Corine Land Cover 2000 - Areas of Arable Land

Arable farmland takes up little more than 1% of the total area of Tyrol. Apart from purely arable areas, smaller alternating plot structures for predominantly agricultural use are also included in this category. Apart from orchards and vineyards, this is the most intensive form of agricultural use and is concentrated on the lower areas of the big valleys, particularly in South and East Tyrol and in the Inntal valley between Schwaz and Landeck.

Arable farming has a long tradition in Tyrol. In former times cereals and later also potatoes and maize were important for the self-sufficient farmers. Up into the 20th century hemp and flax were also grown for further processing (e.g. for material). Since approx. 1960 arable areas have greatly decreased and have given way to meadows. Those areas of arable land that still exist are frequently also used to grow animal feed.

The reasons for this were global economic changes and increased mechanisation in European farming methods. Improved transportation and with that the import of cheaper agricultural products, changed the choice of goods on offer and also the demand in Tyrol. All these aspects finally forced the Tyrolean farmers, who concentrated on self-sufficiency, to make substantial changes and to specialise.