EDGG mid-conference excursion in Styrian grasslands

During the mid-conference excursion of the Eurasian Dry Grassland Conference we visited mountain grasslands in Styria, in the Neumarkt in der Steiermark region. There is a program called 'Haymilk program' there, targeting high-quality milk production with as extensive farming as possible. Haymilk farmers do not use silage and their cows spend at least 120 days per year on the pastures. At least 75 % of the fodder has to be from local origin (produced in their own farm). This way they can effectively decrease the ecological footprint of the otherwise rather intensive milk production and they can also maintain the diversity of the mountain grasslands. They produce premium-quality cheese and butter in the haymilk farms - we could also taste these delicacies at the end of our field day :)

Mountain grassland in Neumarkt in der Steiermark.

Alpine clematis (Clematis alpina).

Lady's mantle (Alchemilla spp.) holds the drop on the leaves for a long time.

Castle built on a very idyllic spot.

Elder-flowered orchid (Dactylorhiza sambucina).

Common butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris).

Grazing will start in this site within a few days.

Extensively grazing dairy cattle - here, organic dairy farming is really feasible.

The end of the field day - Now we are wondering about the cheese :)