Drought: Organic farmers temporarily allowed to use conventional feed
Due to the persistent drought in Switzerland, the association Bio Suisse has made an important decision. In order to secure the supply for the animals, organic farmers are temporarily allowed to provide their livestock with conventional feed. This measure is a direct response to the difficult weather conditions of the last few weeks.
Normally, very strict rules apply to organic farms in Switzerland. Animals must be fed almost exclusively with organically produced feed. However, since the heat and the lack of rain have led to a poor harvest of feed crops, the association has now relaxed the regulations.
The new regulation allows farmers to use up to 20 percent conventional feed. This step is intended to prevent farmers from having to reduce their herds because they cannot find enough organic feed. In total, 555 farms have already made use of this exemption.
The permission is considered a necessary aid for Swiss agriculture in an exceptional situation. Bio Suisse emphasizes that this is a temporary measure to keep the animals healthy despite the difficult climatic conditions and to ensure security of supply.