3441: Ausstieg aus der ÖPUL-Maßnahme biologische Wirtschaftsweise [Farms opting out of the measure organic farming in Austria]

Darnhofer, Ika; Eder, Michael; Schmid, Johann and Schneeberger, Walter (2005) Ausstieg aus der ÖPUL-Maßnahme biologische Wirtschaftsweise [Farms opting out of the measure organic farming in Austria]. Paper presented at 8. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau - Ende der Nische, Kassel, 01.03.2005 - 04.03.2005; Published in Heß, J and Rahmann, G, Eds. Ende der Nische, Beiträge zur 8. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau. kassel university press GmbH, Kassel.

Summary

The end of the first five-year contract period of the Austrian Agri-environmental Program (ÖPUL) caused a number of farmers to opt out of the measure organic farming at the end of 1999 and in the following years. A survey was made in 2003 to explore the reasons for reverting to conventional farming. The three most important reasons were the high cost of organic grain for feed, the lack of price premia for organic products (mostly beef and milk) and the frequency of changes in organic standards. Most respondents operate grassland-based dairy farms in Alpine regions. The average size of the farms opting out was 12,0 ha.

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