Přemyslovské sedlo – nature and people
Organic farmers for nature
Diversity blooms with BIO
“Letní stráň“ organic farm
Farmers, gardeners in our countryside
Since 1994 this area has been farmed by “Letní stráň” farm (= Summer Hillside Farm), a part
of General Development Company Ltd. – cca 180 ha of meadows and pastureland. The farm
focuses on breeding non-dairy cattle, and conforms to the rules of controlled organic farming.
Their aim is considerate cutting and gradual grazing on local mountain meadows, breeding
healthy animals and production of high quality organic beef. The company’s main intention is
to try out, verify and practise farming technique within protected mountainous areas, using
special methods of grassland maintenance.
Letní stráň organic farm is a member of the PRO-BIO Association of organic farmers in
Šumperk and complies with exacting standards of organic agriculture defined by the Czech
Act on OA No. 242/2000 and the European Council Regulation No.2092/91. Farmers here, do
not use any industrial fertilizers or other plant-protecting chemicals which could have a
negative effect on individual components of the environment, diversity of species or human
health. Animals are fed with only the farm’s own organic fodder and are kept in conditions
complying with their biological and ethological demands. The herd includes bulls, and natural
reproduction benefits the health and well-being of the animals. They are in good condition,
and are not treated with any hormonal preparations, growth stimulators, feed flavourenhancers, synthetic vitamins and hardly any medicaments.
The company’s speciality is cattle breeding – the Scottish Galloway. This undemanding and
hardy breed, preferring all-season outdoor living, has good growth-potential of calves,
excellent maternal qualities and low mortality of calfs. This makes Galloway cattle ideally
suited to extensive breeding in mountainous and sub-mountainous areas. The farm keeps 50 –
70 cows; the basic herd is accompanied by three stud bulls, calves and young cattle. Cows are
not milked, their milk is for calves, which reduces the amount of human work in such a
farming system.
Organic farmers are seeking a model of optimum farming in mountainous
countryside
In 2006, data was collected on the farm’s land and a study was elaborated, the aim being to
suggest farming methods, which would support the protection of nature and landscape. The
The educational project “Agro-environmental Information Centre Network” coordinated by
the PRO-BIO association, and the production of this information board, were supported by the European Social
Fund and the Ministry of the Environment from the national budget of the Czech Republic
study included findings on the state of natural biotopes, flora and fauna of the given area,
historical utilization of the area, presence and state of landscape elements and identification of
environmental risks. On the basis of this, together with existing economic tools and business
structure of the farm, a framework policy regarding nature-protection was proposed:
The following farming principles are now being verified by the farmer:

set a suitable intensity of grazing on the land,

maintain existing bush and tree vegetation, no added fertilization, no renewal of
grassland (re-ploughing, sowing cultivated species of grass),

allow staying on pastures during winter only on less valuable parts of grassland

after local removal of self-sown species, support mesophylic shrubs (dog rose,
hawthorn, european hazel),

do not carry out large-scale grazing or cutting in all areas at the same time, strive for
maximum space and time versatility within the land farmed, ensure the existence of
smaller un-mowed (un-grazed) areas

cut field-edges and un-grazed areas only in a three-year cycle

time grazing and cutting according to phenology of bird-nesting

mow meadows from the middle towards the edges, and only to reasonable intensity
The un-informed visitor may miss the thoroughly mowed green lawns pleasing to the
human eye. Frequent and perfect mowing does not benefit diversity of species and is not
appropriate for protecting flowering meadows. Seeds of orchids and other rare botanical
species only ripen at the turn of July and August. Young corn crakes only leave their nest
in mid-August, and late cutting of grass (or leaving un-grazed areas un-cut) is also
convenient for rare species of butterfly. Regarding feed for the farm animals, this is not a
problem, there is sufficient forage, moreover, Galloways are quite undemanding eaters.
flora
Numerous rare species have been found in the growth of the farmed meadows. A significant
part of the grass is close to natural grass growth. 12 species registered in the Red List of
Tracheophytic Plants have been found here, as well as 8 taxa of highly protected plant species
(Northern Hawk's-beard - Crepis mollis hieracioides, Marsh Orchid - Dactylorhiza majalis,
Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Mezereon - Daphne mezereum, Broadleaf helleborine - Epipactis
helleborine Gymnadenia conopsea, Orange Lily - Lilium bulbiferum, Lesser Butterfly Orchid
- Platanthera bifolia, Bluegrass - Poa remota, Brown Moor Clover - Trifolium spadiceum,
Veratrum album).
fauna
The grass growth on Letní stráň land is rich in wildlife. For example, 44 species of daytime
butterflies (Rhopalocera) have been found here. Among these, there are quite a valuable and
diverse range of sub-mountainous butterfly species, such as Colias hylae or Adelpha iphicla.
Highly protected species are represented here by Purple Emperor (Apatura iris).
The educational project “Agro-environmental Information Centre Network” coordinated by
the PRO-BIO association, and the production of this information board, were supported by the European Social
Fund and the Ministry of the Environment from the national budget of the Czech Republic
During the nesting season of 2006, 32 species of birds were seen. Among species which are
both important and typical for this location, we must mention the Corn Crake (Crex crex),
Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) and Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio).
Přemyslovské sedlo is also a significant location regarding the presence of rare beetles,
research into which has not been yet completed.
landscape
Grassy mountainous slopes with grazing cattle, field-breaks, game refuges and scattered
greenery create a unique feature of farmed mountainous and sub-mountainous landscape.
The saddle-ridge should not be forested in the future, nor should tall trees be planted here
(otherwise important for the aesthetic look of landscape and for people), not to mention any
building activities. Nevertheless, elements of landscape design should be included – trees and
hedgerows on the field-breaks. Recently, three hedgerows were planted with the financial
support of the Czech government. The farm people themselves look after the field-breaks –
planting shrubs.
Cultural landscape also involves the renewal of historical sacral monuments.
The educational project “Agro-environmental Information Centre Network” coordinated by
the PRO-BIO association, and the production of this information board, were supported by the European Social
Fund and the Ministry of the Environment from the national budget of the Czech Republic