In Alpine countries, traditional family farms are finding it increasingly difficult to survive in today’s economic climate. Rural life was once the backbone of society, and agriculture provided a stable livelihood. Today, however, more and more farms are shutting down, and rural areas are gradually losing their inhabitants.
“We work harder than ever, yet we earn less and less. That is the key issue in agriculture today,” says Swiss farmer Christoph Trachsel in Agrar Heute, highlighting the growing uncertainty in the market.
Declining Economic Viability
One of the main reasons for farm closures is the lack of economic profitability. Production costs – including fuel, livestock feed, and machinery – keep rising, while agricultural product prices fail to follow the same trend.
According to Fokus Einkommen, farm income per family worker in Swiss agriculture has decreased for the second consecutive year. The situation is particularly alarming in mountainous regions, where up to 40% of income comes from government subsidies.
“Simply put, we cannot sell at prices that cover our ever-increasing production costs. Without fair market conditions, many farmers will be forced to give up,” warns a livestock breeder in an interview with Schweizer Bauer.
A Shortage of Young Farmers
Demographic trends are also working against agriculture. As reported by Neue Zürcher Zeitung, more than half of Swiss farms are managed by people over 50, and in the next 15 years, many will either have to find a successor or shut down their business.
Although many young people train in agricultural professions, most leave the sector in search of more secure wages. “Young people want to work in agriculture, but under conditions that allow them a decent life, not a 70-hour workweek for a low income,” national parliamentarian Christine Bulliard-Marbach told BauernZeitung.
Solutions and Perspectives
Without systemic changes, farm closures will continue, with serious consequences not only for rural areas but also for food production and the preservation of tradition.
As Fokus Einkommen points out, it is crucial to introduce fairer subsidies and ensure stable prices for agricultural products. “If we want young people to stay on farms, we must provide them with fair prices and support during the transition to farm ownership,” argued Bulliard-Marbach.
Experts warn that agriculture is at a crossroads. Without swift action, rural areas will continue to empty out, and the traditional farming way of life may soon become a thing of the past
