&noscript=1 /> All about agriculture in South Tyrol
 
Farming country South Tyrol
Farming country South Tyrol

Quality of life
directly from farmers

Farming

Farming country South Tyrol

Farming diversity

Diversity in South Tyrol

The farming land is the dominant natural element of South Tyrol and our farmers, who have shaped the region for centuries, live on it and with it. The cultivation of this area brings quality of life for locals and guests.

The farming land is the dominant natural element of South Tyrol and our farmers, who have shaped the region for centuries, live on it and with it. The cultivation of this area brings quality of life for locals and guests.

Farming in South Tyrol is, on average, more important for the landscape and for society than in other Italian regions.
Of the approximately 7,400 km² total area of ​​South Tyrol, 4,841 km² is used for farming. Added to this are the forest areas.
 

The number of farms - from the smallest to the largest - is around 20,250. Of these, 9,970 are livestock farms. The meadows and pastures stretch across the region up the steepest slopes and over the tree line. In the main valleys and side valleys below 1000 metres above sea level, the landscape is shaped by wine and fruit growing, which takes place over large areas.
 

From generation to generation
South Tyrolean farming is made up almost exclusively of small family farms. The provincial 'closed farm' law was introduced in order to protect and allow the continued existence of the farms and the farming families and to counteract impoverishment. While still alive, the owner transfers the entire farm to their successor - the estate must not be split up. More than 11,000 farms in South Tyrol are 'closed' - this shows the importance of a legislative instrument that is more relevant today than ever before.

Awarding farms the name of 'heritage farm' is a special honour for the owners of closed farms and signifies appreciation of strict adherence to the inherited farming property. The prerequisite for this is that the farm has been transferred within the same family for at least 200 years and is lived in and managed by the current owner her/himself.
 

Additional income on the farm
Income from farming alone is often not sufficient for many small family businesses. So that they do not have to take up a second job outside the farm, they rely on additional income from the farm. Holidays on the farm, direct marketing of farm products or farm or wine taverns have succeeded in develping farming in South Tyrol in a positive direction for decades.
 

Visions for the future
The agricultural development of South Tyrol in the next 10 years should set a clear sign of the times and have the following goals: the many family farms should be consolidated and the protection of nature, clean water, fertile soil and preservation of biodiversity should have top priority. This is the only way to produce premium products and ensure a sustainable living space for future generations.

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Numbers and facts

Numbers and facts

Get to know South Tyrol

Get to know South Tyrol

Summary of South Tyrol's farming

On which slopes in South Tyrol do the vineyards shape the landscape, where do most goats live and where are the widest Alpine pastures? Become a real expert on South Tyrol.

South Tyrol
South Tyrol in general
populated area
Fruit and wine growing
Permanent meadows
Alpine pastures and meadows
Forests
Mountains
Rivers, lakes
Glaciers
Wide pastures and mountain ranges (© Tourismusgenossenschaft San Vigilio-San Martin)
40% of the land area
lies at over 2,000 metres, with wide Alpine pastures and mountain chains
Spruce forests are predominant (© Eggental Tourismus/Othmar Seehauser)
50% forest
and wooded areas, predominantly spruce forests
Settlements in the low mountain range and on the valley floor
Settlements
are in the terraced low mountain ranges and on the valley floor
Farms
Number of farms
none
up to 100
101 - 200
201 - 300
301 and more
Family businesses
20,250 small family businesses
keep South Tyrol's countryside alive
Farm holidays under the brand name 'Roter Hahn'
Over 1,600 of these farms
offer farm holidays under the brand name 'Roter Hahn'
Regional direct marketing
500 innovative farmers
benefit from the megatrend of regional direct marketing
Livestock farms
Livestock farms in %
0 %
up to 25 %
26 % – 50 %
51 % – 75 %
76 % and more
Livestock farming
Livestock farming
is carried out mainly at higher altitude areas
Lively mountain farming
Mountain farming
is kept very much alive, is sustainable and shapes the landscape
Livestock farming
9,970 farmers keep livestock,
4,300 of which produce milk
Dairy farming in South Tyrol (© Mila)
Dairy farming
is the main source of income for the mountain farmers
Milk products
Milk, cheese, mozzarella,
mascarpone, curd cheese, ricotta and yoghurt are produced
Sheep
As well as cattle,
sheep, goats and Haflinger ponies are kept
Farm holidays
Over 1,000 livestock farms
offer farm holidays under the brand name 'Roter Hahn'
Fruit-growing land in %
0 %
to 10 %
11 % to 25 %
26 % to 50 %
51 % and more
Fruit growing area
18,000 ha of fruit growing land,
on 99% of which apples are grown
South Tyrol's apple growing area
South Tyrol's apple growing area
is the largest closed area in Europe
Apple growing area (© Leitnerhof Vöran)
The apple growing region of South Tyrol
is at an altitude of 250 - 1,000 metres
Apple growing (© Renate Anna Rubner)
Every tenth apple
sold in Europe comes from South Tyrol
over 20 apple varieties
Over 20 apple varieties
are grown for the different markets
Golden Delicious
Golden Delicious
is the most widely grown and popular apple
Apples from South Tyrol
Around 50% of the apples
are exported, 20% of these to Germany
Farm holidays
Over 500 fruit farms
offer farm holidays under the brand name 'Roter Hahn'
Wine-growing in %
0 %
up to 10 %
11 % to 25 %
26 % to 50 %
51 % and more
Vineyards
5,680 ha in South Tyrol
are planted with vines – an upward trend
Bolzano and surroundings (© Tourismusverein Kaltern/Helmuth Rier)
Bolzano and its surroundings
is the main area for growing fine wines
White wine varieties in the Eisacktal valley
The Eisacktal valley
is primarily the growing area for white wine varieties
Grape varieties in South Tyrol
The most important wine varieties are
Vernatsch, Ruländer, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Lagrein
White wine varieties in South Tyrol
64% of the wine growing land
in South Tyrol is planted with white wine varieties
The Lagrein
The Lagrein,
the flagship of South Tyrol, has been at home here for over 1,000 years
South Tyrol's wines
National and international wine guides
confirm that South Tyrolean wines are among the best in Italy
Wines from South Tyrol
40% of the wine
from South Tyrol is exported abroad
Grape harvest
Wimmen
is the name for the grape harvest in South Tyrol
Pergola and trellis
Pergola and trellis
are the cultivation systems of the vineyards in South Tyrol
Törggelen
Törggelen
The young wine is served together with specialities from the farm
Farm holidays
Around 300 wine farms
offer farm holidays under the brand name 'Roter Hahn'
Arable farmland in %
0 %
up to 25 %
26 % to 50 %
51 % to 75 %
76 % and more
Farming land in South Tyrol
65 % of South Tyrol's land
is used for farming
Meadows and arable land
Meadows and arable land
are spread across the region
Milk, apples and wine
Milk, apples and wine
are the three main sectors in South Tyrolean farming
Seiser Alm (© IDM Südtirol/Clemens Zahn)
There are 1,700 Alpine pastures
which are farmed in summer
Permanent meadows in %
0 %
up to 10 %
11 % to 25 %
26 % to 50 %
51 % and more
Grassland areas at an altitude of over 1,000 m
Almost 80%
of the grassland areas are at an altitude of over 1,000 m
Summer on South Tyrol's Alpine pastures
90,000 cattle, sheep and goats
spend the summer on South Tyrol's Alpine pastures
Nature and landscape conservation
South Tyrol is characterized by
nature and landscape conservation, which results in sustainable farming
Forest area
Forest area in %
up to 10 %
11 % to 25 %
26 % to 50 %
51 % and more
South Tyrolean forests (© IDM Südtirol/Clemens Zahn)
Forests
cover half of the land area of South Tyrol
The spruce is the most important type of tree (© Eggental Tourismus/Othmar Seehauser)
Spruce,
with a 62% share, is the most important type of tree
Protected wildlife in South Tyrol
Rock partridge, otter or eagle owl
Many protected wildlife species inhabit the forests
Quiz

Quiz

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Roter Hahn

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