Farmers' union · Austria · national
Voluntary
The working group of hay milk (Heumilch) producers and processors, based in Innsbruck. It unites about 6,500 hay milk farmers and 64 processors (dairies, cheese dairies, alpine cheesemakers) and traders; hay milk makes up 15% of the milk delivered in Austria. Hay milk has been an EU "traditional speciality guaranteed" (TSG) since 2016, sheep and goat hay milk since 2019. The organisation promotes hay milk and its products and advises on hay farming.
According to the website, all Austrian hay milk farmers and 53 processors are united under the ARGE, but its member list shows the processors (dairies, cheese makers, alpine dairies). In practice a farmer is connected through their processor: they deliver hay milk to an ARGE member processor and follow the rules; the website says nothing about direct individual membership. Only members may use the green hay milk logo, and they must follow the Heumilch-Regulativ, checked by independent, state-accredited inspection bodies. Main rules: no fermented feed (silage) all year; fresh grass, herbs and hay, plus a limited amount of mineral-rich grain meal; GMO-free feed, no feed from outside Europe, no palm oil or coconut fat; specific fertilising rules; the number of animals is limited in relation to the farm's land; loose housing or at least 120 days of pasture or outdoor access a year is required, permanent tethering is banned. Programmes exist for cow, sheep and goat milk.
The organisation does not publish its membership fee — please ask them directly.
For information only, not legal advice. Mandatory membership is set by local law — each profile lists its source.