Archive
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Agricultural amonia emmissions and particulate matter
In the atmosphere, ammonia reacts with nitric and sulphuric acid and produces low volatile salts. These can significantly contribute to particulate mass by either partitioning onto existing particles or building new particles. The acids are mainly produced from precursors arising from traffic, industry and households. In contrast, ammonia originates by about 90 % from agricultural…
Extented field margins – a new element of ecological compensation in farmed landscapes – deliver positive impacts for Articulata
The sub-project “Effects of newly established extended field margins upon ground beetles and spiders” examined the influence of extended field margins (Säume) upon epigeal arthropods, especially ground beetles and spiders. Surveys were conducted in the Klettgau area in Schaffhausen canton, Switzerland, and in Litzibuch in Aargau canton. In each of the two areas, two extended…
Which influence has sunflower on the development of bee colonies (Apis mellifera)?
In Switzerland, sunflower cultivation extend since the nineties and reaches about 5’000 ha nowadays. The sunflower seeds are not treated with insecticides (imidacloprid, fipronil) but despite that, Swiss beekeepers are complaining about colony losses if the hives are placed close enough to fields of blooming sunflower. We carried out a two years trial, in order…
Extensive steer fattening including a summering period
In Switzerland, many mountain pastures risk to be abandoned in the near future due to a decreasing number of summered cattle on mountain pastures. In order to avoid scrub invasion and reforestation, one solution consists in developing alternative utilization schemes and in extensifying these areas. The effect of a reduced stocking rate on fattening performance…
Changing values and emerging markets – the case of farm animal leasing
Changing social preferences are a consequence from historical, cultural and societal processes. They led to a cultural movement away from materialistic and towards post-materialistic values which often materialize in public goods or externalities. This leads towards an agriculture whose focus shifts from the supply of food towards satisfying post-materialistic needs. As this needs have specific…
Silage additives and aerobic stability – test results 2005
In autumn 2005 the efficacy of the two silage additives DoubleAction Ecocorn Granulat and Fireguard WS (water-soluble product) was investigated. In addition, a treatment without additive (negative control) and a treatment with propionic acid (positive control) were tested. The maize was harvested at two different dry matter levels (30 and 40 % dry matter) and…
Mycotoxins in Swiss cereals and feeds – a literature review
The review is based on surveys published between 1980 and 2003 regarding Fusarium contamination in Swiss cereals as well as the occurrence of mycotoxins in Swiss cereals and compound feeds. Aflatoxin was detected in only a few of the 3500 analysed feed samples. Low levels of aflatoxin were detected in indigenous maize that had been…
Stimulators for the natural defence of plants – a topic in vegetable gardening
Recently the increased use of stimulators by Swiss vegetable growers could be observed. Many of these substances/products are applied alone or in combination with other plant protection products, yet with varying success. The use of stimulators on farms appears in most cases without any control, which does not allow a scientific evaluation. According to Swiss…
Fatty acids composition of ewe`s milk at different altitudes
The fatty acid composition was determined in ewe’s milk (pasture feeding), originating from plain, subalpine and alpine areas. Significant differences were encountered in the milk of the three origins. Compared to cow milk, the fatty acids which differed significantly depending on the altitude were often different, probably because of the different fodder specific for sheep…
Nutrients balance on a mountain dairy farm
From 1994 to 2003 three methods to measure the nutrients balance were compared on the dairy farm La Frêtaz (VD). Since 1994 no mineral fertilisers were applied on permanent grassland. At the whole farm level the difference between nutrients inputs and outputs was null or positive for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and magnesium.…
Agricultural policy 2011: background, strategy, measures
On 17 May 2006 the Federal Council submitted a package of agricultural policy proposal to parliament (Agricultural Policy 2011). The proposed changes to 6 federal laws constitute a further step in the reform of Swiss agricultural policy that was instigated 15 years ago. The Federal Council thereby pursues three aims. Firstly, the potential for lowering…
fe in the countryside and in agriculture in the focus of happiness research
It is known from happiness research that some social and economic factors systematically influence individual happiness. By data from the Swiss Health Survey it is analysed whether rural life and farming belong to these factors. Indeed, persons in small communities are, on average, happier than people in urban centres. But agriculture only contributes (negatively) to…
Influence of standard labour units on work income
The present study analyses the influence of certain components or modules of the standard labour unit (SLU) on the work income per annual labour unit. SLU module 1, based on general structural characteristics such as area and livestock numbers, has a major positive impact. The complements to SLU module 1, and module 2, however, do…
The methods of soil extraction with water and CO2 satutrated water
The chemical processes of two Swiss soil tests for phosphorus availability were examined to allow a comparison: Extraction in the ratio of 1 g of soil to 2.5 ml of CO2-saturated water (CO2-P) and in the ratio 1:10 with pure water (H2O10-P), both followed by colorimetric P determination. Apart from orthophosphate up to 80 %…
Perennial Ryegrass. 61 Varieties Tested
From 2003 to 2005 Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon (ART) and Changins-Wädenswil (ACW) had been testing 61 varieties of perennial ryegrass at eight experimental sites. Data on yield, juvenile development, persistence, disease resistance, winter hardiness, competitive ability and adaptation to higher altitudes were obtained. With the data an index value was calculated, allowing for a general evaluation of…
Effect of cut number, stage of maturity and method of conservation on amino acid contents of forages
The amino acid (AA) contents of 42 forages were analysed. During three consecutive years, forage samples from the first and third cut were collected at two stages of maturity (30 days apart) on the same experimental plots. After cutting, the forage samples were either frozen (-20°C), artificially dried (forced air at 30°C, <45% relative humidity),…
New varieties of white clover and bentgrasses tested
Between 2003 and 2005 Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon (ART) and Changins-Wädenswil (ACW) had been conducting trials with 25 varieties of white clover and four varieties of bent grasses at five and eight experimental sites, respectively. For comparison of the varieties, data on yield, juvenile development, persistence, disease resistance, winter hardiness, competitive ability and adaptation to higher altitudes…
The spring wheat breeding program in Switzerland
This article presents the spring wheat breeding program at the Swiss federal research station of Changins and its results in Switzerland and in the world. Since the first Swiss crosses in 1947, the selection of spring wheat aims to obtain varieties of excellent baking quality (classes I or TOP) and very good disease resistance. Today,…
Antibiotic use in 2003 and 2004 on dairy farms
Until now only rough estimations concerning the amounts of antibiotics used in milk production were available. Our objective was to obtain more reliable information on the average quantity and type of antibiotic used on dairy farms by evaluating the stipulated treatment records for milk production farms. The evaluation of the recordings from a representative sample…
Influence of the botanical composition of grass or silage on milk composition
Land-laws in German speaking countries contain restrictions how a farm is valued in cases of succession or inheritance. We construct a system dynamics model to estimate the impacts which legal concepts have for agricultural structures and the land market. It shows that current laws slow down structural change and prevent a broader distribution of land.
