Past, Present and Future of Hay-making Structures in Europe

Jana Špulerová ,Suzan Jurgens ,Sebastian Eiter ,Hanne Sickel ,F Gusmeroli ,Alexandra Kruse ,Bénédicte Gaillard ,J Renes ,Michael Roth ,Csaba Centeri ,Cosmin Marius Ivașcu ,Drago Kladnik ,Dagmar Štefunková ,Viviana Ferrario ,Kari Stensgaard ,Paola Branduini ,Giovanni Sala ,Maurizia Sigura ,Peter Straßer ,Kinga Öllerer

doi:10.3390/su11205581

Abstract

Hay-making structures are part of the agricultural landscape of meadows and pastures. Hay meadows are still used and found all over Europe, but their distribution patterns as well as their characteristics and regional features depend on geographical area, climate, culture, and intensity of agriculture. Intensively used hay meadows are the most dominant, using heavy machinery to store hay mostly as rounded or square bales. Traditional hay-making structures represent structures or constructions, used to quickly dry freshly cut fodder and to protect it from humidity. The ‘ancient’ forms of traditional hay-making structures are becoming a relic, due to mechanisation and the use of new technologies. Both the need for drying hay and the traditional methods for doing so were similar across Europe. Our study of hay-making structures focuses on their current state, their development and history, current use and cultural values in various European countries. Regarding the construction and use of hay-making structures, we have distinguished three different types, which correlate to natural and regional conditions: (1) temporary hay racks of various shapes; (2) hay barracks, a special type of shelters for storing hay and (3) different types of permanent construction and buildings for drying and storing hay. Hay-making structures have been mostly preserved in connection with traditional agricultural landscapes, and particularly in the more remote regions or where associated with strong cultural identity.

Highlights

Grasslands cover more than a third of the European agricultural area and are very diverse in terms of management, yield and biodiversity value
What we can say is that landscapes which are connected to hay production do exist all over Europe and even if their extent in hectares and the production process has changed over the years, they still have significant importance, many of them being recognised as high nature value (HNV) landscapes
Structures for making and storing of hay are part of the agricultural landscape of meadows and pastures and their distribution patterns as well as their characteristics and regional features depend on geographical area, climate, culture, and intensity of agriculture

Summary

Introduction

Grasslands cover more than a third of the European agricultural area and are very diverse in terms of management, yield and biodiversity value. Structures for making and storing of hay are part of the agricultural landscape of meadows and pastures and their distribution patterns as well as their characteristics and regional features depend on geographical area, climate, culture, and intensity of agriculture They could—and often still can—be found in regions traditionally specialised in animal husbandry as well as in regions of mixed farming. E.g., in the Alps and the Carpathians, the preparatory work to be done includes clearing the fields of stones, raking, activating the irrigation system, and activities for the maintenance and restoration of the quality of the meadow, like fertilizing (manuring) and scattering hayseeds [3,4,5]

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Results

Conclusion