Drought strains feed supplies for Carinthia’s farmers

Drought has caused a severe shortage of animal feed in Carinthia, particularly hay, ORF reported. Farmers are warning that they may struggle to keep their cattle through the winter as supplies dwindle and prices rise.

The federal government agreed on Friday to provide assistance to farmers after lengthy negotiations. Drought-related damage worth a total of 240 million euros will be compensated, while interest subsidies and lower social insurance contributions are also planned.

In many parts of Carinthia, the first cut of grass produced little, and farmers are not expecting much from the August harvest either. Many have already been forced to reduce their cattle herds.

Agricultural trader Thomas Schlintl in Kappel am Krappfeld said demand had reached unprecedented levels. His company supplies hundreds of farmers in Carinthia and elsewhere, and has even received enquiries from Switzerland about possible hay deliveries.

“We are buying very large quantities from Italy and hope we can obtain all of them. But of course, we are all at the limits of our capacity,” Schlintl said.

One delivery to Zeltschachberg in the municipality of Friesach carried 14 tonnes of hay. Truck driver Klaus Gaggl said he had been working from 5 a.m. to deliver supplies across the region, as he had in recent weeks.

“I have been with the company for 17 years, and it has never been this bad with deliveries. So much feed has never been needed before,” Gaggl said.

Farmer Stefan Janz said his family had been forced to buy hay for the first time. Two deliveries had cost about 12,000 euros, while 300 bales were still needed. He said the expense was particularly difficult because his farm income was already under pressure.

Janz, who also works a 40-hour job and uses part of his wages to support the farm, has sold calves because of the shortage. He said the price for a 100-kilogram calf had fallen from 950 euros six weeks earlier to 450 euros the previous week, as many farmers were selling animals at the same time.

The Carinthian Chamber of Agriculture has set up an online platform offering an overview of available hay supplies. Unser Lagerhaus WHG has also prepared deliveries, although transport costs will increase the final price. Farmers can register their needs at the company’s locations, after which supplies will be delivered by truck.

The federal government also announced an agreement on immediate drought assistance worth 140 million euros. The package includes a planned two-month waiver of social insurance contributions. The federal government will initially cover the cost but plans to recover it through lower pension subsidies for farmers.