Swiss agricultural production drops

Swiss farmers saw a drop in agricultural production, although they produced more milk Keystone Archive

Agricultural production in Switzerland decreased five per cent this year compared with 2000, according to the Agricultural Information Service.

The on-going Mad Cow crisis and a dip in cereal prices were the main cause for the weaker production levels, the service reported.

Total production for the year was valued at SFr7.2 billion, compared with SFr7.58 billion last year. The service annually reviews gross internal production and services.

Beef

Beef sales dropped between 10 and 20 per cent, the information service reported in a communiqué.

It said that a second Mad Cow Disease crisis, which began in November 2000, proved detrimental to beef production and sales. The outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in Britain further affected the Swiss meat market.

Wet spring and September

Bad weather is also to be blamed for the poor agricultural year, according to the service. Heavy rainfall, cold and humid conditions this last spring and September, as well as an un-seasonally hot October were bad for the harvest.

Only potato crops did marginally better than last year. There was a drop in apple, cherry and beetroot production in 2001. Cereals used in the production of bread saw a significant drop in production.

Emmental cheese

The Agricultural Information Service forecast that 3,25 million tonnes of milk would have been produced by December 31. In May, the government raised quotas by three per cent. Cheese production also increased in 2001, however Emmental cheese did not follow this trend.

swissinfo with agencies