Farming
All the latest news and insight on farmers, farming and agriculture in Switzerland.
Why famous Swiss cow bells could soon fall silent
Depending on how the matter plays out in the parliament, Switzerland’s cows could soon be wearing electric shock collars instead of bells around their necks.
How Switzerland is trying to crack its egg shortage this spring
People in Switzerland are eating more and more eggs and domestic chickens can’t keep up with the demand. The Swiss government has been forced to act.
Why Swiss consumers will pay more for milk from July 1st
Swiss consumers will be paying more when reaching for a glass of milk, or cafe latte over the second half of 2024.
Farmers dump sheep killed by wolves in front of Swiss government building
Swiss sheep farmers on Saturday dumped the bodies of animals killed by wolves in front of a regional government building, demanding more action against the predators, Swiss media reported.
Shredding of live chicks to be banned in Switzerland from January 2020
The crushing of live male chicks is at the centrepiece of a number of new animal protection regulations to be passed in the new year.
Around 170,000 people exposed to 'contaminated' drinking water in Switzerland
While Swiss drinking water is generally of high quality, supply to around 2.7 percent of the population does not meet current environmental standards, a new study has found.
Huge park and urban farm to be created in Geneva by 2021
A park of more than eight hectares will be constructed in Bernex on the outskirts of Geneva, by 2021.
Concerns over high suicide rate among Swiss farmers
Farmers are 37 percent more likely than other men in rural communities to commit suicide, a new study has found.
Swiss farmer launches campaign for government to protect animal horns
The initiative calls for the Swiss government to subsidise farmers who don't burn off their goats and cows' horns.
Swiss reject agriculture schemes in national vote
Voters across Switzerland on Sunday resoundingly rejected initiatives aimed at boosting local farming and promoting more ethical and environmental standards in food production, amid fears of cost hikes and reduced consumer choice.
Direct democracy: Regional 'burqa ban' up for vote in Switzerland
A second Swiss canton will vote Sunday on whether to introduce a regional "burqa ban", a controversial law that would prohibit all face-covering garments in public spaces.
What you need to know about Switzerland’s two food referendums
Swiss voters are being asked to cast their vote on two different food referendums this Sunday. We take a look at the issues on the table.
Oversized Swiss cows 'too big for their stalls'
It's one of the iconic images of Switzerland – brown cows grazing in the Alps. But breeders say the animals are now so big and heavy that their health is compromised and they struggle to fit into their stalls.
Five Swiss cantons to extend pilot scheme to offer jobs in agriculture to refugees
The trial phase launched in 2015 saw 30 refugees or people on short term visas trained and employed in farming jobs in the last three years. The project was largely deemed successful by its evaluators and will now be extended until 2022.
Stoat named Switzerland’s animal of the year
The stoat, or short-tailed weasel, has been chosen by Swiss nature organization Pro Natura as its animal of 2018.
Series of arson attacks in western Switzerland pinned to one man
Prosecutors in the cantons of Vaud and Fribourg say they have evidence that one person laid a series of fires in the summer that resulted in the deaths of dozens of animals.
Farmers suffer setback over cow horn subsidies
A bid to compensate farmers for not dehorning their cows failed to win support in parliament on Thursday.
Syngenta chief calls for debate on 'sustainable agriculture'
Swiss agrochemicals giant Syngenta, recently taken over by ChemChina, said there should be a wide-scale debate on what constitutes "sustainable agriculture" in face of a number of current controversies over pesticides.
Thurgau’s rescued horses to be put on public sale this week
The 93 horses seized from a breeder on a farm in Thurgau where they had been mistreated will be put on sale on Thursday.
Chinese firm takes over Swiss pesticide giant Syngenta
ChemChina has completed its $43 billion takeover of Swiss pesticide and seed giant Syngenta, the companies said, in the biggest overseas acquisition so far by a Chinese firm.
Swiss fruit farmers face losses of 100 million francs due to frost
The total cost of the frost in late April that damaged fruit farms across Switzerland could be more than 100 million francs, according to the latest estimations.
Swiss authorities look to help farmers after ‘frost of the century’ wiped out crops
Cantonal authorities across the country are examining ways to help fruit farmers and winegrowers after the unexpected frost that hit Switzerland at the end of April caused unprecedented damage.
Court sides with chickens in dispute over noisy henhouse
A court in the canton of Vaud has ordered a man to pay more than 36,000 francs in court costs after it rejected his complaint that his neighbours’ chickens made too much noise.