The disorder burnout in the Swiss farming sector is discussed with increasing frequency in the agricultural press, although there have been no empirical studies on the phenomenon to date. In 2016, 4000 Swiss farmers of both sexes were invited to complete a questionnaire, the aim of which was to investigate the frequency and causes of burnout in the Swiss farming sector. The study shows that burnout affects around 12% of the surveyed farmers. Chief among the farm and household characteristics identified as influencing factors and investigated here were financial situation, region, number and type of task areas for which the individual is responsible, and place of residence of the parental generation, as well as sex and age. These factors never operate in isolation and must always be considered in context, since burnout is always caused by multiple factors. The study is the first to provide data on the frequency of burnout in the farming sector, whilst simultaneously highlighting the need for action – in particular, the need to recognised burnout at a sufficiently early stage.