In 2023, average agricultural income per farm remained stable at 79,900 francs, thanks to increases in viticulture and dairy production.
Agricultural income remained stable in 2023 compared to the previous year, remaining at 79,900 on average per farm. Higher revenues, especially in dairy production and viticulture, compensated for the decline in revenues from field crops, market gardening and arboriculture due to weather conditions, as well as inflation.
Due to rising prices, farmers have had to spend more on their means of production. The average income should therefore be taken with caution, the Agroscope research center in Ettenhausen (ZH) indicated on Tuesday.
Do salaries vary depending on activity?
Income varies considerably depending on the type of operation. In crop production, higher producer prices were not enough to offset all harvest losses due to weather conditions.
Income from livestock has increased overall. The rise in milk prices and the increase in the average number of animals per farm have had a positive effect. On the other hand, the drop in beef prices due to demand weighed on revenues.
On the cost side, the increase in the cost of agricultural production means in 2023 was significantly lower than the previous year, with +1.5%. The year 2022 was marked by high inflation due to the start of the war in Ukraine, recalls Agroscope.
Does the salary vary by region?
In 2023, a farm employed on average 1.35 units of family labor. Agricultural labor income – which corresponds to agricultural income after deduction of the calculated costs of equity invested in the farm – fell by 2.4% over one year to reach 54,800 francs per unit of family labor.
A desalp, somewhere in German-speaking Switzerland, in 2023.Image: KEYSTONE
In view of this last figure, “the need to act is urgent”, estimates the Swiss Union of Farmers (USP). Occasional positive developments in livestock farming are not enough to compensate for the rise in prices and the bad year experienced by crop production in 2023.
The umbrella organization criticizes in particular the cuts in the financial resources allocated to agriculture. The guarantee of remunerative prices for production constitutes another major lever for improving income. In this context, new increases are necessary, demands the USP.
In which regions are farmers paid the best?
Labor income varies considerably depending on the region. At 71,700 francs, it was 48% higher in the plain region than in the hilly region (48,500 francs) and 84% higher than in the mountain region (39 100 francs).
The average total income of an agricultural household, consisting of agricultural income and non-agricultural income, increased by 1.5% in 2023, to reach 112,200 francs on average. Only extra-agricultural income increased, by 5.5%. (jah/ats)
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