Switzerland’s prolonged drought is driving rivers and lakes to exceptionally low levels, reducing crop and milk production and creating fodder shortages for livestock farmers. The government says it is providing emergency support within existing law, but Agriculture Minister Guy Parmelin has rejected calls to declare a formal state of emergency.
Between 1 April 2026 and 31 July 2026, 11 monitoring stations recorded their lowest water levels on record. Around one-fifth of Switzerland’s monitoring stations reported unusually low readings, with some sites experiencing conditions statistically expected only once every 30 to 100 years.
Several major lakes have also been affected, including Lake Constance, Lake Walen, Lake Zurich, Lake Zug and Lake Maggiore. The Federal Office for the Environment has stressed that Switzerland still has substantial water reserves overall, while warning that climate change is likely to alter when and where water is available.
The dry conditions are also accelerating glacier melt. Glaciologist Matthias Huss said Switzerland could be heading for its second-worst glacier melt on record, with the country’s remaining ice on around 20 to 30 small glaciers potentially disappearing this year.
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Government Rejects Emergency Declaration Despite Switzerland Drought
Parmelin said the federal government had been preparing support measures since June and had already taken steps to ease pressure on farmers. These include abolishing customs duties on hay and fodder imports, followed by corn imports, as well as offering interest-free loans and accelerating direct payments.
We have put in place everything possible under current legislation to ease the burden on farmers
The Swiss army has also been supplying water to Alpine pastures, including in the canton of Fribourg. Parmelin said the measures should help farmers manage the immediate crisis, although many could still face liquidity problems.
The minister rejected declaring a state of emergency, arguing that the situation can be managed under the current legal framework. He said that decision does not mean the government is inactive.
Parmelin warned that importing animal feed could remain a major concern because drought conditions are affecting much of Europe. He said Switzerland must avoid a dry winter, which could create even more severe shortages next spring.
He also called for ageing water-supply networks to be modernised and said agricultural water policy must balance the needs of farmers, households and the environment. The government is developing a broader water strategy, alongside research into drought-resistant crops and other forms of climate adaptation.
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Farmers Face Mounting Losses
The drought is damaging crops including potatoes, sugar beet and maize, which are expected to produce poor harvests. Livestock farmers are confronting shortages of grass and other fodder, while high temperatures are causing cows to eat less and produce less milk.
Farmers’ organisations warn that the losses could exceed the CHF 500 million recorded during the severe drought of 2003. The combination of lower production, higher feed costs and weak liquidity is putting many farms under financial pressure, Parmelin said.
Some farmers have already begun using hay and other reserves intended for autumn and winter. Others are reducing herd sizes or removing less productive animals earlier than planned because they cannot secure enough feed.
Cheese Production Under Pressure
The effects are particularly visible in the traditional cheese sector. Gruyère production has fallen compared with the same period last year, while production of Gruyère d’alpage is expected to decline by about 10%.
Tête de Moine producers face additional constraints because the cheese’s production rules prohibit silage. Farmers in the Jura region are therefore relying on hay that had been reserved for the winter, as fresh grass growth has been severely curtailed.
Cheese stocks remain sufficient for now, and supplies for the end-of-year period are not currently expected to be affected. However, the longer the drought continues, the greater the risk of reduced output and higher production costs.
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