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Helping the cows to find their way home

A farmer's cows in western Austria will swap their traditional bells for GPS trackers after the owner of a holiday home complained that the noise was irritating his guests.

Published: 20 December 2016 19:08 CET
Helping the cows to find their way home
Photo: Paul Gillingwater

Some might think the gentle clonk of cowbells is as much a part of the Alpine landscape as soaring peaks and wooden chalets, but the noise drove landlord Günter Frick to bring charges against farmer Engelbert Längle last summer.

The cows were making a “hell of a noise” every time they drank from the metal water trough in a field near his property in the picturesque town of Zwischenwasser in Vorarlberg state, close to the Swiss border, Frick told the court at the time.

But Längle, whose family has been in the farming business for 300 years, insisted the bells had to stay, arguing they were essential in locating his herd.

On Tuesday, the quarreling sides finally came to an amicable arrangement: Frick will fork out 3,000 euros to equip the cows with silent tracking devices.

“I hope the farmer will have a lot of fun with the GPS,” he told public broadcaster ORF.

The solution “respects the interests of both parties”, commented Längle's lawyer Josef Lerchner.

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FARMING

How can I volunteer on a farm in Austria?

Austria is known for its organic and sustainable farming. If you want to learn more about it as a volunteer on a farm, you have many great possibilities in beautiful locations. Here is how you get involved.

Published: 5 June 2024 16:57 CEST
How can I volunteer on a farm in Austria?

Volunteering on a farm in Austria can teach you many things. It is a great way to learn about not only Austrian farming but also Austrian culture, traditions, and rural life. Plus, many of the country’s farms are situated in stunning locations, such as in the mountains or near beautiful lakes.

Farming is an important sector in Austria, and it is characterised by its strong focus on sustainability and organic practices, which are supported by government policies.

Austria was one of the first countries in Europe to recognise the benefits of organic farming, and is today considered to be Europe’s number one organic country when it comes to farming. Austrian consumers highly appreciate organic products and have remained loyal to them, despite the rising prices in recent years.

How do you get involved?

The majority of Austrian farms are small and family-run, which offers a great opportunity for volunteers to be part of a community and learn about farming in a smaller and more personal setting. 

Most of the farms looking for helpers offer the same concept: you work on their farm, learn about their way of farming, and receive accommodation and food in return.

WWOOF Austria and Workaway are two of the largest organisations organising volunteering on farms in Austria. After becoming a member, you create a profile where you describe yourself, your experiences with farming, and what kind of experience you are looking for. When your profile is set, you can search for different farms and contact them directly through a message where you present yourself and ask for possible working days.

There are also other possibilities available in Austria which offer volunteers contact with farms, such as SalzburgerLand Tourism, which gives you the possibility to experience farming within the region, and Freiwillig am Bauernhof, an organisation which creates possibilities for you to work on farms in Styria, Vorarlberg, and Tyrol.

Many farms also welcome individual requests without the use of an organisation. All you need to do is to find a suitable farm and contact them directly. 

If you want to use WWOOF Austria, the membership fee is €25 per year. Using Workaway costs you €49 per year.

If you volunteer at a farm you can learn about different methods of milking cows. Photo by Stijn te Strake on Unsplash
 
 

Different types of farms

In Austria, you have many types of farms to choose from.

You have dairy farms, which specialise in milk production. Here, the focus is on caring for the cows and processing high-quality dairy products. Working at a dairy farm gives you the opportunity to learn about different methods for milking cows, monitoring the cows’ health, and understanding how dairy farming can be sustainable.

The many vineyards in Austria also offer great possibilities for volunteers. Here, you learn about grape cultivation, soil management, and all the different aspects of wine production.

If you instead want to work on a fruit orchard, you can take part in growing different sorts of fruits and learn about plant care, soil and nutrient management, and harvesting.

At a vegetable farm, you can enjoy growing a wide range of different vegetables. You can learn about crop rotation, soil health, and pest management.

If you want to work with animals, finding a livestock farm might be the best idea. Here, you can learn about the care and maintenance of animals. You can easily find specific farms for the types of animals you would like to work with.

In case you are interested in a little bit of everything mentioned above, volunteering at a mixed farm might be something for you. Mixed farms combine various types of farming, and you can work with everything from taking care of animals to harvesting fruits or wine production.

READ NEXT: How can I find volunteer work in Austria?

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