Farmers and alpine pastures in South Tyrol

South Tyrol is a farming country with a long history and tradition. A provincial ordinance already regulated the free ownership of farmers in South Tyrol at the beginning of the 16th century, while throughout Europe, some farmers had to hand over their produce to the landlords until the 19th century. In 1848, the manorial system was finally abolished by imperial patent.

Today, there are approx. 20,000 agricultural businesses in South Tyrol. The majority of these are closed farms, of which approx. 80% are small to medium-sized family farms. The special thing about closed farms is that they can only be inherited or sold as a whole. They are designed to feed a family of four. South Tyrolean farmers are traditionally organized in cooperatives, whose establishment dates back to the second half of the 19th century. The entire agricultural area in South Tyrol covers approx. 250,000 hectares and is spread throughout the country, from the valley to the high altitudes at the tree line.

Mountain Farmers and Valley Farmers

Today, more than 10,000 people still live on mountain farms in South Tyrol, where livestock farming and arable farming are practised on extremely steep slopes. The work processes in these areas are much more complex, as machines often cannot be used on the steep slopes. Nevertheless, farmers only leave their farms in the rarest of cases. The reasons for this are not only the European subsidies for the protection of mountain farmers; mountain farmers themselves are also becoming increasingly creative and expanding their offerings to include handicraft products and food, which are either sold or offered directly to tourists and locals in connected restaurants.

In the valleys, farmers' lives are naturally a little easier; here, the climate allows the cultivation of apples and wine on more or less flat land.

Approximately half of all South Tyrolean farmers specialize in apple and wine production. Today, more than 13 different apple varieties grow from Val Venosta to the South Tyrolean Lowlands. Around 7,500 farmers in South Tyrol engage in commercial fruit growing, with the average farm size of approx. 2.5 hectares being relatively small. Especially in recent years, traditional foods are being rediscovered more frequently, and rarer fruit and vegetable varieties, such as the Palabirne pear or the Vinschger Marille apricot, as well as cereals and herbs, are being cultivated.

The other half of South Tyrolean farms keep livestock, mostly cattle, whose milk is processed into high-quality dairy products. Surprisingly, the success of South Tyrolean milk is mainly due to family farms, which keep an average of only about 15 cows. In livestock farming, old breeds such as the Villnösser Brillenschaf (Villnöss spectacle sheep) are also being rediscovered.

Alpine pastures in South Tyrol

Alpine pastures, or "Almen" as they are called in German, have a long tradition in the mountains. The Almen are, so to speak, the summer retreat for livestock, meaning mountain pastures used during the summer months, but also the associated buildings, i.e., stables and other infrastructure. Almost half of the total livestock population is driven to the Almen in early summer, where they then spend around 100 days.

However, the term "Alm" is sometimes used only for the building, i.e., the mountain hut. Managing the Almen in the form of snack stations is often an additional source of income for farmers. These seasonal Almen are traditionally directly integrated into the Alpine farming operation. Here, one can stop and sample mostly homemade foods – a welcome resting place especially for hikers. Alpine huts that also offer overnight stays make it possible to undertake multi-day hiking tours in the mountains. Traditional businesses on an Alm include, for example, the dairy, i.e., Alpine dairy farming. Here, products such as typical Alpine cheese, but also butter and various types of quark, buttermilk, etc., are produced.

Many Alpine huts are also open year-round, both during the winter ski season and the summer hiking season. Livestock farming then usually plays only a minor role.

There are approximately 1,800 alpine pastures in South Tyrol, with the majority of them located above the tree line. The largest high alpine pasture in Europe can also be found in South Tyrol – the famous Seiser Alm (Alpe di Siusi). It covers an area of 56 km² and is located at an altitude of 1,680 m to 2,350 m in the South Tyrolean Dolomites. Since 2009, parts of the Dolomites have been part of the UNESCO "Dolomites World Heritage Site". Those who embark on a hike on the Seiser Alm will be rewarded with a view of the Rosengarten and the Schlern. The Schlern is unmistakable due to its characteristic shape and is considered the landmark of South Tyrol.

Rural Craftsmanship

Craftsmanship is naturally an integral part of farming families' lives. Especially in the winter months, from November to March, when the fields lie fallow, busy hands worked in the farmhouses. High-quality handicrafts are still produced today from natural raw materials such as wood, sheep's wool, or hay. Almost 45% of South Tyrol's land area is covered with forest – the valuable raw material wood is therefore abundant. Read here more about the diverse products made from this unique material in South Tyrol.

Another important raw material in South Tyrolean craftsmanship is sheep's wool. Almost 30,000 sheep provide the material, which is processed into shoes and slippers, among other things. In addition to the famous Sarner Jangger (wool jacket) and Sarner Toppar (felt slippers), many other products are made from this precious raw material. Weaving mills and fabric factories produce high-quality loden fabrics, and in the Ahrntal, the art of bobbin lacemaking has been perfected. This intricate type of lace production is used for decorative lace doilies as well as for the colorful South Tyrolean traditional costumes.

Our hay pillows are filled with mountain hay from the Passeier Valley. The alpine meadows are cared for and sustainably managed by farmer Walter and his family. To the mountain hay pillows.

All products have one thing in common: they use local natural materials that have been present in South Tyrol for hundreds of years. The sale of rural crafts is a welcome additional source of income for many farmers.

Farm holidays and sustainable tourism

Another additional source of income for farmers is "farm holidays". In the 1960s and 1970s, when tourism in South Tyrol really took off, many families on the farms converted some rooms for guests. The concept is a successful business: visitors can immerse themselves in rural life and both relax in the tranquility of nature and get to know the work in the field or in the stable. In addition, there are of course all sorts of regional and homemade delicacies to taste.

Farm holidays fit perfectly into the concept of gentle and sustainable tourism, which South Tyrol has been pursuing for many years. It is believed that tourism does not automatically have to cause damage to the environment and climate. The sharply increasing number of tourists in the popular holiday destination of South Tyrol brought the region additional jobs and economic growth, from which South Tyrol still largely benefits today. Nevertheless, it quickly became clear that nature, which is ultimately one of the main reasons for travel to South Tyrol, must be protected. The trend is therefore towards eco-hotels and small private businesses instead of large hotel chains with all-inclusive offers. Mobility was also included in the considerations for sustainable tourism: public transport has been greatly expanded, so that popular hiking and skiing areas can be easily reached by bus or train. In addition, a well-developed network of cycle paths integrates cycling, which is becoming increasingly popular for leisure and recreation, into the tourist experience.

Young Farmers and Innovative Ideas

The healthy balance between modernity and tradition is also supported by young South Tyrolean farmers. Many young farmers consciously choose to take over their parents' farm. Before that, however, they studied abroad, traveled the world and gathered many impressions and ideas. Artichokes are grown in the Passeier Valley, or juice is even pressed from locally grown pawpaws. The classic waste products from the apple harvest are also recycled and, for example, processed into apple sparkling wine. And so, the tradition of the family business is made fit for the future.

Sources and further reading:

Josef Nössing: Agriculture in South Tyrol in the 20th Century. In: http://www.zeitzeugen.it/fileadmin/user_upload/Webbilder_Kunde/Landwirtschaft_in_Su__dtirol_im_20d_2018.pdf [Status 15.07.2020].

Seiser Alm Marketing: Dream Holidays in the Dolomites. In. https://www.seiseralm.it/de/urlaub-in-den-dolomiten.html [Status 15.07.2020].

Internet Consulting GmbH: Craftsmanship in South Tyrol. In: https://www.suedtirol.com/kultur/handwerk [Status 15.07.2020].

IDM Südtirol: Rural World in South Tyrol. In: https://www.suedtirol.info/de/das-ist-suedtirol/menschen/baeuerliche-welt [Status 15.07.2020].

Raiffeisenverband Südtirol: Fruit Cooperatives. In: https://www.raiffeisenverband.it/de/genossenschaften/landwirtschaft/obst [Status 15.07.2020].