Swiss Agricultural Research – Archive of the Online Journal

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Agricultural economics (307)

Animal production (498)

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Plant production (719)

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Environment 14.12.21

O. Heller, N. Peter, G. Garland and P. Weisskopf

The preservation of soil fertility and multiple soil functions faces various challenges both in Switzerland and throughout Europe. A survey carried out in Switzerland among people from practice, government agencies and research highlights problems and possible solutions.

Food 09.12.21

H. Stoffers, M. Peter, H.-P. Bachmann, L. Egger, S. Dubois and B. Guggenbühl

As part of the trend towards vegetarian and vegan products, Agroscope looked into the production of plant-based alternatives to soft cheese based on Swiss raw materials.

Plant production 07.12.21

Schröder A., Heyer J., Hochstrasser M., Brugger D., Wirth J.

The invasive weed yellow nutsedge creates considerable problems for Swiss producers in arable and vegetable crops. In a four-year project, stakeholders from research and practice evaluated various control strategies on-farm.

Agroscope, Fachstelle Pflanzenschutz des Kantons Bern, Grangeneuve, Strickhof, Swiss Farmer’s Union SFU

Animal production 22.11.21

Kast C. and Kilchenmann V.

Pesticides accumulate in beeswax and pose a risk to the development of bee larvae. In an in vitro study, Agroscope evaluated the toxicity of pesticides in beeswax

Agricultural economics 11.11.21

Hoop D.

Grass-fed milk production meets a customer need, and is linked to specific feed and animal-welfare requirements. An Agroscope study sought to determine the circumstances in which grass-fed milk production is worthwhile.

Animal production 10.11.21

Scriba M. F. and Wechsler B.

Fattening pigs suffer when it is hot. Timely provision of cooling measures increases both animal welfare and success in pig fattening. Researchers at Agroscope examined which indicators reliably indicate heat stress in fattening pigs.

Agroscope, Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, Centre for Proper Housing of Ruminants and Pigs

Environment 01.11.21

Eisenring S., Holzkämper A., Calanca P.

Model calculations show how climate change will affect the water requirement for different crops grown on the Swiss Central Plateau. This will allow us to proactively plan for crop irrigation and adaptation to the changing climate.

Plant production 27.10.21

Reinbacher L., Bacher S., Knecht F., Schweizer C., Sostizzo T. and Grabenweger G..

Wireworms cause significant crop losses in potatoes. This study investigated the efficacy of a fungus in decimating wireworm populations in the winter cover crop. The strategy was partially successful, but must be further optimised for use in practice.

Agroscope, University of Fribourg

Environment 18.10.21

Rodrigues L., Hardy B., Huyghebaert B., Fohrafellner J., Barančíková G., Bárcena T., De Boever M., Di Bene C., Feiziene D., Fornara D., Kätterer T., Laszlo P., O’Sullivan L., Seitz D., Leifeld J.

Together with project partners, Agroscope investigated soil carbon sequestration potentials for 24 European countries. Carbon sequestration could offset 0.1% to 27% of greenhouse-gas emissions from agriculture per annum.

Agroscope, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre, BIOS Science Austria, Prešov University, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, CREA – Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, ATK – Centre for Agricultural Research, Teagasc, Environment, Soils and Land-Use Research, Thünen-Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture

Animal production 06.10.21

Decker A., Zähner M., Dohme-Meier F., Böttger C., Münger A., Heimo D., Schrade S.

Excess nitrogen is excreted in the urine and leads to higher ammonia emissions. Nitrogen in the urine of dairy cows can be estimated based on the urea content of their milk. This information can be used to optimise protein feeding.

Plant production 29.09.21

Debonneville C., Kellenberger I. und Schumpp O.

Bacterial diseases can have a huge impact on potato production yields. The method for detecting these diseases used in Switzerland to date does not allow the growing demand for tests to be met. Agroscope is implementing new solutions.

Plant production 23.09.21

Frick R., Suter D., Dereuder E. und Hirschi H.

Hybrid ryegrass is a high-yielding, versatile forage grass used in many clover-grass mixtures. Out of a total of 23 tested varieties, two new varieties performed particularly impressively in terms of yield and resistance to bacterial wilt.

Environment 21.09.21

T. Gross, A. Keller, M. Müller and A. Gubler.

Calculations carried out by the Swiss Soil Monitoring Network (NABO) over more than 30 years reveal that fertiliser applications and plant-protection products can lead to excess heavy metals in agricultural soils.

Animal production 20.09.21

Mann S.

Antibiotic use could be curtailed through incentives that improve animal health. Most farmers are open to direct payments in support of this.

Environment 14.09.21

Sutter L., Ganser D., Herzog F. and Albrecht M.

Certain crops in Switzerland can benefit from more-species-and-individual-rich wild-bee communities. An Agroscope report shows how this could be achieved.

Environment 02.09.21

Koch U. and Prasuhn V.

What are the possible routes of entry of plant-protection products into surface waters? Agroscope shows the potential input risks in terms of tile drainage, runoff and agricultural point sources for over 20 000 catchment areas.

Plant production 17.08.21

Wuest S.E., Peter R. and Niklaus P.A.

Crop variety mixtures can have various benefits, including greater resistance to pathogens as well as yield stability and increased yields.

Agroscope, University of Zurich

Agricultural economics 05.08.21

Albert von Ow

Agroscope conducts an annual analysis of the risks to food supply on behalf of the Swiss Federal Office for Economic Supply FONES. In 2021, a power shortage, seed imports and climate change were addressed as particular risks.

Plant production 26.07.21

Möhring A., Drobnik T., Mack G., Ammann J. and El Benni N.

A survey of 18 experts from the whole of Switzerland shows what effects a complete or partial avoidance of plant-protection products would have on in-kind yields in arable production.

Plant production 20.07.21

Suter D., Frick R. and Hirschi H.

Italian ryegrass is a high-yielding meadow grass that is often used in clover-grass mixtures. Out of a total of 52 varieties tested by Agroscope, two new frontrunners scored top marks for nearly all traits.

Environment 01.07.21

Yang B., Banerjee S., Herzog C., Corona Ramírez A., Dahlin P. and van der Heijden M.G.A.

Nematodes are important indicators for soil life. An Agroscope study shows that nematode numbers and species diversity are significantly higher in organic vegetable fields than in conventionally farmed fields.

Agroscope, University of Zurich, Sichuan Academy of Giant Panda

Agricultural economics 29.06.21

Häberli I., Contzen S. and Straub U.

Dairy farmers have developed individual strategies designed to maintain or improve their quality of life. A project by BFH-HAFL collected and analysed a variety of those strategies.

BFH-HAFL, Agridea

Environment 24.06.21

Schmidt H.-P., Hagemann N., Abächerli F., Leifeld J., Bucheli T.

An Agroscope study commissioned by the Federal Office for Agriculture shows that the use of biochar clearly has potential, yielding benefits for the climate and ecosystems.

Agroscope, Foundation Ithaka Institute, MR Schweiz AG, Maschinenring Zuger Berggebiet

Environment 31.05.21

Masson S., Chauvel B., Carlen C. und Wirth J.

New tools are being developed to limit the use of herbicides in crops and improve the efficacy of alternative management methods. An update.

Agroscope, INRAE

Animal production 20.05.21

Bugnon A., Viñals R., Abbet C., Chevassus G., Bohnenblust M., Rad M. S., Rieder S., Droz B., Charrière J.-D und Thiran J.-Ph.

A simple smartphone could soon become an essential ally for beekeepers in their battle to control the varroa mite. A mobile application for identifying and counting these tiny parasites in the hive – the first of its kind in Switzerland – has just been developed.

Agroscope, ApiZoom, EPFL, Identitas AG

Food 17.05.21

Ingenhoff J.-E., Mühlemann M., Ackermann-Gäumann R., Moor D. and Berger T.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) pathogens can be transmitted to humans by the consumption of raw milk and raw-milk products from infected goats. The risk is judged to be low, and is most likely to come from on-farm consumption of the (unpasteurised) products.

Agroscope, Spiez Laboratory, Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO)

Food 06.05.21

Wechsler D., Walther B., Dudler V., Aubert R. and Haldimann M.

Sections of the Swiss population are deficient in iodine. Agroscope and the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) examined how the use of iodised salt affects the iodine content of cheese.

Agroscope, Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO)

Environment 29.04.21

Luka H., Knecht M., Whiting L., Studer M., Luka-Stan A., Forlin L. and Cahenzli F.

FiBL field trials demonstrate that sown wildflowers together with the spontaneous arable weed flora in cabbage fields can promote predatory beneficial insects and pollinators. This makes it possible to enhance the ecological value of production areas.

FiBL, Kantonsschule Wettingen, Neue Kantonsschule Aarau, University of Basel

Animal production 28.04.21

Janssens T., Regazzoni L. and Tschudi F.

Swiss aquaculture is enjoying strong growth. However, in order to develop sustainably, the sector needs to be better organised. This study analyses the current situation and proposes a concept for the development of a coordination centre.

Agricultural economics 19.04.21

Ritzel C.

The older the respondents, the better they know and follow the emergency supply recommendations. Experience from the first lockdown can help ensure more stocking-up in future.