Call on the Federal Government

Drought Has Farmers Worried: Not Enough Feed for Winter

Dry pastures, scarce water—and almost no feed left for the cattle.(Bild: Land OÖ)

The “Krone” reported on this: To prevent grazing livestock on the Hochlecken from dying of thirst during this hot summer, 7,000 liters of water had to be flown up the mountain by helicopter. The operation was a success; the calves are doing well. What was necessary between Attersee and Traunsee is by no means an isolated case. Provincial Agriculture Minister Michaela Langer-Weninger (ÖVP) went to the Freithofbergalm in Maria Neustift on Thursday to see the dire situation for herself.

State Councilor Michaela Langer-Weninger (ÖVP) assessed the situation at the alpine pasture herself.(Bild: Land OÖ)

Her assessment: Not only is water becoming scarce on the alpine pastures, but less and less forage is growing on the parched meadows. As a result, the first animals have already had to be brought down from the alpine pastures to the valley ahead of schedule. This further exacerbates the situation on the farms, as some are already running out of the forage reserves that were actually intended for fall and winter. Farmers have even had to buy additional forage.

Langer-Weninger is now calling for a federal drought relief package, which must be approved in Vienna. “When feed is scarce, water sources dry up, and yields fail to materialize, this very quickly becomes an economic burden for the entire operation,” says the state councilor. Figures show just how much alpine farming in Upper Austria is under pressure in general: In 2025, only 570 farms were still driving animals up to the alpine pastures—about 140 fewer than in 2010.