The future of cows' right to graze outdoors has been uncertain. Since 1988, it has been written into law that dairy cows must have green pasture in the summer. A law that Astrid Lindgren contributed to getting in place.
Last year, a government inquiry proposed that the grazing requirement be removed to increase competitiveness and profitability. The proposal received harsh criticism and, among other things, The Liberals announced that they would take a stand.
Now the government has made a decision.
The grazing requirement will not be abolished during this mandate period, says Peter Kullgren at a press conference.
Thousand kronor per cow
Instead, a budget initiative is proposed to compensate for the grazing requirement and even out the competition with farmers in other countries. In total, it is about 282 million kronor annually during 2026 and 2027, which corresponds to 1,000 kronor per cow.
For a dairy farmer with a hundred dairy cows, it will be 100,000 kronor more, says Kullgren.
Replacing Swedish farmers for following the legal requirement has not been possible before due to EU rules. Grants have only been able to be paid out to those who do something extra for the environment or animal protection, but not for something that is national law.
Now the government sees an opportunity as the EU Commission has opened up to changing the rules.
The budget initiative of 1,000 kronor per dairy cow applies only if the Commission's proposal is decided, which most indications suggest according to Kullgren.
I have not seen any indications in conversations with the Commission or other member states that they would be against this proposal.
"Big win"
According to the Minister for Rural Affairs, the proposal means that Swedish farmers will receive similar compensation as, for example, farmers in Finland receive in EU grants and through the dairy system for having their cows on green pasture.
I am completely convinced that there will be Swedish farmers who note that "my costs for the requirement are higher than these 1,000 kronor", but it is more than what one has ever received for this increased requirement.
The Social Democrats see it as "a big win" that the grazing right remains.
"For us, it is obvious that cows should be able to graze freely, but that it is not obvious for the government and SD is incomprehensible to me. With S, the grazing right will also remain after the 2026 election", says Anna-Caren Sätherberg, environmental policy spokesperson for S.
Swedish cattle must, according to law, stay outdoors during the summer.
Cattle for milk production must, during the grazing season, have access to pasture for at least six hours in a row every 24 hours.
The grazing season is different in length in northern, central, and southern Sweden, and the requirements for how many 24-hour periods during the grazing season the animals' grazing right applies vary depending on where in the country the farm is located.
Source: Jordbruksverket
