What concrete aid does the government offer drought-affected farmers?

The Confederation announced CHF 54 million in the form of interest-free loans for cash-strapped farms, managed via DATEC. It also suspended customs duties on imports of hay and temporarily reduced customs tariffs on maize intended for animal feed. In addition, it guaranteed the full disbursement of direct payments even if some conditions were not fully met, in recognition of the exceptional situation.

What is fodder sorghum and why does it resist drought?

Feed sorghum is a grain native to Africa that needs relatively little water after sowing and continues to grow even in the absence of precipitation. It is considered a sustainable alternative to traditional corn in times of drought. However, it is less nutritionally rich for livestock than corn and exhibits toxicity when the plant is still young.

Who is Agroscope and what role does it play in Swiss agricultural research?

Agroscope is the Confederation's centre of competence for agronomic research. It actively collaborates with companies such as Carrouge to experiment and develop alternative crops resistant to climate change and drought, with the aim of increasing the resilience of Swiss agriculture.

Parmelin farm visit: aid against drought (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 27 August 2026

Rural agricultural landscape in Ticino region with cultivated fields during summer months.

The president of the Confederation visits research on resistant crops in Vaud. Government supports farmers with CHF 54 million in interest-free loans and suspends duties.

Context

In a nutshell

Guy Parmelin visits a research company in Carrouge (Vaud) in solidarity with the agricultural world
Government suspends hay duties and reduces corn import tariffs: CHF 54 million aid
Fodder sorghum is a sustainable alternative to corn in drought situations

Key facts

What: Presidential visit to a research company on drought-resistant crops
Where: Carrouge, Vodese countryside (canton Vaud)
Who: Guy Parmelin (President Confederation, Head DEFR), Albert Rösti (Head DATEC), Agroscope
When: 27 August 2026, followed by the Rösti visit of the previous day
Amount: CHF 54 million of interest-free loans for farmers with short fodder

Federal solidarity with the summer crisis

After Federal Councillor Albert Rösti yesterday, Confederation President Guy Parmelin today expressed solidarity with the Swiss agricultural world. Parmelin, head of the Federal Department of Economy, Training and Research (DEFR) and in this capacity responsible for the primary sector, visited a company in the Vodese countryside that experiments with potentially more drought-resistant crops.

The visit to Carrouge allowed the Minister of Agriculture — a former winegrower close to the farming world — to directly observe the experiments on fodder sorghum, a cereal native to Africa. Sabine Bach, head of the company, explained to reporters how sorghum needs relatively little water after sowing

Operational details

Federal support measures: suspension of duties and loans

The Swiss government has taken a number of concrete measures to support the agricultural sector during this summer crisis. The Confederation suspended customs duties on hay imports, immediately reducing supply costs for farmers who have to import fodder. In addition, customs tariffs for the import of maize intended for animal feed have been temporarily reduced, further facilitating access to livestock feed sources at lower prices.

In addition to these trade measures, Federal Councillor Albert Rösti, head of the Federal Department of the Environment (DETEC), announced aid of CHF 54 million for the current year. This amount is made available in the form of interest-free loans, specifically intended to support farms facing liquidity problems due to the shortage of fodder and extraordinary expenses for animal feed. This decision acknowledges that the drought has generated a temporary but severe cash crunch for many companies.

A long-term commitment: guaranteed direct payments

At the beginning of August, the Confederation also promised to disburse the full amount of direct payments to farmers, even if some conditions for the concession were not fully met. This decision acknowledges the exceptional situation

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Key points

What to do: access to loans and research perspectives

For farmers facing liquidity problems due to forage shortage, the first step is to contact the competent cantonal authorities to inquire about interest-free loans provided by the federal government (CHF 54 million via DATEC). Although the government statement does not yet specify the details of the application procedure, it is essential to verify with the cantonal agricultural office the required documentation — company financial statements, animal feeding plan, estimated forage costs — and deadlines for applications.

Federal direct payments should be paid automatically according to the usual calendar, regardless of whether all usual conditions have been met. However, it is advisable for each farmer to verify with their own cantonal administration the status of payments and whether any extraordinary payments related to the summer crisis situation are planned.

Research and innovation: from Agroscope to farms

In the medium to long term, farmers and researchers collaborate to identify alternative crops such as sorghum that reduce dependence on forage imports and increase climate resilience. Agroscope continues to experiment with varieties and cultivation systems that are more efficient under water stress. Those wishing to participate in pilot research programs on alternative crops or hedgerow-forage systems can contact Agroscope directly and their own cantonal administrations to learn about collaboration opportunities.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What concrete aid does the government offer drought-affected farmers?: The Confederation announced CHF 54 million in the form of interest-free loans for cash-strapped farms, managed via DATEC. It also suspended customs duties on imports of hay and temporarily reduced customs tariffs on maize intended for animal feed. In addition, it guaranteed the full disbursement of direct payments even if some conditions were not fully met, in recognition of the exceptional situation.
What is fodder sorghum and why does it resist drought?: Feed sorghum is a grain native to Africa that needs relatively little water after sowing and continues to grow even in the absence of precipitation. It is considered a sustainable alternative to traditional corn in times of drought. However, it is less nutritionally rich for livestock than corn and exhibits toxicity when the plant is still young.
Who is Agroscope and what role does it play in Swiss agricultural research?: Agroscope is the Confederation's centre of competence for agronomic research. It actively collaborates with companies such as Carrouge to experiment and develop alternative crops resistant to climate change and drought, with the aim of increasing the resilience of Swiss agriculture.