Switzerland eases drought rules and feed imports for farmers

Switzerland’s Federal Office for Agriculture is introducing short-term measures to help farmers cope with severe heat and drought, SRF reported on Wednesday. The measures include duty-free hay imports, lower tariffs on feed maize and greater flexibility over grazing requirements.

The prolonged dry spell is reducing grass growth. Some farmers are already feeding their animals supplies intended for winter because there is no fresh grass available.

Heu has been eligible for duty-free import into Switzerland since August 1. Import tariffs on feed maize will be reduced from August 15, the office said.

Markus Ritter, president of the farmers’ association, welcomed the decision but warned that feed prices had risen sharply in Switzerland and abroad. Availability was also a problem in other countries, he said. Ritter nevertheless praised the federal government and administration for anticipating the situation.

Farmers will receive their full direct payments even if they cannot meet all the usual conditions. For example, animals may currently spend less time grazing because the pastures provide insufficient feed. The animals may also be brought down from Alpine pastures earlier than usual this year. The cantons will determine the applicable exemptions.

The federal government also plans to contribute to crop insurance premiums in future. The cantons are offering farmers interest-free loans if they face liquidity shortages.

Christian Hofer, director of the Federal Office for Agriculture, said the measures would not create additional costs. The direct payments had already been budgeted, he said. The loss of tariff revenue from hay imports would also have no negative effect because no hay imports had been planned.

The farmers’ associations of Zurich and Schaffhausen are meanwhile preparing an online exchange for autumn fodder. Arable farms and farms with few animals could grow so-called intermediate fodder in suitable weather for farms with many cows. They could also sell grain maize sown in spring to other farmers as feed maize. The associations said many farmers were willing to participate if purchases were guaranteed and conditions agreed. The online exchange is intended to help farmers find one another, while the businesses would arrange the details themselves.

Hofer said the federal office had also adopted longer-term measures because the effects of climate change were not limited to this year. These include strengthening the breeding of drought-resistant plants, providing more funding for irrigation infrastructure and supporting soil-conserving farming methods. More humus allows soil to absorb more water and makes crops more resilient to drought, he said.