Landwirtschaftskammern

Chambers of Agriculture ("Chambers of Farmers"), interest groups of farmers with compulsory membership, sphere of activity and organisation are prescribed by law. Chambers of Agriculture also support and advise their members and perform tasks delegated to them under public law. Members are usually owners of real estate with a certain minimum size used for agriculture or forestry. The organisational structure provides for provincial and district Chambers of Agriculture and local committees. Organs of the Chambers of Agriculture are usually: the plenary assembly of public officials of provincial Chambers of Agriculture who appoint the president, the executive board, the executive committee, the supervising committee and several committees with advisory function. Public officials of provincial Chambers of Agriculture and public officials of the district Chambers of Agriculture are appointed by voting members of the Chambers for 5 years. The office of the Chamber of Agriculture is headed by the director of the office of the Chamber of Agriculture appointed by the plenary assembly. - Chambers of Agriculture are important self-governing bodies represented at federal level by the "Presidential Conference of Chambers of Agriculture" which is a part of the Social Partnership, which is important to the Austrian national economy and has the right to review draft legislation.

History: The demand of farmers for their own independent interest group dates back to the 19^th century. The establishment of agricultural chambers on the basis of a bill drafted by the Cracow agricultural society was demanded at agricultural congresses in 1868 and in 1873. The first provincial Chamber of Agriculture with district Chambers in all court districts was not established until 1922 in Lower Austria under the provincial law of February 22, 1922.

Literature: M. Welan and B. Gutknecht, Selbstverwaltung, in: Allgemeines Verwaltungsrecht, Festschrift für W. Antoniolli, 1979.