Austria’s agricultural leaders from the VP Farmers’ Association invited people to the traditional “agricultural policy autumn kick-off” on Friday – this time at the “AgroTier” trade fair in Wels. In view of the National Council elections on September 29, Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig, President of the Chamber of Agriculture Josef Moosbrugger and Farmers’ Association head Georg Strasser were in election campaign mode.
Strasser said that a lot had been achieved with the Greens, but that a “bitter aftertaste” remained in view of the dispute over the EU renaturation law and the “prevented” agreement on fully slatted floors in pig barns. The FPÖ likes to present itself as a farmers’ party, “but regularly changes its mind in crucial votes,” said Strasser: “For this reason, we still have no legal means of preventing barn break-ins, and the compensation of Russian natural gas with domestic biogas was also blocked by the Freedom Party.”
Totschnig: “When it comes to renaturation, we will no longer accept being pushed over the edge and will take matters into our own hands. Only those affected can bring the economy and nature conservation together.” Competitive, sustainable agriculture is needed – this requires an inflation adjustment of EU funding, a reduction in bureaucracy, a focus on security of supply, more digital competence in agriculture and a financial effort when it comes to adapting to climate change.
“We have too many rules and don’t need any more,” said Moosbrugger, calling for an end to “hostility to production and antisocial pseudo-ecology.” There is no need to prescribe anything to agriculture in Austria when it comes to sustainability; the country has come a long way itself. Incentives are important. “We strongly criticize the fact that the Greens want to sacrifice our centuries-old alpine farming and biodiversity, which is also indispensable for tourism, to a predator that is no longer endangered, the NGO mascot wolf,” said Moosbrugger. The SPÖ has disqualified itself by circumventing the rules on fully slatted floors, and the Neos by making “repulsive jokes” about farmers in parliament.
When asked about the mood in agriculture, Strasser said that he was confident that “the agricultural schools are very well attended.” This shows that families believe in work for young people in rural areas. Totschnig referred to his own survey, according to which 85 percent of companies see the current situation as neutral to very positive. As far as the future is concerned, the figure is 70 percent.
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Austria’s Agricultural Leaders Unite Ahead of National Council Elections
Austria’s agricultural leaders, including the VP Farmers’ Association, gathered for the traditional “agricultural policy autumn kick-off” at the “AgroTier” trade fair in Wels, in anticipation of the upcoming National Council elections on September 29. The event took place amidst a backdrop of political tensions, as agricultural leaders sought to highlight key issues affecting the sector.
Election Campaign Mode
Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig, President of the Chamber of Agriculture Josef Moosbrugger, and Farmers’ Association head Georg Strasser were in election campaign mode, highlighting their respective parties’ policies on agriculture. Strasser praised the achievements made with the Greens, but expressed disappointment over the dispute on the EU renaturation law and the lack of agreement on fully slatted floors in pig barns. He criticized the Freedom Party (FPÖ) for regularly changing its stance on crucial votes, resulting in no legal means to prevent barn break-ins and the blockage of compensation for Russian natural gas with domestic biogas.
Competitive and Sustainable Agriculture
Totschnig emphasized the need for competitive, sustainable agriculture, which requires an inflation adjustment of EU funding, a reduction in bureaucracy, a focus on security of supply, more digital competence in agriculture, and a financial effort to adapt to climate change. Moosbrugger called for an end to “hostility to production and antisocial pseudo-ecology,” arguing that Austria has made significant progress in sustainability and no longer needs additional regulations.
Criticizing Other Parties
Moosbrugger strongly criticized the Greens for wanting to sacrifice Austria’s centuries-old alpine farming and biodiversity, which is essential for tourism, to a predator that is no longer endangered, the wolf. He also criticized the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) for circumventing rules on fully slatted floors and the Neos for making “repulsive jokes” about farmers in parliament.
Optimism in Agriculture
Strasser expressed confidence in the future of agriculture, citing high attendance rates at agricultural schools, indicating that families believe in work for young people in rural areas. Totschnig referenced his own survey, which showed that 85% of companies see the current situation as neutral to very positive, with 70% optimistic about the future.
Upcoming Elections
Austria’s National Council elections will take place on September 29, 2019, as reported by POLITICO [[1]]. Meanwhile, the European elections in Austria are scheduled for June 9, 2024, with eligible voters required to be 16 years or older on election day [[3]]. The official results of the European elections will be available on the European Parliament’s website [[2]].
Austria’s agricultural leaders are gearing up for the upcoming National Council elections, highlighting key issues affecting the sector, such as sustainable agriculture, bureaucratic red tape, and the importance of incentives. As Austria heads to the polls, it remains to be seen what impact these discussions will have on the country’s agricultural policy landscape.
Agriculture slovenia
Austria’s Agricultural Sector: A Leader in Sustainability and Innovation
Austria’s agricultural sector is known for its commitment to sustainability and innovation. With two-thirds of its 165,000 farms located in the alpine mountains, the country has developed a strong focus on rearing cattle and sheep, as well as producing high-quality dairy products[[1]. In fact, Austria has the highest proportion of organic farms in Europe, with 26.1% of its agricultural land certified as organic[[2].
Austria’s agricultural leaders have been vocal about the importance of sustainable agriculture and the need for competitive and innovative farming practices. At the recent “agricultural policy autumn kick-off” event, Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig, President of the Chamber of Agriculture Josef Moosbrugger, and Farmers’ Association head Georg Strasser emphasized the need for EU funding adjustments, reduced bureaucracy, and a focus on security of supply, digital competence, and climate change adaptation.
The country’s strong commitment to organic farming is reflected in its 300 organic farms, which are part of the WWOOF Austria network[[3]. These farms not only contribute to the country’s sustainable agriculture practices but also provide opportunities for young people to engage in rural work and development.
Despite the challenges faced by the sector, Austria’s agricultural leaders remain optimistic about the future. According to a survey by Agriculture Minister Totschnig, 85% of companies see the current situation as neutral to very positive, and 70% are confident about the future. The strong attendance at agricultural schools is also a promising sign for the sector’s future.
However, the sector also faces challenges, including the dispute over the EU renaturation law and the lack of agreement on fully slatted floors in pig barns. The FPÖ’s inconsistent stance on these issues has been criticized, and the Greens’ proposal to prioritize the protection of the wolf population over centuries-old alpine farming practices has been met with resistance.
Austria’s agricultural sector is a leader in sustainability and innovation, with a strong focus on organic farming, competitive practices, and rural development. While challenges persist, the sector’s optimism and commitment to progress bode well for its future success.
