Over 7,000 farms get lower subsidies due to irregularities
The federal authorities last year cut direct subsidies paid to 16% of all Swiss farms due to irregularities often due to animal protection and welfare issues.
In all, 7,145 farms, or 16% of the total, received lower payments, the SonntagsZeitung wrote on Sunday. The report was based on figures that have yet to be published by the Federal Office for Agriculture, but which were confirmed by the economics ministry. Five years ago, 10% of farms had their subsidies cut.
In 2017, Bern paid out CHF2.8 billion ($2.9 billion) in direct subsidies to around 45,000 farms. The cut subsidies represented CHF7.9 million, or CHF1,100 per affected farm.
Around half of the penalties were irregularities linked to the protection and welfare of farm animals.
The Swiss Farmers’ Union, meanwhile, blames mounting bureaucracy.
“Every year, the demands and documents required are increasingly complex. With so much paperwork, errors can easily appear,” it said. The Federal Office for Agriculture has gathered some 800 proposals from farmers to combat bureaucracy, which should be discussed before the end of the year.
On September 23, Swiss residents are set to vote on two proposals to promote sustainable agriculture in Switzerland and ethical food. Both proposals have seen a massive drop in support ahead of the nationwide votes later this month.
Young undocumented migrants gain easier access to vocational training
This content was published on
Rejected asylum-seekers and young undocumented migrants in Switzerland will have easier access to basic vocational training from June 1.
Migration: Swiss government wants to shorten reunification period for families
This content was published on
Family members of people temporarily admitted to Switzerland should in future be able to join them after two years instead of three.
This content was published on
2023 was a record year for the Rhaetian Railway in several respects. Never before has the narrow-gauge railway in Graubünden, eastern Switzerland, transported so many passengers and cars.
Swiss CFOs much more optimistic despite global uncertainty
This content was published on
The main concerns of business leaders in Switzerland are geopolitical uncertainty and the important trading partners Germany and China.
Record organ donation in Switzerland despite high rejection rates
This content was published on
More organ donations were recorded in Switzerland in 2023 than ever before. This was despite a high rejection rate of 58% by surviving relatives.
This content was published on
Seven years after the death of record-breaking Swiss mountain climber Ueli Steck, his estate is going to the Alpine Museum of Switzerland in Bern.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Cost concerns eat away at support for food initiatives
This content was published on
Two proposals to promote sustainable agriculture in Switzerland and ethical food have seen a massive drop in support according to pollsters.
Farmers slam think tank report on the future of Swiss agriculture
This content was published on
A report claiming that Swiss agricultural policy is too expensive and should be reformed, has been heavily criticised by the main farmers’ group.
This content was published on
The agricultural sector is protected through import restrictions and state subsidies, but farmers receive a number of other privileges too.
This content was published on
For Swiss farmers, 2015 wasn’t a successful year. At the beginning of October, the Federal Statistical Office estimated that farmers’ incomes would on average be 11% lower than the previous year. Part of farmers’ incomes are direct government subsidies. One of the effects of the agricultural policy for 2014-2017 is that larger farms are favoured…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.