Changes in outfield grazing and summer dairy farming (“setring”) are affected by many factors, such as farm size, the professional environment, technology, policy, profit, and livestock losses to predators. Many actors are concerned about how the reduction in setring and use of the outfields will affect local value creation, local communities, cultural heritage and landscape and environmental values. We are investigating two mountain farming areas: Valdres and Nord-Østerdalen/Røros.
The aims of the project are to: 1) Investigate the causes of changes in outfield grazing and setring, 2) Study the effects of reduced outfield grazing and setring, 3) Develop proposals for measures to sustain outfield grazing and setring.
Obj. 1: Personal interviews and a survey of farmers in the two areas have been conducted (spring 2023) to find out why some plan to continue outfield grazing or to start up, whilst others quit. The same was conducted for setring and various farm enterprises such as dairy or goat milk, sheep, beef, etc.
In a soon completed NIBIO-report results of the survey and qualitative interviews among farmers in Valdres, Nord-Østerdalen and Røros will be presented. The aims were to examine plans for rangeland grazing and summer dairy farming, factors driving farmers’ choice of continuing with, entering or exiting rangeland grazing and summer dairy farming, and characteristics of farmers’ situation. Few farmers planned to cease livestock grazing in the rangelands. Important reasons for quitting rangeland grazing included low profitability in farming and unpredictable changes in public policy and regulations. For those affected by major livestock losses to protected predators, predators were the main reason for quitting rangeland grazing. Several dairy farmers planned to stop summer dairy farming, most often because they planned to exit milk production. Use of a stanchion barn and a small-sized farm increased the probability of exiting milk production. Low profitability after investment in a new dairy barn was the most important reason for stopping milk production. Maintaining small and medium-sized farms was important for maintaining summer dairy farming. On average, the main challenges for rangeland grazing were shrub encroachment, dogs not kept on a leash, and few grazing farmers in the area. In some municipalities, protected predators or cabin development was the biggest problem. To maintain or increase rangeland grazing, it seems therefore important to have instruments that address the site-specific challenges. The project points to the need for targeted measures to support rangeland grazing and summer dairy farming, particularly regarding farm profitability and policy conditions.
Obj. 2: We have started to calculate the effect of outfield grazing and setring on local value creation, including local multiplier effects. Using personal interviews and the survey, we are documenting the influence of outfield use on social capital, cultural heritage, and local identity.
In both Nord-Østerdalen (Vingelen - rich vegetation; Trysil - poor) and Valdres (Helin - rich; Venelie - poor), experimental fields have been selected to compare rich and poor vegetation types in the outfields and investigate how the absence of grazing livestock (for at least 10 years) changes the plant composition and grazing quality of the outfield pastures. This is done with the help of botanical analyses on large plots and yield registrations on small plots that are protected from grazing (grazing cages). At the same locations in Nord-Østerdalen, soil samples have been taken to investigate the C-sequestration of the soil, and satellite data has been used to compare the albedo-effect of grazed versus ungrazed vegetation. In Vingelen, several study sites have been selected to investigate the effects of restoring mountain pastures by thinning/harvesting mountain birch forests (3 x 2: control, thinning, harvesting vs. grazing, no grazing). Common to all the natural-scientific work is that measurements and registrations are made at certain times, and results will be available towards the end of the project period.
Obj. 3: In both areas, meetings have been arranged annually with various actors to inform them about the project and to discuss what can be done to promote grazing in outfield and setring. In the winter of 2025, researcher Christian Gazzarin, Agroscope/Switzerland, also gave presentations on Swiss agricultural policy and measures in Switzerland to promote use of grasslands. Based on results from other parts of the project and meetings, we will propose and report measures to maintain and increase outfield grazing and setring.
The project is a collaboration between NIBIO, SINTEF, INN, AgriAnalyse, UiO and Swiss and US researchers. Over 100 national, regional, and local actors contribute with project support. The project is locally anchored and has a high transfer value to other parts of the country.
Grazing in outfields and summer dairy farming has played a crucial role for farming, local communities, cultural heritage and biodiversity. However, practices are changing, and we lack knowledge about the causes of this change and their socio-economic and environmental impacts. This project will examine these issues and provide knowledge on how to sustain outfield grazing and summer dairy farming. The Nord-Østerdal/Røros and Valdres regions will be used as cases.
WP0 will secure the co-production of knowledge between researchers and stakeholders. WP1 aims to identify key factors influencing farmers’ choice of using outfields and summer dairy farming. WP2 will examine impacts from outfield grazing and summer dairy farming. WP 2.1 will estimate economic and employment impacts for the local economy. WP 2.2 will investigate how outfield grazing and summer dairy farming influence the social life and collective institutions. WP 2.3-2.5 will study possible effects on biodiversity, grazing resources and climate when grazing pressure is low over long periods, and how to combine production of bioenergy wood (birch harvest) with outfield grazing. WP3 will identify possible measures to sustain outfield grazing and summer dairy farming.
The project will apply a mixed-methods approach. WP1 and WP2.2 will conduct qualitative interviews and surveys among farmers in the study areas. Besides, WP2.1 will use data from the farm business survey and public statistics combined with a survey to related businesses to calculate economic impacts for the local and regional communities. WP2.3-2.5 will collect vegetation and soil data and apply multivariate analyses and variance analyses to explain differences in plant species composition, soil carbon and albedo in different treatments. WP3 will use the results from the other WPs along with workshops with the project partners (including the stakeholder partners) to establish working groups on specific measures and policy instruments.
