Ongoing drought now affecting dairy farmers

Friday, 4 September 2026 06:35

Drought is squeezing Swiss cheese producers, with some Fribourg farmers now importing fodder from France just to keep their cows producing gruyère

One dairy farmer has brought in two truckloads of French feed at a cost of CHF 25,000.- to get his herd through the winter.

That creates a problem for the protected-origin gruyère label, which requires at least 70% of forage to come from the farm itself.

The head of the Gruyère industry body warns that if these extreme droughts keep recurring, the rules may have to be adapted.

Valais raclette producers are faring better, thanks to the canton's centuries-old irrigation channels known as bisses.

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