Why is stock farming more important in the highland areas of Rhineland-Palatinate?

In the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, agricultural land use is largely determined by soil quality and topography. While the state's most fertile regions—such as the Neuwied Basin, Bitburg, Rheinhessen, and the eastern Palatinate—are utilized for primary crops like cereals, sugar beets, and potatoes, these conditions are not universal.1

Stock farming is more important in the highland areas primarily because these regions possess less fertile soil compared to the lowlands and river valleys. Consequently, these upland areas are better suited for livestock grazing than for intensive crop cultivation.1