Swiss farmers told to adapt to the heat or go bust
Uphill battle: a Swiss farmer delivers water to his cows on August 7
Keystone
As Switzerland experiences the driest summer since records began, agricultural scientist Urs Niggli says farmers, who have seen significant crop failure, must adapt in order to survive.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/ts
Drought conditions in recent months have seen wide-ranging bans on outdoor fires, emergency water supplies airlifted to thirsty cows and a slowdown in the activity of the Mühleberg nuclear plant in Bern as it struggles to keep vital equipment cool.
The government also announced a range of temporary measures to ease the heatwave-related difficulties faced by many farmers across the country.
But Urs NiggliExternal link, an agronomist from the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, warns there will be more heatwave summers in the future, with livestock and dairy farmers hit particularly hard.
“The drought of 2018 has resulted in crop failures of up to 30%,” he told Swiss newspaper BlickExternal link on Friday.
In the short term, the shortage of animal feed could be compensated for by importing hay, he said. “But in the long term, livestock numbers in Switzerland would have to be drastically reduced.”
This would have immense economic consequences, said Blick. “The equation is simple: less milk means less income,” it wrote.
Baked potatoes
Around two-thirds of Switzerland is agricultural land. According to Niggli, farmers will have to adapt to increased temperatures when deciding what to grow. While cereals are more heat-resistant, potatoes can be problematic, he says. “Potatoes are extremely sensitive when it comes to dryness.”
Swiss farmers must therefore take measures to prepare for future heat phases, he said. “They’ll have to guarantee their harvest with the help of research and breeding.”
As a result, he believes farmers will increasingly rely on drought-tolerant varieties of crops and will also need to upgrade their farmland with irrigation systems.
“Adapt, otherwise you have no chance!” he warned the farmers.
More
More
Switzerland steps in to help heat-struck farmers
This content was published on
The government has announced a range of temporary measures to ease the heatwave-related difficulties faced by farmers across the country.
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
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
Swiss rivers and lakes continue to dry up
This content was published on
Recent thunderstorms have had no effect on low water levels across Switzerland. Many rivers still have extremely little water.
Drought-affected Alpine pastures get emergency help
This content was published on
Switzerland is experiencing its lowest rainfall in nearly a century, the charity noted in a statement on Tuesday. Since the start of weather records in 1864, there have been only three periods between April and July with less rainfall. Alpine farms are particularly affected by the heatwave as the soil dries up under the scorching…
This content was published on
Farmers want the government to introduce emergency measures to offset the problems for agricultural production caused by the ongoing heatwave.
This content was published on
Switzerland has already seen this year the second-warmest April, the fifth-warmest May and the fourth-warmest June. Canton Valais in western Switzerland and the southern side of the Alps have now seen the hottest July since records began, according to MeteoSwiss, the Swiss meteorological office. In the city of Sion, canton Valais, temperatures have been 3.3C…
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.