[ad_1]
- At the end of September, the alpine summer finally came to an end. Good milk, good weather and hopefully good cheese, is the conclusion.
- But the crisis in the crown changed the signals for alpine farmers, starting with the hiring of staff.
- However, in the end it became clear that a lot was happening, as usual, up in the mountains, including trouble.
Due to the corona pandemic, it was not clear for a long time in the spring whether foreign Alpine personnel were allowed into Switzerland. After all, about a third of the shepherds, shepherds, and milkers come from abroad.
When the Alpine season started in early June, the borders were reopened for EU citizens. “Also, more Swiss showed interest in a job in the Alps than in other years,” says Giorgio Hösli. He is president of the «zalp» association which, among other things, organizes alpine personnel.
The rush dies down in summer
“Because many Swiss were unable to go abroad or had no work, they were also available for alpine farming,” says Hösli. The coronavirus even had a positive effect on the existence of the Alpperssonals.
However: Many of the alpine farmers associated with the crown did not stay in the Alps for the entire summer, Hösli says. “Some of them found another job during the summer or found other directions. The rush of spring has been put into perspective in summer. “
Love sickness in the alp
The alpine summer of 2020 unfolded little differently than the alpine summer of previous years. Milk production was good, cheese production tentatively estimated at around 5000 tonnes comparable to other years. And the problems of the alpine personnel did not change either.
The crown crisis also drew newcomers to the Alp. And some people underestimated the hard and lonely work high in the mountains.
Keystone
Barbara Sulzer also confirms it. Together with two colleagues, he has run Alpofon, a helpline for alpine farmers, for many years. 90 alpine farms sought help there during the summer because dairy or alpine farmers had to be replaced.
Mainly due to an accident or illness, often because someone was overwhelmed over and over again due to conflict, Sulzer says. “Since we started with Alpofon, the problems have always been the same. Maybe the overexertion has increased a bit. “Because for people who have never been to the Alps, self-assessment is difficult.
And that has also stayed the same for many years, according to Alpofon’s statistics: There are always a handful of alpine farmers who interrupt the alpine summer prematurely due to distress.
