Eco quality regulation
The Organic Quality Ordinance regulates the addition of financial contributions for additional ecological services in Swiss agriculture. The managers receive additional contributions for usable areas with special biological quality as well as areas that serve to network living spaces.
Quality contributions can be paid out for the following types of use:
Extensive and less intensively used meadows, littered areas , high- stemmed field fruit trees, hedges , field and riparian trees . If the quality criteria are met, the managers receive CHF 500 per hectare of extensive meadow ; Litter meadows; Hedges, field and bank trees with herb fringes, and meadows that are not used intensively. For each standard fruit tree , CHF 20 is paid in addition to the direct payment contributions (CHF 15) and networking contributions (CHF 5).
Additional contributions can be paid for all ecological compensation areas that can be counted towards ecological compensation , provided that their ecological networking function is assessed as eligible for contributions within the framework of an approved network planning. In general, the managers of this networking space 500 CHF receive per ha (scatter area, extensive meadows, less intensively used meadows, hedgerows, field and riparian woodlands, wildflower strips , rotational fallow , extensive grazing and further, by cantonal authorities to be defined compensation areas). CHF 5 is paid out for each individual tree and standard fruit tree that is appropriate to the location.
Only farmers who are entitled to direct payments are eligible for contributions.