Celebrate diversity: Styrian farmers ask for the week of agriculture!

Celebrate diversity: Styrian farmers ask for the week of agriculture!

Today, the “Woche of Agriculture” in Styria is celebrated at the Michlbauer Bio Wauerhof in Neuberg. The central topic is biodiversity that is of great importance for agriculture and the entire ecosystem. Representatives of the district chamber of Upper Styria and the Bruck-Mürzzuschlag and Leoben office are on site to find out more about the latest developments. The Michlbauer-Hof is not a newcomer to the organic landscape-we have been working organically here for 25 years and for over 10 years, nature conservation areas have had a permanent place in the company that Manfred Holzer managers.

The Holzer family has been running agricultural areas since 1693 and has created a stable economic foundation in the past decades. In addition to agriculture, this also includes forestry and tourism. On 200 hectares of forest, with 50% serving as a protective forest, and 65 hectares of grassland is a large part of the company. More than half of the areas are under contract nature conservation, which underlines the importance of ecological management.

meaning of biodiversity

A central role in sustainable agriculture plays the promotion of biodiversity. Due to its diverse geological and climatic conditions, Austria has numerous landscapes that offer habitat for many animal and plant species. In order to maintain and increase this diversity, active management measures are necessary. The bmlrt promotes, among other things many animals serve.

on the grassland areas of the Michlbauer-Hof, which are partly managed by species, the traditional alpine pasture management helps to keep the cultural landscape open. The ÖPUPPUL-Initiative supports measures such as late MAHD and reduced fertilizer inserts to create food for animals and promote insect-friendly habitats.

diversity in agriculture

The comprehensive transfer of knowledge about life on a farm is close to Brigitte Holzer. In addition to agricultural products, the family also offers the opportunity to go on vacation at the farm, with about 90% of the guests come from Austria. This not only presents agriculture, but also a piece of Styrian tradition.

In the Bruck-Mürzzuschlag district, over 1,000 farmers are part of the ÖPUL program, of which 205 companies manage their areas biologically. 20% of the agricultural area in the district is thus managed biologically. Special nature conservation requirements affect 504 hectares, while 902 hectares with biodiversity requirements are shown. The increasing biodiversity areas in Styria reach record values in 2025, which impressively proves the importance of biodiversity for agriculture.

In order to secure the balance in nature, different types of management strategies are required. This includes a variety of crop rotations and flowering undersailed that offer food and protection options for animals. In particular, pollinators such as wild bees and hoverflies benefit from these measures and are crucial for the pollination of cultural and wild plants.

The combination of tradition, innovation and a great commitment to the environment makes the Michlbauer-Hof an exemplary example of sustainable agriculture in the region. Not only is agricultural value creation ensured, but also a valuable contribution to the preservation of biodiversity.