The State of Vorarlberg on the Internet

Fruit growing
The key objective of the fruit-growing sector is the maintenance – and improvement – of quality.  Quality marks, of the type which have been awarded to perries, liqueurs and branded products for a number of years, are in important tool for this purpose.
In recent years, commercial fruit production has been severely affected by fire blight.  Through the selective felling or lifting of affected fruit trees, together with further control measures, attempts are being made to curb this bacterial disease.

Fodder cultivation
Naturally, the major proportion of plant production is associated with the cultivation of fodder (grass, hay and silage).
The grasslands of Vorarlberg are extremely diverse.  In addition to intensively-farmed meadowlands, which are cut several times each year, even flat and temperate areas such as the Rhine Valley and the Walgau include extensive litter meadows, which are only cut once each year.  The otherwise typical poor grasslands and meadows are generally to be found in both wet and dry locations at higher altitudes, bordering the alpine pastures and extending well beyond the woodland zone, and are exploited and managed all year round.