Archive

Suter D., Frick R., Hirschi H.

White Clover is an important element of intensively used meadows and pastures. Of the 19 varieties tested by Agroscope, two new top varieties came out clear winners for nearly all traits.

An article by Agroscope

Environment 10.08.20

de Baan L., Blom J. F., Daniel O.

Ever decreasing amounts of plant-protection products are being used in field crops; however, the quantity alone does not determine the risk for the environment, as discussed in a new Agroscope study on the use and risk of plant-protection products in Swiss field crops.

An article by Agroscope

Animal production 07.07.20

M. Girard, G. Michel, L. Duval, C. Ducrest and G. Bee

The genetic selection of hyperprolific sows has led to a rise in the number of piglets that are underweight at birth, often runtier and with stunted growth. A study tested the effect of a supplement on their development.

An article by Agroscope

Animal production 02.07.20

Schori F., Heublein C., Südekum K.-H., Gill F. and Dohme-Meier F.

Feed selection on the pasture costs cows time and energy. With the aim of optimised pasture feeding and efficient resource use, the feed selection of Swiss and New Zealand Holstein cows was compared.

An article by Agroscope, Universität Bonn, University of Leeds

Food 19.06.20

Bachmann H.-P., Fröhlich M.-T., Bisig W.

Raw milk and raw-milk products can affect our health in both positive and negative ways. A study conducted by Agroscope summarises current findings from the research literature and classifies the positive effects and risks.

An article by Agroscope

Environment 15.06.20

Kobierska F., Koch U., Kasteel R., Stamm C., Prasuhn V.

Around one-quarter of the utilised agricultural area in Switzerland is drained. Plant-protection products (PPPs) may enter watercourses via this route. Agroscope analysed the influencing factors and evaluated measures against PPP loss.

An article by Agroscope, Eawag

Plant production 09.06.20

Suter D., Frick R., Hirschi H.

Good varieties of smooth-stalked meadowgrass are few in number. The positive results of the variety-testing programme give reason to hope that two new cultivars will soon be added to the range of top varieties.

An article by Agroscope

Plant production 04.06.20

Groher T., Heitkämper K. and Umstätter C.

Digital technologies are fixed features of modern agriculture – but to what extent are they already being used in Switzerland? A survey conducted by Agroscope provides answers to this question. Digital technologies reduce the physical workload of farming and contribute to sustainable field management. They also enable optimised management decisions based on plant- or soil-related…

An article by Agroscope

Animal production 04.06.20

T. Groher, K. Heitkämper, C. Umstätter

Digital technologies represent an opportunity for the modern management of farms. For this, already available technologies must also be utilised in practice. An Agroscope survey illustrates the status quo of technology use.

An article by Agroscope

Animal production 28.05.20

Schlegel P., Hans-Moëvi M. and Morel I.

Farms operate with a balanced nutrient cycle. Agroscope adjusted the reference values for suckling calves to the latest advances in animal production. The values for feed intake and nutrient excretion are now lower.

An article by Agroscope

Animal production 25.05.20

Moser S., Willems H., Werder C. and Blättler T.

Protecting sheep from large predators means more work and higher costs for alpine farmers. The economic consequences of the necessary adjustments were investigated in 2017 and 2018 on 13 alpine farms in the cantons of Uri and Valais.

An article by HAFL

Animal production 19.05.20

Schori F.

Grassland-based milk and meat production promotes the site-specific feeding of ruminants. With the AP22+, the reduction of protein supply via concentrates is under discussion. Agroscope studied the effects of limited protein supply.

An article by Agroscope

Plant production 18.05.20

Christian Linder, Johannes Rösti, Fabrice Lorenzini, Pascale Deneulin, René Badertscher and Patrik Kehrli

Kaolin was tested in viticulture to control the dreaded pest Drosophila suzukii. The trials showed that this natural product has a comparable efficacy to conventional insecticides without any adverse effect on wine quality.

An article by Agroscope

Environment 11.05.20

Zemek O., Neuweiler R., Richner W., Liebisch F. and Spiess E.

The risk of nitrate leaching is higher in field vegetable production than in arable crops or grassland. Different species of vegetables have different leaching potentials, which can be reduced through appropriate management.

An article by Agroscope

Other 07.05.20

El Benni N., Ryser U., Rösch M., Mattmann M., Abt F., Paupe L. and Gusset M.

The Swiss agricultural sector currently makes little use of the opportunities offered by digitalisation. A charter launched in 2018 aims to further develop the digitalisation of the Swiss agricultural and food sector and to exploit the potential in the interests of all stakeholders.

An article by Agroscope, Agridea, others

Animal production 24.04.20

Weber R., Burla J.-B., Jossen M., Wechsler B.

Since 2007, only free-farrowing pens may be used in Switzerland. Since then, litter size has increased significantly. Despite this, piglet mortality during the lactation period has remained stable over the years.

An article by Agroscope

Agricultural economics 12.03.20

Zorn A.

The number of farms with a minimum area of 30 ha is growing, and specialisation – particularly in animal production – is on the increase. Even so, structural change is proceeding at a slower pace in Switzerland than in neighbouring countries.

An article by Agroscope

Animal production 18.02.20

Ollagnier C. and Pradervand N.

Alternatives to antibiotics must be found to combat antibiotic resistance in animal production. The plant sainfoin reduces postweaning diarrhoea in piglets, thus reducing the need for antibiotic treatment.

An article by Agroscope

Animal production 13.02.20

Schori F.

Grazing dairy cows is a characteristic feature of Swiss agriculture. In order to use pasture efficiently, the estimation of herbage mass is recommended. Agroscope compared two methods and developed estimation formulas for implementation in practice.

An article by Agroscope

Food 03.02.20

Oehen B., Meier C. and Felder T.

The term ‘agrobiodiversity’ refers to the variety of plant cultivars and species that feature in the human diet. A study in four European countries shows that consumers are interested in this diversity. The genetic diversity of food-crop varieties and species is archived in state gene banks, and continues to serve as a starting point for…

An article by FiBL

Plant production 30.01.20

Breitenmoser S., Steinger Th., Hiltpold I., Grosjean Y., Nussbaum V., Bussereau F., Klötzli F., Widmer N. and Baux A.

Sowing oilseed rape with other plants reduces damage caused by adult flea beetle, according to a study conducted at Agroscope. This intercropping approach could limit reliance on insecticides and the emergence of resistant pests.

An article by Agroscope

Plant production 21.01.20

Kempf K., Schubiger F.X., Tanner P. and Grieder Ch.

Adapted, productive grass cultivars are crucial for Swiss forage production. Over the past 30 years, the most important grass species – perennial ryegrass – has been substantially improved by breeding.

An article by Agroscope

Animal production 21.01.20

Schlegel P., Willi C., Vollenweider O. and Morel I.

Farms operate with a balanced nutrient cycle. Agroscope has adjusted beef-cattle reference values to the latest advances in animal production. The said values can be used for fertilisation planning and are to be used for the assessment of the farm- based nutrient cycle.

An article by Agroscope

Food 21.01.20

Lüdin P., Bachmann H.-P. and Baumeyer-Brahier A.

To protect Swiss cheeses from counterfeiting, Agroscope has developed marker cultures from lactic acid bacteria that allow the origins of the cheese to be determined. Proof-of-origin cultures for extra-hard cheeses are now also available.

An article by Agroscope

Plant production 2019

Suter D., Hirschi H., Frick R.

From 2016 to 2018 inclusive, Agroscope tested 54 varieties of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) at six locations. Of these, 25 were new varieties and 29 were already-recommended varieties that were being retested. Yield, vigour, juvenile development, resistance to leaf diseases and anthracnose, winter-hardiness and persistence were all evaluated. For the persistent “mattenklee” type, the…

Animal production 2019

Rediger F., Morel I., Schlegel P., Probst St.

As part of a farm survey, data on the solid feed intake and liveweight development of suckler calves from birth to the age of 305 days were collected and analysed. The data were used to derive estimation formula on weight development and solid feed intake of suckler calves in Switzerland. The analysis showed that weight…

Animal production 2019

Probst St., Wasem D., Kobel D., Zehetmeier M., Flury Ch.

Coupled dairy-beef systems are of major significance in Switzerland’s cattle sector. Using Swiss reference data, the present study modelled greenhouse gas emissions per cow and year for a range of different milk and meat yield levels. The study also determined the impact on greenhouse gas emissions of using a combination of sexed semen and beef…

Environment 2019

Breitenmoser S.

In order to understand the diversity of insects colonizing oilseed rape, a survey focusing on beetles was conducted in a plot of winter rape in Agroscope Changins (Prangins VD). Beetles were captured with yellow water bowls over the whole cultivation period from August 2017 to June 2018. In total, 11,856 individuals were caught from exactly…

Environment 2019

Sutter L., Aebi A., Buchwalder G., Caballé P., Dietemann V., Girardin O., Hernandez J., Jacopin-Bucher E., Mayor P., Ménétrier V., Praz Ch., Varennes Y.-D.

Recent studies show a decline in the abundance and diversity of wild pollinators, as well as an increase in honeybee mortality. These pollinators are an integral part of biodiversity and play an essential role in the growing of certain crops and in wild plant reproduction. In the Swiss cantons of Vaud and Jura, and in…

Environment 2019

Kalberer A., Kawecki-Wenger D., Bucheli Th.

Plastic products are omnipresent in our everyday lives and are so versatile and efficient that it is difficult to imagine modern agriculture without them. However, in combination with littering and as foreign materials in digestate and compost fertilisers, they are also the main source of plastic inputs on agricultural land. Using material flow analysis, this…

White Clover at its Finest: the New Recommendations Calimero and RGT Gabby

Plant Protection Products in Field Crops: Use and Aquatic Risks from 2009–2018

Supplement Improves Growth in Low-Birthweight Piglets

What Does an Individual Cow Consume on the Pasture?

Raw Milk and Raw-Milk Products Affect our Health

Complex Processes at Work in Tile Drain Losses of Plant Protection Products

Smooth-Stalked Meadowgrass Tested: Two New Top Varieties for Forage Production

How Digitised are Swiss Plant Production Farms?

Digital Technologies in Swiss Livestock Production

Manure: Nutrient Excretion by Calves from Suckler Cows

Large Predators Make Cost-Effective Alpine Summer Grazing of Sheep Difficult

Limiting Protein Supply in Cattle Feeding

Kaolin – Effective against Drosophila Suzukii in Vineyards without Any Impact on Wines

Nitrate Leaching in Vegetable Production

Charter on Digitalisation: Together towards Sustainable Solutions

Excellent Performance with Larger Litters in Free-Farrowing Pens

Swiss Farms: Ever-Increasing Size and Specialisation

Fighting Antiobiotic Resistance: a Plant to Reduce Diarrhoea in Piglets

Estimating Herbage Mass to Make Optimal Use of Pastures

There is a Market for Agrobiodiversity

Companion Planting in Oilseed Rape to Control Adult Flea Beetle

Higher Yielding, More Resistant Cultivars of Main Swiss Forage Grass

Manure: How Much Nutrients Excreted by Beef Cattle?

Counterfeiting now also Detectable in Extra-Hard Cheeses

A closer look at red clover: results of the 2016–2018 variety testing

Solid feed intake and weight development of suckler calves

Greenhouse gas emissions from coupled dairy-beef production in Switzerland

Diversity of beetles in oilseed rape in Changins (VD)

Farmers, beekeepers and researchers unite to safeguard pollinators

Plastic waste flows in Swiss agriculture and their risk potential for soils