Potatoes are one of the most important staple foods in Austria. Austrians eat around 49 kilograms of potatoes per person per year, according to AMA Marketing. Potatoes are particularly popular as a side dish, for example as potato salad or fried potatoes. Potatoes are grown across Austria on an agricultural area of 18,687 hectares. 80 percent of this, or exactly 14,906 hectares of potato cultivation area, is in Lower Austria. The other two main growing areas are Burgenland and Upper Austria, according to AMA Marketing. Early potatoes, table potatoes, industrial potatoes and starch industrial potatoes are grown throughout Austria. Almost 60 percent of Austrian potatoes are included and certified as part of the AMA quality seal program.
“We potato farmers cannot make a living from that.”
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LKNÖ Vice President Lorenz Mayr knows that many farmers will end up with a financial loss from this year’s potato harvest.
Photo: NÖN archive
This season, potato farmers in Lower Austria faced a number of challenges. Drought and heat, as well as the increase in wireworms, are making potato cultivation and production more difficult. This is also confirmed by the Lower Austrian Chamber of Agriculture (LKNÖ). This year’s potato harvest has already shown that wireworms have destroyed a large proportion of the yield. The pest has drilled into an enormous number of tubers. Individual fields or individual batches are so riddled with holes that they can no longer be used for food and must therefore be processed into starch potatoes or used in biogas plants.
“We potato farmers cannot live off of this. With such a level of damage, the transport costs to the starch factory or biogas plant are barely covered, if at all. The seeds, the cultivation throughout the year and the harvest are not covered by this. In addition, there is a considerable additional personnel and financial outlay for sorting out the damaged potatoes. In the end, this can only result in a loss,” explains Lorenz Mayr, Vice President of the LKNÖ.
The wireworm poses major challenges for Lower Austrian farmers who grow potatoes.
Photo: LKNÖ
The reason for the above-average wireworm infestation was the persistent drought in recent weeks and months. If there is a lack of moisture in the soil, the wireworm looks for it in the tubers, reports the LKNÖ. According to the report, climate change, which is reflected in long dry periods and heat waves, is having a negative impact on the yields of Lower Austria’s potato farmers. Mayr would like to see an appropriate irrigation infrastructure in Lower Austria, particularly in the east of the country, such as the Weinviertel. “Because in regions where there are no irrigation options, more and more potato farms are having to give up production,” he stresses.
In addition, Lower Austrian farmers lack the pesticides that make wireworm control possible. “With potatoes, we see what it means when there are more and more restrictions on production resources. In a year like this year, we are unable to bring the potatoes to harvest without damage,” says Mayr. The LKNÖ vice president is calling for solidarity from domestic retailers. Retailers should refrain from importing potatoes in order to support family farms in the country. Imported products still use active ingredients that are not approved for production in Austria, explains Mayr.
– What are the main challenges faced by potato farmers in Austria?
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The Importance of Potatoes in Austria: Challenges and Opportunities
Potatoes are one of the most staple foods in Austria, with Austrians consuming approximately 49 kilograms of potatoes per person per year, according to AMA Marketing. As a popular side dish, potatoes are a staple in many Austrian households, often served as potato salad or fried potatoes. But did you know that potatoes are grown across Austria on an agricultural area of 18,687 hectares, with 80 percent of this area, or 14,906 hectares, located in Lower Austria?
Potato Cultivation in Austria
Austria produces a variety of potatoes, including early potatoes, table potatoes, industrial potatoes, and starch industrial potatoes. In fact, almost 60 percent of Austrian potatoes are included and certified as part of the AMA quality seal program. The two main growing areas are Burgenland and Upper Austria, in addition to Lower Austria.
Challenges Faced by Potato Farmers
However, potato farmers in Lower Austria are facing a number of challenges this season. Drought and heat, as well as the increase in wireworms, are making potato cultivation and production more difficult. According to the Lower Austrian Chamber of Agriculture (LKNÖ), this year’s potato harvest has already shown that wireworms have destroyed a large proportion of the yield.
The Impact of Wireworms on Potato Yields
Wireworms have drilled into an enormous number of tubers, making them unusable for food and forcing farmers to process them into starch potatoes or use them in biogas plants. This has resulted in significant financial losses for farmers. “We potato farmers cannot live off of this. With such a level of damage, the transport costs to the starch factory or biogas plant are barely covered, if at all. The seeds, the cultivation throughout the year and the harvest are not covered by this. In addition, there is a considerable additional personnel and financial outlay for sorting out the damaged potatoes. this can only result in a loss,” explains Lorenz Mayr, Vice President of the LKNÖ.
Climate Change and Irrigation Infrastructure
The reason for the above-average wireworm infestation was the persistent drought in recent weeks and months. If there is a lack of moisture in the soil, the wireworm looks for it in the tubers, reports the LKNÖ. Climate change, which is reflected in long dry periods and heat waves, is having a negative impact on the yields of Lower Austria’s potato farmers. Mayr would like to see an appropriate irrigation infrastructure in Lower Austria, particularly in the east of the country, such as the Weinviertel.
Conclusion
potatoes are an essential crop in Austria, with a significant portion of the country’s agricultural land dedicated to potato cultivation. While potato farmers in Lower Austria face challenges such as wireworms and drought, there are measures that can be taken to mitigate these effects, such as investing in irrigation infrastructure. By supporting Austria’s potato farmers, we can ensure a steady supply of high-quality potatoes for years to come.
Keywords: potatoes, Austria, AMA Marketing, Lower Austria, Burgenland, Upper Austria, potato cultivation, potato farmers, wireworm
What are the key challenges faced by potato farmers in Austria, particularly in Lower Austria?
The Importance of Potatoes in Austria: Challenges and Opportunities
Potatoes are a staple food in Austria, with each person consuming an average of 49 kilograms per year. According to AMA Marketing, potatoes are grown on an agricultural area of 18,687 hectares across Austria, with 80% of this area located in Lower Austria. The crop is particularly popular as a side dish, such as potato salad or fried potatoes. However, despite its importance, potato farming in Austria faces significant challenges that threaten the livelihoods of farmers.
“We potato farmers cannot make a living from that.”
This season, potato farmers in Lower Austria have faced numerous challenges, including drought, heat, and an increase in wireworms. The pest has destroyed a large proportion of the yield, drilling into an enormous number of tubers and making them unusable for food. This has resulted in significant financial losses for farmers, who cannot recover their costs due to the low price of starch potatoes and the high costs of transportation and sorting.
“We potato farmers cannot live off of this,” explains Lorenz Mayr, Vice President of the Lower Austrian Chamber of Agriculture (LKNÖ). “With such a level of damage, the transport costs to the starch factory or biogas plant are barely covered, if at all. The seeds, the cultivation throughout the year and the harvest are not covered by this. In addition, there is a considerable additional personnel and financial outlay for sorting out the damaged potatoes. this can only result in a loss.”
Main Challenges Faced by Potato Farmers in Austria
The wireworm infestation is a major challenge facing potato farmers
