Cultivar Mixtures Stabilise Wheat Baking Quality
An Agroscope study shows that breeding cultivar mixtures is an effective strategy for mitigating the effects of changing abiotic conditions and maintaining stable wheat quality.
Archive
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Consensus and Dissension with Respect to Agricultural Policy Goals
A study conducted by Agroscope and ETH Zurich surveyed the opinions of both farmers and the rest of the population with respect to agricultural policy goals, revealing both shared and divergent views.
Attitudes towards Results-based Biodiversity Promotion in Switzerland
Results-based biodiversity promotion is an approach that is being discussed in the context of agricultural policy as an alternative to the current system that is based on implementable measures. The survey shows that there is considerable interest among farmers.
White Clover and Smooth-stalked Meadow Grass: Four New Recommendations
White clover and smooth-stalked meadow grass make a significant contribution to persistence and grazeability in high-yielding fodder-production mixtures. Based on the 2022 to 2024 variety trials, Agroscope can now recommend two new varieties for each of these species.
Grazing Improves Immune Parameters and Complete Blood Count in Calves
Grazing represents a sustainable option for rearing dairy male calves. Specifically, grazing strengthens immune function, while high-elevation pastures improve haemoglobin levels and red blood cell counts.
Higher Swiss Self-Sufficiency with Lower Environmental Impact
If we systematically reduce inefficiencies in the food system—such as the heavy use of cropland-based feed, concentrate feed for cattle, and avoidable food waste—we can achieve much higher self-sufficiency while lowering environmental impacts.
Using Vegetable Fibre to Reduce Plant-Protection Product Residues in the Musts
The use of vegetable fibre can reduce plant-protection product residues by up to 80% in white musts, with a more limited effect in red musts.. The method can be applied in cellar, as a complement to the responsible use of products in the vineyard.
VITISWISS Platform Assessment 2019-2021: Very Low Residues in Swiss Wines
The 451 wines analysed on the VITISWISS national platform for monitoring plant-protection product residues show that Swiss wines possess a high level of quality, with only two cases of non-compliance.
Evaluation of Vine-to-Cellar Chasselas Nitrogen Nutrition in the Canton of Vaud
A survey conducted in the Canton of Vaud on Chasselas reveals frequent nitrogen deficiencies in the vineyard for the 2022-2023 vintage, despite the application of soil supplements. Only a third of those surveyed measure yeast-assimilable nitrogen (YAN) in the must.
How the Lifespan of Dairy Cows Affects Profitability
A study examines the economic drivers of the optimal productive lifespan of dairy cows in two Swiss production systems.
Effect of Flower Strips on Aphid Antagonists in Sugar Beet Fields
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.
Performance of Drought-adapted Forage Catch Crops
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.
Shared Responsibility: Public Opinion of Agricultural and Food Policy
Swiss citizens think that government, farmers, retailers and consumers are jointly responsible for transitioning towards more sustainable food systems. These are the findings of two surveys conducted by Agroscope and ETH Zürich.
New Recommended Varieties of Cocksfoot
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.
Minimum Tillage Offers Multiple Advantages
A trial conducted at Changins compared the impact of different tillage practices on wheat yields and soil fertility. It showed that minimum tillage provides agronomic and environmental advantages.
A New Bacterial Species Identified as the Cause of the ‘Putrificus’ Cheese Defect
Agroscope and its Italian counterpart CREA (Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria) have described the new bacterial species Clostridium caseinilyticum sp. nov., isolated from cheese with the ‘putrificus’ quality defect and from silage. The study sheds light on potential causes and can contribute to the development of preventive measures.
How Voluntary Climate Protection Measures Can Be Successful
Private initiatives such as carbon credit trading can support public policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Agroscope and ETH Zürich examined factors which influence the effectiveness of such initiatives.
Trifluoroacetic Acid and Other PFAS in Groundwater: the Role of Plant Protection Products
The occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is widely documented in soils, water bodies, drinking water and foods. An analysis by Agroscope ranks the contribution made by plant-protection products and other sources to groundwater contamination with PFAS.
Airborne Nitrogen Deposition Affects Bird Populations
Nitrogen from agriculture, traffic, and industry enters soils and water bodies via the air. A new study shows for the first time that increased nitrogen deposition has a negative impact on bird populations – even in semi-natural habitats.
Swiss Consumer Wine Preferences: Traditional vs. Fungus-Resistant Grape Varieties
Wines made from fungus-resistant grape varieties are meeting with a comparable success to those from traditional grape varieties. A Swiss study reveals several consumer profiles, highlighting the importance of custom-tailored marketing strategies.
Underestimate of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Switzerland’s Farmed Transition Soils
Greenhouse gas emissions from drained carbon-rich soils are being underestimated in GHG accounting. To resolve this, their distribution and emissions need to be better assessed. Accordingly, improvements for the GHG reporting system are suggested.
Whey for Food and Higher-Quality Feed that also meets Kosher/Halal Standards
Together with the cheese- and whey-processing sector and the foodward Foundation, Agroscope investigated how whey can be used in food and higher-quality feed. Vegetarian, kosher- and halal-compliant whey expands potential applications in the food sector.
Japanese Beetle: Damage Potential and Control Measures in Switzerland
Agroscope researchers have assessed the potential impact of the Japanese beetle for Swiss agriculture and outlined integrated, multi-crop control measures for different sectors of production.
How Much Water Does the Swiss Agricultural Sector Need for Irrigation?
To date, figures on agricultural water use for irrigation in Switzerland have been quite patchy. In response, Agroscope has developed a method for estimating consumption volumes on behalf of the Federal Office for the Environment.
Biodiversity Can Be Protected Through Sustainable Agriculture and Suitable Habitats
In a literature review, FiBL showed that protecting biodiversity requires both sustainably managed agricultural landscapes and suitable, undisturbed habitats.
Intercropping: a Strategy for Controlling Insect Pests in Oilseed Rape Crops
Oilseed rape (OSR) requires multiple plant-protection treatments. Growing this crop with companion plants is a promising approach for sustainable pest control.
Can Odour Impacts Be Reliably Determined by Assessors?
Livestock husbandry poses challenges in determining odour impacts due to the heterogeneity and spatial extent of its odour sources. Agroscope and Empa have refined a method using trained assessors and validated it with tracer gases.
Bioprospection of Metschnikowia pulcherrima for Chasselas vinification
With its positive contribution to aroma, Metschnikowia pulcherrima is emerging as a valuable yeast in winemaking. The trial conducted suggests that bioprospection is an effective strategy for leveraging local microbial biodiversity.
Measures for Antibiotic Reduction and Competitiveness in the Dairy Industry
The use of antibiotics in veterinary medicine is to be further reduced. It is crucial for farms that their competitiveness does not suffer as a result.
Why Acceptance of Digital Technologies Varies among Swiss Farmers
Acceptance of future digital technologies among farmers depends not only on how open the farmers are to digitalisation, but also primarily on concrete, farm-specific risk-benefit assessments.
