The green report appears annually and provides reliable data and facts about agriculture and forestry so that politics can be designed on a well-founded basis. As part of a press conference, Land- and Forestry Minister Norbert Tettschnig, LBG expert for agricultural economy Franz Fensl and organic farmer Patrizia Engelhart-Getzinger presented the new annual report.
In 2024, the income of Austria’s agricultural and forestry companies with an increase of 4 % developed slightly positively after they had recorded a minus of 16 % after an exception year 2022 in 2023. A significant contribution to this was made with the impulse program for Austrian agriculture initiated by Land- and Forstwirtschaft Minister Norbert Tettschnig, with which the ÖPUL bonuses increased from 2024 and the compensation payments for disadvantaged areas have been strengthened. In addition, the increase in income can be traced back to increased producer prices for cattle, higher yields from direct marketing, the operation of Buschenschanken and Heurigen and increased income in fruit growing due to higher insurance compensation.
The income had a negative effect on the income in forestry due to a lower wood strike and declining wood prices, lower producer prices for mast pigs and sugar beet as well as higher depreciation, especially for machines and devices.
On average, an income from agriculture and forestry of around 40,000 euros per operation was generated in 2024 in line with 1,905 voluntary companies. This corresponds to an increase of four % compared to the previous year.
District and Forestry Minister Norbert Tettschnig: “In agriculture, income is subject to high fluctuations due to volatile agricultural markets. Inflation compensation through the impulse program is therefore an important contribution to securing income for our farmers. With their daily, hard work, they provide essential performance to ensure our diet and also for the domestic economy, above all for tourism, as well as for the preservation of an environmental and cultural landscape. The population with regional, safe, healthy and affordable foods only ensure that the rural cultivation is carried out. Financial framework, continue to use vehemently for our farmers. ”
In 2024, the income increased to different levels for all forms of operation – with the exception of the finishing companies. In the case of market fruit companies, the increase in income made an increase of 12 %, with long -term culture companies an increase of 23 %, for feed construction companies plus one percent, for agricultural mixed companies plus five percent and for forest companies an increase of 10 %. After a good result in the previous year, the refinement companies recorded a decline in income of minus six percent in 2024. In total, agriculture and forestry contributed to gross value added in Austria in the amount of 1.4 % and 12.9 billion euros, with EUR 10 billion to farm.
“Developments are very different in several years, especially the income from agriculture and forestry are subject to strong fluctuations. The most important factor for the results of 2024 were the higher public funds through the impulse program for agriculture, the increased producer prices for cattle and the higher yields from direct marketing“, so LBG expert for agricultural economy Franz Fensl.
The operation of organic farmer Patrizia Engelhart-Getzinger has already been organized in the 6th generation and has been organized for more than 30 years. With arable and vegetable buildings, there are two strong stand legs that are marketed in a variety of ways, from direct marketing to retail and gastronomy. “We have been participating in the green report for four years, and for me this is a great way to understand our company better. At the beginning, it is an additional effort, but in the long term it saves time and brings great use: I see at the push of a button, as our operation stands, recognize strengths and weaknesses and can actively actively control and can only react. For me a real support to continue our farm for the Future Fit “so Engelhart-Getzinger.
Important contribution of agriculture to environmental and climate protection
The increased public payments in the implementation of the impulse program for Austrian agriculture have had a particularly positive effect. The premiums for environmental services within the framework of the ÖPUP agricultural program from 2024 and the premiums for compensatory allowance for disadvantaged areas were also increased by 8 % or for particularly disadvantaged mining farms by 14 %. By attracting the programs, it has managed to inspire further companies to start the agricultural environment program: the participant rate is more than 80 % of all companies. As a result, comprehensive environmental services, such as For example, the creation of biodiversity areas to around 10 % of all agricultural areas, the management of species -rich grassland or the implementation of animal welfare enables and supports them by public payments.
Income from the mountain farmers and organic farms increased, but below average
However, the income from the mining farms, which dismissed a three percent increase compared to the previous year at 33,221 euros in 2024, was 17 % below the average of all companies. This increased the income distance between mining farms to the non -mountain farmers. Within the mountain farms, the highest increase in income of 12 % was observed in the companies with the highest difficulties, which shows that the impulse program also has a targeted effect here.
Bio -farms’ income was 5 % over the previous year at 33,638 euros in 2024, but by 16 % below the average of all companies. The increase in income of the organic farms was characterized by higher income, especially of higher public payments. Adjustments from the application year 2025 implement further measures to strengthen biological production in the ÖPUL. With a share of around 27 %, Austria is already European champion in organic farming.