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Agricultural economics

Bravin E., Kilchenmann A.

International comparison in apple production

Within the ISAFRUIT project, important production-related (for example yield and grading results) and economic (working hours and producer prices) dimensions were compared between Switzerland and main apple growing EU countries. Producer prices and labor costs are higher in Switzerland than in European Union. Apple surfaces per farm are clearly smaller in Switzerland. Dependent on the…
Plant production

Egger S., Brugger C., Baumgartner D., Bühler A.

Preferences of Swiss Apple Consumers

Apple breeders around the world are trying to please the consumer with the perfect apple. The success of varieties in the demanding market environment mostly depends on the consumer’s taste. To investigate these preferences, the acceptance of 11 varieties was tested with 550 Swiss consumers within the European project ISAFRUIT, in Framework “6”. New varieties…
Agricultural economics

Lanz S., Barth L., Hofer C., Vogel S.

Development of the Swiss Direct Payments System

In future, direct payments shall target consistently the public services provided by agriculture as requested by society. In its report of 6th May 2009, the Federal Council proposed a modification of the current system of direct payments. Measures without specific aims are to be replaced by targeted tools. Thus the effectiveness and efficiency of the…
Other

Wydler H., Picard R.

Care Farming: Social Services in Agriculture

Around one per cent of Swiss family farms provide social services, making Switzerland one of the leading countries in Europe for care farming. Among the services offered, for example, are assisted living and supervised work on a farm for people with disabilities, the placement of children from difficult social backgrounds in farming foster families, and…
Plant production

Dupuis B., Reust W., Hebeisen T., Ballmer T.

Nitrogen supply of new potato varieties cultivated in Switzerland

Nitrogen fertilization trials were conducted in Switzerland with potato cultivars Lady Felicia, Derby, Victoria, Innovator and Marlen in Changins (VD) and Reckenholz (ZH). N Mineral fertilizer treatments varied from 0 to 200 kg N/ha, applied in one to three dressings from plantation until complete soil covering by the plants. The cultivars tested responded similarly to…
Plant production

Dorn B., Musa T., Krebs H., Padruot M. F., Forrer H. R.

From laboratory to field: Copper-free preparations for organic potato production

As of yet, effective direct control of potato late blight in organic potato production requires the application of copper fungicides. However, with common dosage, copper is ecologically harmful. Hence, a considerable reduction or replacement of copper compounds in disease control is desirable. In the framework of the EU-project Blight-MOP comprising a systems approach to manage…
Plant production

Rotzler D., Stamp P., Betrix C. A., De Groote J. C., Moullet O., Schori A.

Agronomic interest of lanceolate leaf in soybean

Adaptation of soybean to Swiss climatic conditions cannot be achieved without a significant reduction of leaf area. This aim can be reached by breeding lines with small leaflets, and also by hybridization using genotypes with lanceolate foliage. In general, the ln allele coding for narrow leaves has no effect on yield while reducing the leaf…
Environment

Aldrich A. P.

Sensitivity of amphibians to pesticides

The sensitivity of amphibians is not being tested for the registration of pesticides. It is implicitly assumed that surrogate species are at least as sensitive as amphibians. Based on literature data, it will be shown that the acute sensitivity of amphibians is comparable to the sensitivity of fish and aquatic invertebrates. It can be said,…
Food

Hadorn R., Beutler E., Schlüchter S., Eberhard P., Silacci P., Scherrer D.

Supplementation of pig trunk material to Saucisson vaudois

Saucisson vaudois, a cold-smoked raw sausage, were produced with and without 8 % trunk material in five meat processing plants being members of the Association charcuterie vaudoise IGP (ACV-IGP). Production occurred by the use of company-specific standards for the recipes and the processing parameters. Supplementation of 8 % trunk material differed only in a few…
Animal production

Miéville-Ott V., Meisser M., Chassot A., Freléchoux F.

PASTO project: towards a realistic scenario for meat production in mountain areas

The PASTO project tested and developed innovative practices in meat production based on Herens breed, that contribute to landscape preservation and to added value creating at local level. A multi-disciplinary approach evaluated the agronomical, economic, technical and sociological aspects of these practical cases. In the perspective of transferring the results to the practitioners, a transversal…
Animal production

Leiber F., Messikommer R., Wenk C

Buckwheat: a feed for broiler chicken?

Three broiler diets were composed, containing respectively 40% of wheat, hulled buckwheat or raw buckwheat. Respectively 24 male broiler chicken (Ross PM3) were fattened with one of these experimental diets from day 8 to 35 of life. Utilization of energy and nutrients as well as fattening performance and weights at slaughter were evaluated. Although fibre…
Animal production

Schori F.

Stocking rates on pasture: effect on herbage quality and milk production

The effects of different stocking rates with grazing dairy cows, respectively post-grazing sward height (GHVP) were studied on herbage quality and milk production in a rotational grazing system under organic farming conditions. During three vegetation periods cows in production were divided into two groups on the organic farm l’Abbaye (Sorens, canton of Fribourg). 15% more…
Plant production

Schürch S., Frei P., Frey R., Wullschleger J., Sierotzki H.

Septoria leaf blotch of wheat: sensitivity to fungicides of the Swiss Mycosphaerella graminicola population

The fungicide resistance level of M. graminicola, a major agent of leaf blotch of wheat, was evaluated in 2008 for samples from 17 fields. Genes coding for the target proteins of QoI and DMI fungicides were characterised genetically. The frequency of the mutation conferring QoI resistance ranged between 1 and 96%, indicating that the Swiss…
Other

Aeberhard A., Rist S.

Transdisciplinary knowledge production in organic agriculture

Especially in the initial phase of organic agriculture practical knowledge and the cooperation between farmers, researchers and extension agents played a central role in knowledge production. At this time knowledge exchange shows many characteristics of transdisciplinary knowledge production. Since then the potential of the collaboration of practice and science has more and more been neglected.…
Animal production

Meisser M., Tarery M., Chassot A., Freléchoux F.

PASTO: pasture management and cattle behaviour in subalpine grasslands dominated by green alder

Shrubland increases in the Alps. One of the main objectives of the Pasto project was to assess the possibilities of limiting reforestation by means of suckler cows in the subalpine zone. Our work aims at clarifying the herd-vegetation relationship, both to ensure good grazing management and to understand the dynamics of reforestation. Most of the…
Environment

Freléchoux F., Viret M., Linder-Berrebi Y., Miéville-Ott V.

PASTO: vegetation dynamics and expectations of the population in terms of landscape

The population barely perceives changes in vegetation that occur very quickly in subalpine regions. In recent decades, large areas have been invaded by woody plants, whilst demand for an open, attractive and readable landscape remains strong. The results of the modeling of vegetation dynamics carried out on the pasture of Larzey show a strong and…
Environment

Fuhrer J., Jasper K.

Irrigation needs for arable land and grassland under current climatic conditions

The demand for irrigation is increasing and a further increase is expected with future climate changes. To support the planning of technical and political measures, data for current and future irrigation water requirements are necessary. Here, a hydrological simulation model was used to determine the need for irrigation water across Switzerland for the period 1980-2006…
Environment

Mühlethaler U., Kamm U.

Innovative direct seeding method in the forest

Forest managers are used to planning for decennials and they need to consider possible climate change scenarios. In addition, storm and bark beetle damage may necessitate rejuvenating the forest earlier and faster than foreseen. As an alternative to traditional plantations, an innovative direct seeding method in the forest is proposed. Trials have been conducted with…
Plant production

Heller W.E., Zoller C.

On the way to a quantitative Chalara test

Yarwood’s traditional and qualitative detection test for the soil borne pathogenic fungi Chalara elegans (synanamorph: Thielaviopsis basicola) and C. thielavioides (synanamorph: Chalaropsis thielavioides) in soils and substrates was modified in order to allow quantitative assessments of the population density of the fungi in soils. Preliminary results of independently repeated tests of different soils show a…
Plant production

Naef A., Monney P., Gasser S.

Replant problems in Swiss apple production

Replant diseases in fruit production affect tree growth and reduce yields when orchards are replanted. In 2008, a survey conducted by Agroscope ACW revealed an increase in replant problems in Swiss apple orchards. Investigations on two apple orchards where trees had been planted in altered row distance, have shown significantly better growth and higher yield…

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