Swiss Agricultural Research – Archive of the Online Journal

Alpine pastures provide forage for cattle, storage for CO2, food for pollinators, a habitat for countless plants, and fascinate us with their beauty. The extent to which these services are provided depends on location, climate – and cows.

Agroscope

Environment 01.10.24

A mineral soil cover combined with a rise in the water table can mitigate the loss of organic carbon in cultivated peatlands. At the same time, it would allow agricultural productivity to be maintained.

Agroscope, University of Basel

Animal production 26.09.24

A current overview of paratuberculosis describes this chronic disease of cattle, shows how it is being controlled internationally and in Switzerland, and explains why this is important.

Agroscope, Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), University of Bern

Plant production 24.09.24

Berseem and Persian clover are grown mainly as a catch crop in Switzerland. Three new cultivars from the latest Agroscope trials are to be added to the List of Recommended Varieties of Forage Crops.

Agroscope

Agricultural economics 23.09.24

Milk production is the most important production branch of Swiss agriculture. The liberalised cheese trade with the EU requires competitive dairy farms. Despite this, Swiss farms produce milk in a less economically viable way than comparable EU farms.

Agroscope

Agricultural economics 19.09.24

Product and quality differentiation in Swiss cheese markets enables higher and more stable raw milk prices. Protected Geographical Indications (GIs) such as the Swiss AOP (Appellation d'Origine Protégée), could further enhance milk prices, although their effectiveness depends on the strength of the GI label.

Agroscope, ETH Zurich

Agricultural economics 18.09.24

Does pesticide reduction reduce profitability and increase working time? Quite the reverse – Agroscope researchers showed that going pesticide-free can be an attractive proposition.

Agroscope

Food 10.09.24

Climate change is compelling producers to find alternatives to the usual fodders. Sorghum is one alternative. When used in dairy-cattle feed, how does it affect the quality of hard cheeses?

Agroscope, Grangeneuve

Environment 03.09.24

In recent years, plant-based foods have come on the market as alternatives to products of animal origin. Their aim: to positively influence sustainability and health. However, do they really do this? A study conducted by Agroscope and the University of Bern examined the issue.

Agroscope, University of Bern

Environment 29.08.24

Do soils under meadows and pastures in Switzerland take up more carbon than they release, thus contributing to climate protection? According to a new study from Agroscope, they currently do not. Measures to promote carbon storage do, however, exist.

Agroscope

Agricultural economics 14.08.24

Global wine sales have been falling for several years and the Swiss market has not been bucking this trend. Nevertheless, the growing consumption of sparkling wines in Switzerland and the interest in local products are creating new prospects for leveraging wine production.

Agroscope, Schweizerisches Observatorium für den Weinmarkt OSMV, Canton de Vaud

Agricultural economics 13.08.24

The heterogeneity of summer farms in the Swiss Alps must be take into account in order to develop effective policy measures. This should lead to improved conservation of the ecological and economic functions of alpine meadows.

Agroscope

Animal production 07.08.24

Fast and safe three-dimensional (3D) imaging technology gives good in vivo estimates of body and carcass chemical composition in growing beef cattle.

Agroscope, INRAE, 3D Ouest

Plant production 05.08.24

Plants release root exudates – compounds that influence the growth of their neighbours – into the soil. Understanding this mechanism allows us to devise new approaches for biological weed control.

Agroscope, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU)

Environment 29.07.24

Future agricultural policy will aim at innovative and sustainable production systems. Using the example of agroforestry, an assessment method based on an expert survey and the literature has now been tested. The results show that agroforestry can support the transformation into a more sustainable agricultural sector.

Agroscope

Environment 25.07.24

What do ecological focus areas in Swiss farmland contribute? Agroscope experts summarised their impact on biodiversity and ecosystem services in a literature survey.

Agroscope

Plant production 24.07.24

Although fairly widespread in the vineyards of Valais in the 19th century, Blanchier seemed to have disappeared. Now the grape variety was rediscovered in several locations.

Agroscope, University of Neuchâtel

Plant production 23.07.24

Twelve heritage grape varieties grown in Valais and at risk of extinction have been added to Agroscope’s grape varieties collection and studied. This action is linked to the National Action Plan for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources.

Agroscope

Environment 16.07.24

Managing farmland as an Ecological Focus Area (EFA) has a positive impact on its biodiversity. Agroscope has now investigated the effect of implementing this agri-environmental measure on non-EFAs.

Agroscope

Plant production 04.07.24

Are drought-tolerant catch crops a good source of feed? A trial conducted by Agroscope shows that their potential is limited. Combining certain of these catch crops with legumes can improve feed quality, including in the form of silage.

Agroscope

Agricultural economics 24.06.24

An online survey shows that the Swiss population views all agricultural policy goals as important. Although animal welfare and farmers' incomes are the top priorities everywhere, the language regions show differences in their assessment of the goals.

Agroscope, ETH Zurich

Agricultural economics 20.06.24

A study conducted across five European countries has identified the attributes that are important to consumers buying meat and dairy products. The researchers also investigated whether sustainability labels were perceived as helpful.

Agroscope

Environment 18.06.24

The newly designed Swiss agri-environmental monitoring programme ‘MAUS’ aims, as far as possible, to determine environmental impacts for regions and farm types with existing data. The first MAUS report deals with the regionalised nitrogen balance.

Agroscope

Plant production 13.06.24

Foliar applications of a zeolite-based biostimulant improved the yield as well as the export of nitrogen of winter wheat and maize. This represents an option for improving nitrogen use efficiency and reducing losses.

Agroscope, University of Ferrara

Environment 06.06.24

Pre-emptive biological control involves the evaluation of the benefits and risks of the natural enemies of an invasive pest in advance of its arrival, allowing the swift approval and deployment of the natural enemies in an emergency.

Agroscope, Euphresco

Plant production 04.06.24

Although effective microorganisms (EM) are frequently used to shallowly incorporate green manures (cover crops) in the field, almost no scientific research has been conducted on them to date. This study simulated the decomposition of green manures with EM in the laboratory.

Agroscope, FiBL, University of Bern

Animal production 29.05.24

Dual-purpose chicken play some role in Swiss organic agriculture. Their feed efficiency is a challenge, though. Would it help to use more extensive and fibre-rich feed for such genotypes?

FiBL

Environment 28.05.24

Agroscope studied various categories of ecological focus areas and showed that the presence of these in connectivity projects makes a major contribution to large-scale species richness in the agricultural landscape.

Agroscope, University of Zurich, Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach, Hintermann & Weber AG

Food 21.05.24

The study examines the discourse in the media on plant-based alternatives in Switzerland to gain insights into current trends. Instead of questioning consumers directly, the researchers analysed the media discourse which shapes and reflects consumer perceptions.

Agroscope, ETH Zurich, ZHAW

Agricultural economics 16.05.24

The family farm is the backbone of the Swiss agricultural sector. A recent study by Agroscope investigates the extent to which digitalisation has shifted the balance in the institutional structure of farming.

Agroscope

Archive

It’s Not All About Cheese: Cows and Hikers are Not the Only Ones to Benefit from Alpine Pastures

Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Drained Peatlands – Is It Possible?

Paratuberculosis in Cattle: International Evolution and Situation in Switzerland

Three New Berseem and Persian Clover Cultivars

Swiss versus EU Dairy Farms: Who Can Cover their Costs?

Product and Quality Differentiation in the Swiss Cheese Market Enhances Raw Milk Prices

Reducing Pesticides can be Advantageous, Depending on the Crop

What Effect Does Sorghum-based Feeding Have on Cheese Quality?

Alternative Products for Meat and Dairy: Better for Health and the Environment?

Do Permanent Grasslands Contribute to Climate Protection?

Development Opportunities for Swiss Sparkling Wines

Understanding Alpine Farming for Targeted Policymaking

Using 3D Imaging to Optimise the Diet of Growing Cattle

Root Exudates: A Means of Communication and Interaction between Plants

Agroforestry’s Contribution to a Sustainable Agricultural Policy in Switzerland

Ecological Focus Areas in Farmland and their Contribution

Blanchier: Ancient Variety Rediscovered in Vineyards in Valais

Performance of Endangered Heritage Grape Varieties in the Vineyards of Valais

How Does the Share of Farmland Classified as Ecological Focus Area Affect Farm Biodiversity?

Catch Crops for Feed Production in Drought Conditions

Language Regions Assess Agricultural Policy Goals Differently

Consumers Prioritise Animal Welfare over Environmental Sustainability

Heading towards a Regionalised Nitrogen Balance

Effects of a Zeolite-based Foliar Biostimulant on Winter Wheat and Maize

Pre-emptive Selection of Natural Enemies of Invasive Pests

Can Effective Microorganisms Influence Green-Manure Decomposition?

Roughage Components in Nutrition of Layers – Does it Make Sense for Dual-Purpose Poultry?

Interconnected Ecological Focus Areas Are Particularly Valuable for Species Richness

Plant-Based Alternatives – an Analysis of the Last Ten Years

Digital Farming Is Strengthening the Role of Contractors