!!!Bergbauern

Mountain Farmers (Bergbauern). The Alps run through Austria from its 
eastern to its western border, and mountain farmers therefore have an 
important position in the rural economic system. Unlike farmers in 
low-lying regions, they have to tackle tougher living and working 
conditions, such as a short growing season, the rigours of climate, 
steep gradients in their land and a disadvantageous situation with 
regard to transport facilities. The 99,400 (figures from 1994) 
mountain farms are classified in four grades or zones. Zones one to 
three are determined by their share of farmland that has a gradient of 
more than 25 %, zone four farms are made up of more than 
40 % of farmland with a gradient of over 50 %. 6,800 Alpine 
farms in Austria belong to the latter category.

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The Austrian state helps compensate for the burdens imposed on farmers 
by natural conditions and so contributes to the maintenance of 
settlement in and the functioning of mountain regions. Main sources of 
income are dairy farming, cattle breeding, forestry, and tourism.

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The highest-lying permanent settlements are in the Austrian Central 
Alps and lie above the treeline: The village of Obergurgl in the 
Oetztal Valley has an altitude of 1,927 m, its highest-lying 
Rofenhoefe farmsteads are at 2,014 m. These high altitudes were 
settled mainly in the 12%%sup th/%  and 13%%sup th/%  centuries and 
frequently had to be abandoned later, but they have continued to be 
used as alpine pastures (Alm). Their livelihood depends mainly on 
stock farming. Alpine farming regions have always been secluded and 
Alpine farmers generally adhere more firmly to traditions in 
agricultural methods, clothing, common practice and custom.

!Literature
E. Hubatschek, Bauernwerk in den Bergen: Arbeit und Leben 
der Bergbauern in Bilddokumenten aus einem halben Jahrhundert, 1992.


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