Autumn-sown annual or perennial flower strips support antagonists of aphids, which are vectors of virus yellows, a severe disease in sugar beet. The effectiveness of these strips is influenced by floral composition, sowing time point and surrounding landscape elements.
Faced with climate change that undermines the stability of forage production, the introduction of more-drought-tolerant catch crops represents an adaptive strategy with a high likelihood of success in safeguarding livestock feed supplies.
Cocksfoot is a productive, robust and drought-tolerant forage grass often used in Swiss grass leys. The most recent variety testing by Agroscope has led to the recommendation of several new top-performing cultivars.