Schwitzerhof
Organic farming in South Tyrol
The Schwitzerhof is situated at an altitude of around 1,300 metres above sea level, above Sterzing in South Tyrol. The Seehauser family is one of over 500 small-scale farms that supply their milk to the Sterzing dairy. The farm has been part of a co-operative structure for several generations.
In 2016, the family switched to organic farming. This step proved relatively easy for them, as the farm had already met many of the necessary requirements. The farm now operates in accordance with Bioland’s guidelines. Their organic hay-fed milk bears the corresponding quality seal. Following the switch to organic farming, it became apparent that visits to the vet were needed far less frequently, and homeopathic treatments are used where possible.
A family-run business
As a member of the co-operative, the majority of the organic hay milk produced each day is collected by a milk collection van and delivered to the Sterzing Dairy. This is the farm’s main source of income. At the Schwitzerhof, the whole family pitches in. Alongside the Seehauser couple, their brother, grandmother and children also help with the day-to-day running of the farm. This support takes the strain off the family, as there is plenty to do on the mountain farm from morning till night. This makes short holidays possible.
Food production throughout the year
Self-sufficiency is important to the Seehauser family. A small proportion of the milk that is kept on the farm for their own use is processed by the family into products such as butter and the traditional – and very tasty – grey cheese. There are also plans to produce cream cheese in future. As well as processing milk, the family grows potatoes, vegetables and lettuce for their own consumption and even grows a large proportion of their own seeds. Traditional sourdough bread is also baked three to four times a year in the farm’s own wood-fired oven. Around 400 loaves per baking session are produced by the whole family and frozen. The meat also comes from the farm’s own production, as animals are slaughtered on the farm for the family’s own consumption.
Alpine farming
The farm is home to Brown Swiss cattle, typical of the region, as well as a few Holstein cows. The farm also has chickens, pigs and cats. From spring to autumn, the cows graze on the mountain pastures and the farm’s two alpine pastures. The approximately 15 hectares of grassland are situated at an altitude of between around 1,200 and 2,000 metres. These areas are ideal for extensive farming. The species-rich mountain meadows provide high-quality forage and thus form the basis for the high quality of the organic hay milk. On hot summer days, the cows prefer to spend their time in the cool barn and return to the pasture in the evening.
Struggling with climate change
However, climate change is posing increasing challenges for the farm. Prolonged dry spells and more frequent heatwaves are making it more difficult to manage the grassland and, above all, are making it increasingly challenging to supply water to the land. Irrigating the alpine pastures would not be economically viable or sustainable in the long term. The farm is already contributing to a sustainable energy supply through a photovoltaic system that covers the majority of its own electricity needs.
