The foundations of the Swiss farming industry are very strongly rooted in family businesses. With an average of 17 hectares of land, the farm holdings are rather on the small side on an international scale. Their comparatively diminutive size has both ecological and legal reasons: in livestock farming, the maximum number of animals allowed to be kept is regulated by law (for example, a maximum of 1,500 growing and finishing pigs per operation).
In arable farming, the amount of different crops that can be raised depends on the type of farming system in operation (crop rotation). This sets boundaries for specialisation.
Meat mainly from the mountains
Since 1996, the number of farms has actually been on the decline. However, the surface area of land used for agriculture has remained unchanged and the average farm has increased in size. Two thirds of the farmers keep animals for milk and/or meat production. The majority of farms involved in livestock production are located in the mountain regions. Farms engaged in mixed production (arable and livestock farming) are found mainly in the valleys.
Farming structure at a glance
Farmland area (2008): 1,058,134 hectares (of which 70% are vegetated areas)
Number of farms in Switzerland (2008): 60,894
Percentage of farms operating as primary income businesses: 44,000 (72.2 %)
Organic farms (2008): 6,000 (approx. 10%)
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