Nevertheless, the proportion of grain legumes in the overall crop rotation averages no more than 13-17%, although this proportion can be higher on organic farms. Reasons for this include the annually fluctuating yields of grain legumes, as well as susceptibility to diseases and pests. Consequently, the acreage under cultivation for field beans and peas has declined sharply in conventional farming, while in organic farming the area is increasing again, partly due to the growing interest of organic farmers in soybeans. Additionally, organic farming has been required to use 100% organic protein feed since 2012, although there is an overall shortage in this area.
This project was therefore initiated to gain experience with the cultivation of alternative grain legumes such as sweet lupins, in order to optimize the production conditions for these crops, because little information is available, particularly regarding the suitability of varieties for specific regions, weed control, and intercropping. The Organic Farming Department is conducting numerous field trials with various grain legumes at its Lambach Stadl-Paura field station and on working farms in Upper Austria, and is disseminating the results directly to advisors and farmers.
