Swiss Agricultural Research – Archive of the Online Journal

Horse boarding is on the upswing. Efficiently organised work, suitable housing systems and biodiversity measures can help make this farm activity both profitable and environmentally beneficial.

Agroscope

Animal production 19.05.26

After calving, dairy cows often have an energy deficit and mobilise body fat, with consequences for health, animal welfare and performance. Agroscope researchers have now shown that cows’ energy status can also be measured from exhaled air.

Agroscope, University of Hohenheim, University of Milan

Plant production 13.05.26

Mixtures of several forage-plant species systematically increase yields with lower fertiliser input. Higher temperatures enhance the benefits of these mixtures, making them a key component of climate-change adaptation.

Agroscope, Trinity College Dublin, Teagasc, Aarhus University, TUM, Laimburg Research Centre

Agricultural economics 12.05.26

Effective agricultural extension services create new value chains and optimise existing ones. An inter-cantonal, cross-organisational project demonstrates how practical, strategic collaboration can make Swiss agriculture fit for the future.

Agridea, ZHAW

Plant production 11.05.26

A recently published paper by Agroscope gives an overview of preventive measures and non-chemical methods of controlling weeds, diseases and pests in arable farming and field vegetable cultivation.

Agroscope

Agricultural economics 07.05.26

A lack of trust in farmers can undermine a functional food system and lead to stricter regulations. A survey conducted in German-speaking Switzerland compared levels of trust in crop versus livestock farmers and identified key factors for a targeted agricultural policy.

Agroscope

Agricultural economics 29.04.26

Switzerland remains dependent on family farm labour, although non-family employment is increasing, and hiring difficulties are becoming more visible. This study analyses the working conditions of regular farm employees and identifies the factors of longer employment durations.

Agroscope

Environment 27.04.26

Permanent grasslands consist of multiple species and cultivars, whose compositions change over time. Identifying such changes visually is laborious at species level and impossible at cultivar level. Two DNA-based methods were tested for this purpose.

ETH Zurich, BFH-HAFL, University of Lausanne

Plant production 21.04.26

Thanks to the selection of new clones, the ‘Räuschling’ grape variety has become more consistent in terms of cultivation and wine quality. Multi-year trials have shown that four new clones stabilise yield and quality and reduce the risk of both berry splitting and Botrytis (grey mould) infestation.

Agroscope

Food 20.04.26

Along the food value chain, sizeable, hitherto-little-used side streams continue to accumulate. An Agroscope literature study shows that key questions on use and industrial valorisation remain unresolved.

Agroscope

Agricultural economics 15.04.26

The agglomeration bonus payments and the landscape quality payments are to be merged into a new payment scheme for regional biodiversity and landscape quality. This study evaluates the planned merger from the perspective of agricultural policy literature.

Agroscope, University of Bern

Plant production 14.04.26

Plant-plant interactions can contribute to yield security and resilience. The significance of these interactions in agriculture is contentious, not least of all because the mechanisms are largely unclear. This study summarises the current state of knowledge.

Agroscope, University of Zurich

Environment 13.04.26

Greenhouse gas accounting tools are important for quantifying reduction potentials and performance. Agroscope researchers conducted a review to analyse their potential applications. Considerable experience is needed to correctly interpret the results.

Agroscope

Agricultural economics 07.04.26

This article describes how digitalisation in the Swiss agricultural sector has evolved from 2018 to the present day. It also outlines the measures required for successful digitalisation.

Agroscope, BFH-HAFL, Agridea, FOAG, barto AG, Swiss Farmer’s Union SFU, Centre for Viticulture Wädenswil, Robert Aebi AG, fenaco

Plant production 30.03.26

Incorporating the SOM:clay ratio in the Principles of Agricultural Crop Fertilisation in Switzerland (PRIF) allows us to give more specific agronomic advice at each site based on a broader considera-tion of soil quality.

Agroscope

Agricultural economics 27.03.26

Plant species diversity in intensively managed grasslands can act like a natural insurance against drought risk by reducing production variability. This reduction persists even at increased drought risks.

Agroscope, ETH Zurich

Agricultural economics 25.03.26

This article summarises all papers published by Agroscope and ETH that deal with the perception of agricultural policy of both farmers and the rest of the population. It highlights what must be borne in mind when developing policy measures so as to achieve broad acceptance of an integrated agricultural and food policy. An effective agricultural…

Agroscope, ETH Zurich

Food 23.03.26

Ten years ago, Agroscope showed that eye formation in cheese is promoted by tiny hay particles whose capillaries serve as starting points for cheese eyes. Researchers have now confirmed the crucial role played by the capillary effect.

Agroscope

Agricultural economics 19.03.26

Swiss summer farms lack qualified and experienced staff, partly because workers are spending fewer summers on the alps. The shortage of staff and loss of experience can have a negative impact on the sustainable management of the alpine pastures.

BFH-HAFL

Food 12.03.26

The Valais rye bread AOP project is a project-specific field study with a clearly defined, geographic and legal context (AOP/PDO). The aim is to describe the authenticity and quality of this traditional sourdough.

Agroscope, Valais Rye Bread Association, Swiss Association of PDO-PGI

Agricultural economics 11.03.26

Goats may be appealing, but very few goat farmers can make money from them. Dairy goats become economically viable only when annual milk production reaches at least 100 tonnes, which equates to around 120 to 180 dairy goats, depending on yield.

Agroscope

Plant production 09.03.26

Genome analysis shows that Japanese beetle populations in Switzerland have different origins. This indicates several entry and dispersal routes – knowledge that can help develop targeted prevention and containment measures.

Agroscope, Università di Siena, National Biodiversity Future Center Palermo

Plant production 05.03.26

Wines produced from resistant grape varieties are in the ascendant in Swizerland. Consumers are showing that they are open to them. The market penetration of these wines, especially in the catering sector, could be improved through better communication.

Agroscope, HES-SO Changins

Food 04.03.26

Food waste in primary production is rarely recorded – yet this data is key to devising effective reduction strategies throughout the entire value-added chain. This analysis evaluates existing measurement methods with the focus on vegetables. Around 37% of edible food is wasted every year in Switzerland. To address this issue, the Federal Council adopted the…

Agroscope

Plant production 02.03.26

The biodiversity of grassland areas is a precious resource that must be preserved. The evaluation of the in situ conservation programme by farmers and experts has led to recommendations for its improvement.

FOAG, InfoFlora Genève

Plant production 26.02.26

Interest in drought-adapted alternative forage plants is growing. What is their potential as catch crops? A study by Agroscope highlights the advantages and limitations of a selection of these crops.

Agroscope

Environment 18.02.26

Designation of regional nature parks in Switzerland significantly boosts the adoption of direct payment schemes aimed at promoting biodiversity conservation (agri-environment schemes, AES), particularly in regions with relatively more intensive farming and low prior uptake of such schemes. Although both regional nature parks and agri-environment schemes (AES) aim to conserve biodiversity, the interaction between these…

Agroscope, ETH Zurich

Plant production 16.02.26

Stable yields in plant production are crucial for farm profitability and food security. Model simulations show that the yield stability of many summer crops could decline substantially due to climate change, while winter crops are significantly less affected.

Agroscope

Plant production 11.02.26

A recent study shows that the risk of exposure during activities involving seeds treated with plant protection products is not always properly understood. Information provided to agricultural professionals should be improved.

Agroscope, Unisanté, Canton de Vaud, Proconseil

Environment 05.02.26

Duckweed can efficiently produce protein-rich biomass on nutrient-rich waters, such as wastewater or liquid farmyard manure, while simultaneously binding nitrogen and phosphorus. This presents potential for modern circular economy systems.

FiBL, University of Hohenheim, University of Basel

Archive

When is Horse Boarding Profitable? A Closer Look at Swiss Farms

Sampling Exhaled Air Instead of Blood: New Method for Measuring Energy Status of Dairy Cows

Adaptable and High-Yielding: Multispecies Mixtures Make Sown Grasslands Climate-Change-Proof

Agricultural Consultancy of the Future: Rethinking Value Chains

Alternative Plant Protection in Arable and Vegetable Crops: Where Do Things Stand?

Drivers of Public Trust in Crop and Livestock Farmers and Policy Measures to Enhance it

Working Conditions in Agricultural Employment: Current Conditions and Ways Forward

Sorting the meadow: Genetic methods to separate species and cultivars

Räuschling Clone Breeding: Expansion of Genetic Diversity by Four New Clones

Food Side-Streams as an Underestimated Resource – a Literature Review

New Direct Payment Scheme for Regional Biodiversity and Landscape Quality

Plant-Plant Interactions Can Have a Positive Impact on Cropping Systems

Carbon Footprints in Agriculture: Findings from Applied Research

The Digital Transformation of the Swiss Agrifood Sector

Soil Organic Matter Content: Is There A Need to Update The Interpretation for Agricultural soils?

Plant Diversity to Cope with Increased Drought Risk in Grasslands

The Significance of the Agricultural Policy Goals for the Swiss Population

Capillary Effect Confirmed: Why Hay Particles Are Key for Eye Formation in Emmentaler Cheese

How the Alpine Farming Sector and Individual Alps Can Promote Worker Loyalty

Valais Rye Bread AOP Proves Impressively Diverse

How Profitable Is Swiss Goat Milk Production?

Japanese Beetles in Switzerland Have Italian and North American Roots

Resistant Grape Varieties: Raising Awareness of Promising Wines

Quantifying Food Waste: Focus on Vegetable Production

Conserving Fodder Plants in situ: Challenges and Perspectives

Alternative Forage Plants as Catch Crops

Swiss Regional Nature Parks Promote Biodiversity Conservation Agri-Environment Schemes

How Stable Will Future Crop Yields Be in Switzerland?

Risk of Exposure to Dressed Seed is often Underestimated

Duckweed: a Future Feed Ingredient for Closing Nitrogen Cycles?