, clover and clover-grass share in the crop rotation of organic arable farming. For this purpose, only organic farmers with arable land without livestock were surveyed (71 questionnaires answered). The results of this survey can be found in the Green Report. The time series on volume yield data for conventional and organic arable land (based on farms keeping voluntary accounts 2003-2016) were extended to include the year 2016. In order to make detailed results available to the public, work was carried out within the framework of a scientific publication and this was submitted (currently in the review process).
Previous calculations of average volume yields and relative differences in volume yields per hectare and region should be continued. This is done for the entire federal territory, main production areas as well as dry, occasionally dry and wet areas. In addition, knowledge gained in 2017 was processed in the form of two contributions.
- Proportions of lucerne, clover and clover-grass in the crop rotation of organic arable farming and its effects on crop rotation contributions.
- Analysis of the temporal developments of organic and conventional yields. Betrach-tungszeitraum 2003-2016.
Project start: January 2016
End of project: December 2018
