Overview of direct payments
The Confederation promotes public services in agriculture through direct payments. It supports sustainable use of natural resources and animal- and environmentally friendly production. This site gives an overview of the direct payments and provides links to further information.
Why are direct payments made?
Agricultural production needs to be sustainable and market-oriented so that it can play a significant role in ensuring:
- a secure food supply for the population
- preservation of natural resources
- conservation of the cultural landscape
- decentralised settlement in Switzerland.
Direct payments from the Confederation cover these services, providing extra income for farms.
The ‘house of direct payments’ below provides a visual representation of the direct payment types and key requirements.
Who receives direct payments?
Farmers receive direct payments if they meet the requirements set out in the Direct Payments Ordinance. The Confederation has different criteria for granting direct payments to year-round farms and to farms operated only during the summer grazing period.
Further information
The FOAG provides a reduced English-language version of its website that does not include all further information such as documents, legislation or links. These can be found on the pages in the three official languages (German, French and Italian).
Index
Contact for questions
Direct Payments and Rural Development Directorate
Schwarzenburgstrasse 165
Switzerland - 3003 Bern