Promotion of grassland-based cattle farming through the 2014-2017 Swiss Agricultural Policy

The development of the direct payment system will include new contributions for ensuring the food supply. These contributions aim at achieving optimal use of natural production potential and shall thereby help to maintain the full production capacity of agriculture in Switzerland. Precondition for the payment of subsidies for ensuring the food supply on grassland will depend on a minimum stock density of roughage-consuming animals per hectare. Negative effects of the current contributions for roughage-consuming animals will be reduced or totally eliminated by the means of the new system of direct payments. The new concept will also ensure increased land mobility and make it easier for the farmers concerned to predict their future income.