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Environment

Menzi H., Gerber P., Steinfeld H.

Livestock density and nutrient balances in Asia

In response to the strong increase of the demand for animal protein, a rapid growth of intensive livestock production is under way in Asia. The often landless industrially organised production causes serious impacts to the environment. An international initiative prepares decision support tools and studies sustainable strategies to attack the problem. In this framework, the…
Agricultural economics

Mann S.

The Swiss Farm Structure in 2008

Forecasts are made on the future development of Swiss agricultural structures by using results of an ex-post-analysis on the determinants of structural change. As a result, the structural change in Swiss agriculture will continue with an annual rate of 2.7 per cent less farms each year. Small farms with up to ten hectares will have…
Food

Eberhard P., Bütikofer U., Sieber R.

Vitamins in stored high heated milk

Whole milk was pasteurised with a direct method at 125 °C and an indirect method at 115 °C. Immediately after heating and storage at 5 °C during 1 and 4 weeks, the vitamins B1, B6, B12 as well as folic acid were examined. No losses due to storage (storage losses) were detected with Vitamin B12…
Plant production

Schubiger F.X., Streckeisen Ph., Boller B.

Rust diseases of ryegrass

In Switzerland the most common rust disease of Italian and perennial ryegrass is crown rust (Puccinia coronata f.sp. lolii). The alternate host of P. coronata is common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica). Breeding for resistance to crown rust is a major component of our ryegrass improvement program. In order to assess the variation in pathogenicity of crown…
Agricultural economics

Mann S.

Determinants of structural change in agriculture

The change of Swiss agricultural structures 1985-2001 is explained by macroeconomic, sectoral and farm-specific variables. Expected explanatory patterns arise (eg. the influence of the farmer’s age), but also unexpected ones. The off-farm income, for example, plays a more important role to preserve agricultural structures than agricultural income. Acreage as a size variable has a stabilising…
Agricultural economics

Luder W.

Rural work: Definition of a general standard

Currently, rural work is increasingly subject to public discussion. The working time requirements of rural enterprises are also of significance for different agro-political measures. But how can rural work be measured or calculated? Depending on the measure, different definitions are possible. All standards have been based on the same labour economics data, however, the strict…
Environment

Jossi W., Valenta A., Bruderer R., Scherrer C., Dubois D.

Bait test:Suitability and limits for faunistical assessments in the field

In different farming systems the activity of predatory arthropods was measured in the field with larvae of Galleria mellonella L., placed as baits on the soil. On average a slightly higher predation rate was determined in ecological systems than with more intensive cropping methods. However, the differences were small. In the trials Burgrain, Strickhof and…
Plant production

Hebeisen Th., Charles R.

Cultivation of spring peas and winter peas

In Switzerland, field peas are cultivated on 2900 ha. For spring peas, growers can choose between several varieties with high yield, excellent protein content and increased resistance against lodging potential. Due to breeding progress, winter peas have been successfully introduced in the main areas for field crops in Switzerland replacing spring peas or as a…
Animal production

Thomet P., Kohler S., Stettler M., Niemeyer L., Schweizer E., Riedwyl H.

Extending the grazing season with turnips

Extending the grazing period in autumn allows savings of expensive winter feed. Over three years the yield potential of ten turnip varieties and other autumn crops were studied on three sites. With an average of 6.5 t/ha dry matter (DM), the turnips had clearly higher yields than the grass clover ley (SM200; 2.9 t/ha DM)…
Plant production

Wyss U.

Sugar beet pulp and silage quality

In the next years the sugar beet factories in Switzerland intend to press the sugar beet pulp more strongly. In an experiment we ensiled sugar beet pulp with 20 % (standard) and 27 % dry matter (DM) in order to investigate the influence of the DM-content on the fermentation quality and on the aerobic stability.…
Animal production

Frick G., Roetschi A., Hauswirth H.

Animal feed analysis using microcopy

Since the appearance of mad cow disease (BSE), most of the animal feeds sold or produced in Switzerland are officially and systematically tested for contamination with animal by-products. The method of analysis consists in fractionating (sedimenting and sieving), followed by coloration and observation under the microscope. Particles of animal origin are recognized by their color,…
Agricultural economics

Spring P., Gavillet D., Joray S., Müller C., Hilty R., Van Caenegem L.

Investment costs for larger dairy barns in Switzerland

The aim of the present survey was to evaluate the investments for larger dairy barns in Switzerland based on realized objects. The investments were analyzed on 22 objects built between 1998 and 2001 with an average capacity of 84 animal units (AU) (52 – 190 AU). The capital cost was evaluated based on the construction…
Agricultural economics

Stucki B.

Women in Agriculture Today

The present study examines the position of women in agriculture in Switzerland. It is still the case that many women who work in the agricultural sector today come from a farming background. As a rule, however, their principal training was not in agriculture. Their main spheres of activity are housework, family and gardening, followed by…

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