International Women's Day in the countryside

“As a female farmer, you have to have a lot of skills”

Anna M. Ganglbauer revitalizes a 200-year-old farm.(Bild: ZVg)

Around a third of farms in Austria are run by women. With new ideas, they often ensure the survival of agricultural businesses and thus slow down the "death of farmers" in the country. However, there are also issues that women farmers neglect or don't have the confidence to tackle - the "Krone" asked.

"Together with my partner, I am currently revitalizing a 200-year-old square farm in Bad Hall," Anna Maria Ganglbauer tells the Krone.

The 24-year-old is the youngest district farmer in Upper Austria and is going to build "an animal welfare barn with a run and straw". At the same time, she is looking around the market, analyzing customer needs and nutritional trends.

A lot of work in the "niche"
The young farmers want to establish themselves in the "niche of high-quality meat production". Christina Huber, a district farmer in the Innviertel region, runs her own farm dairy with direct sales and is therefore also responsible for her own marketing. She sums it up like this: "As a farmer, you have to have a lot on your plate."

Christina Huber, Feldkirchen in Mattighofen, processes milk and runs a farm store.(Bild: ZVg)

Women have the power
Regional farmer Johanna Haider, Engerwitzdorf, can only confirm this, she says: "Many women in agriculture have good qualifications, they are often the driving force behind innovations and the establishment of new branches of production." Many a farm can be "kept alive" as a result.

Johanna Haider runs an organic farm in the Mühlviertel region(Bild: OÖ Bauernbund)

Where do bread and milk come from?
Overall, around a third of farms are now run by women, and the whole family is usually behind them. Knowledge transfer is very much in the hands of women: "From the 'farm school' to the women farmers' seminars - we teach how local food is produced, and this is becoming increasingly important."

A rude awakening can be avoided
Haider also addresses what women in agriculture should not neglect: "It is important that every woman knows about her finances and pension payments and how she is insured - as well as the farm."

The Upper Austrian Chamber of Agriculture offers help in the form of advice brochures and advice.