Swiss agriculture in 2016 consisted of 52,263 farms with an average area of 20.1 hectares. Farms vary in size and orientation across regions, with larger full-time farms in western Switzerland focusing on crops and cattle. The agricultural area and number of farms have been decreasing in recent decades. Crop production in 2015 was on 272,816 hectares growing cereals, potatoes, and barley. Cow numbers have been declining for 30 years despite increased milk production. Switzerland imports much of its feedingstuffs and food while exporting cheese, meat, chocolate, and other processed foods. Government expenditures support Swiss agriculture through subsidies totaling 3.6 billion Swiss francs in 2015, or 10% of the national budget.
3. 2016: 52 263 farms with an average area of 20.1 hectares
Number of farms and area
1.1
Source: Federal Statistical Office (FSO)
4. West Switzerland
Large full-time farms with little
cattle
Mountain area
Smaller farms with many cattle
Agglomeration cantons
Medium size, rather little cattle,
more external activities
Uri, Ticino, Valais
Small farms, often external
activities
Farms - area - farm animals 2016
1.2
Source: Federal Statistical Office (FSO)
14. Area of Switzerland
Source: Federal Statistical Office (FSO), Areastatistics 2004/2009
Total: 41‘285 km2
2.1
15. Shift of Swiss area
Source: Federal Statistical Office (FSO), Areastatistics 1992/1997 and 2004/2009
1997 to 2009: agricultural area decreased by 32 995 ha in 12 years
2.2
16. Shift of agriculture area
Source: Federal Statistical Office (FSO), Areastatistics 1992/1997 and 2004/2009
From 1992/1997 to 2004/2009
2.3
23. Development of cow numbers
Source: Federal Statistical Office (FSO)
3.1
The cow stock has been declining for the last 30 years. The milk production
has been increasing for the same period. The productivity has been
considerably improved.
31. Origin of feeding stuff
86% of the feeding stuff (base DM) have been produced in Switzerland in 2014
Source: Agristat, Swiss Feed Balance (* provisional)
4.1
48. Consumption of food energy
6.2
Source: Agristat, Swiss Food Balance (* provisional)
49. Domestic production versus consumption
6.3
Source: Agristat, Swiss Food Balance (* provisional), ** estimate)
50. Food made from plants
6.4
Source: Agristat, Swiss Food Balance (* provisional)
Vegetable foods provide about 70% of the food energy.
Consumption of vegetable food energy per person and day
51. Food made from animals
6.5
Source: Agristat, Swiss Food Balance (* provisional)
Consumption of food energy per person and day
57. Household expenditures 2013
Source: Federal Statistical Office (FSO), Budget expenditures
6.11
In percent of gross income (2013 = 10 052 CHF)
Total = 103,4 (gross income + sporadic income)
62. Farm milk price and inflation
7.4
Source: Federal Statistical Office (FSO), : Federal Office for Agriculture FOAG), statistisches Handbuch der Schweizer
Landwirtschaft (Hans Brugger), Agristat , Milchstatistik der Schweiz
63. Salaries on farms 2014
Source: Agristat, Salaries of non-family agricultural employees (Löhne familienfremder landwirtschaftlicher Angestellter)
Average , confidence interval, interquartile
7.5
1 Trainee (students)
2 Trainee from abroad
3 Temporary jobs
4 Short-term employees
5 Semiskilled employees
6 Professionals
7 Section leader
8 Farm manager
65. Public expenditures
Source: Swiss Federal Finance Administration (FFA)
8.1
Expenditures (Confederation, cantons, municipalities) total and for agriculture
66. Expenditures of the Confederation
Source: Swiss Federal Finance Administration (FFA)
8.2
Expenditures: total as well as for agriculture and food
2015b and 2016b: data according to the budget
67. Subventions by the Confederation 2015
Source: Swiss Federal Finance Administration (FFA)
8.3
From 36.4 Billions CHF, 3,6 Billions CHF or 10,0 % are spent for agriculture.
Responsible for agriculture is the Confederation: The expenditures of the cantons and
municipality are low for the agriculture.
68. Subventions by the Conf. for agriculture
Source: Swiss Federal Finance Administration (FFA)
8.4
76. Means of production
Source: Federal Statistical Office (FSO), sd semi-definitive, * provisional, ** estimate
10.4
77. Production value to net value-added
Productionvalue
Source: Federal Statistical Office (FSO), sd semi-definitive, * provisional, ** estimate
10.5
Production value 2015 (estimate): 10,1 billions of CHF
78. Factor income
Source: Federal Statistical Office (FSO), sd semi-definitive, * provisional ** estimate
10.6
2015 (estimate): 4,6 billions of CHF factor income
Factorincome
79. Factor income to earnings
Factorincome
Source: Federal Statistical Office (FSO), sd semi-definitive, * provisional, ** estimate
10.7
2015 (estimate): 2,86 Billions of CHF net farm income
= Earnings of family workers
82. FD of Vocational Education and Training
Source: Federal Statistical Office (FSO)
11.1
Year 2015: 1174 Federal Diploma of VET, therefrom 1034 for farmers
83. Federal Diploma of Higher Education
Source: Federal Statistical Office (FSO)
11.2
2015: 102 Federal Diploma of Higher Education, therefrom 88 farmers
84. Advanced FD of Higher Education
Source: Federal Statistical Office (FSO)
11.3
Year 2015: 95 Advanced Federal Diploma of HE, therefrom 90 for farmers