Organic cattle farmer from Lower Austria fears for his existence

A bio-rancher in Lower Austria faces existential threats due to severe fodder shortages. The family farm of Herbert Bitter in Berging, located in the district of Melk, has seen most of its grazing animals return to their winter quarters earlier than usual this year. This unusual situation stems from the depletion of fodder reserves from last year, which were already exhausted by early spring. As of now, even the winter feed is becoming scarce, leaving Bitter in a precarious position. “The current situation is really not fun, and we need to look into creating an emergency plan to make it through the next year,” Bitter told the Kurier newspaper. Bitter has distributed his cattle across communal pastures, including within the nature reserve Neubacher Auen, where they help combat invasive Japanese knotweed. Normally, these animals require no additional feeding, but persistent drought conditions have necessitated supplementary feeding since May. To ease the process, some animals have been brought back to the barn over the past two weeks. Despite these measures, the situation remains critical. Currently, bio-farms are permitted to use conventional basic feed, though Bitter notes that such a relaxation would offer limited relief. He explains that even conventional farmers are struggling with losses due to the drought, making it unlikely that this measure alone will resolve the crisis. Bitter emphasizes that while the situation is dire, he refuses to consider emergency slaughter as an option. Instead, he is selling more animals than usual, primarily through direct marketing of breeding and slaughter cattle, as well as meat products. Bitter typically keeps some fully fattened cattle ready for sale, and he has sold them all in one go due to fodder concerns. However, there is little room for further culling, as most of his herd consists of half-finished fattening cattle and calves that he intends to keep for the coming year. Additionally, the possibility of slaughtering cattle for direct market sales has become unavailable as an income source. The broader implications of this crisis extend beyond Bitter’s farm. The ongoing drought has affected agricultural production across the region, impacting both organic and conventional farms. With feed prices rising and availability dwindling, many farmers are forced to make difficult decisions to sustain their operations. While some have turned to alternative strategies, such as using conventional feed, others remain vulnerable to financial strain. As the summer progresses, the outlook for Bitter’s farm remains uncertain. Without substantial rainfall or government intervention, the situation could worsen. Bitter continues to monitor the situation closely, hoping for a resolution that allows him to continue operating his business. For now, the focus remains on managing resources and ensuring the survival of his livestock.