Archive

2,454 posts

Categories
Select one or more categories (Optional.)
Reset
Environment

Herzog F., Richner W, Walter Th.

Moderately positive effects of ecological measures

Farmers provide the proof of ecological performance (PEP) for 97 % of the utilised agricultural area of Switzerland. Ecological measures and PEP have significantly reduced the environmental damage caused by agriculture. The pollution of water and air with nitrate, phosphorous and ammoniac has decreased and ecological compensation areas contribute to stabilising the biodiversity of agricultural landscapes.…
Plant production

Eggenschwiler L., Jacot K.

Flora and seed bank during and after set-aside

Wildflower strips are sown with species-rich wildflower seed mixtures and stay at the same place between two and six years. After this period wildflower strips are tilled and reintegrated in the crop rotation. In a five-year field experiment in Hüttwilen (canton of Thurgau) we examined flora and seed bank in the soil during and after…
Plant production

Gantner S., Egger S., Szalatnay D., Kellerhals M.

Inventory and description of fruit genetic resources n Switzerland

Switzerland is especially rich in fruit genetic resources. In the course of the national plan of action (NAP) of the Federal Office of Agriculture (BLW) an inventory of the fruit diversity was untedertaken from 2000 to march 2005 by the association Fructus in collaboration with Agroscope FAW Wädenswil and private associations. The inventory of still…
Food

Collomb M., Eberhard P., Wechsler D., Sieber R.

Seasonal variation of fatty acids in alpine butter

A previous study has shown the small variation in the concentration of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) in alpine dairy products during the grazing period. The present study complements our knowledge of the influence of grazing period on the concentration of other fatty acids in alpine dairy products. Generally, the concentration of these fatty acids was…
Food

Fröhlich-Wyder M.-T., Eugster-Meier E.

Can Swiss type cheese be produced without a period in the fermentation room?

Laboratory investigations at Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux, Swiss Federal Research Station for Animal Production and Dairy Products ( ALP), had shown that propionibacteria are also able to grow relatively well at low temperatures (14º C). This could be proven not only for the two cultures Prop 01 and Prop 96, but also for many other strains too.…
Agricultural economics

Raaflaub M., Genoni M.

Prices for agricultural means of production in Switzerland an in EU countries

In Switzerland, as well as in the neighbouring EU countries Germany and France, a survey of producers` prices for fertilisers, pesticides, seed and veterinary medicines was made. The assumption often heard in public discussions that prices are higher in Switzerland was generally confirmed and documented with a wide range of data. The survey showed that…
Plant production

Siegrist-Maag S., Suter M., Lüscher A.

Ragwort and grassland-management – a connection?

Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea L.) is an important weed in various countries (Great Britain, New Zealand). In recent years, the species has also gained attention in Switzerland. Our investigation involved a survey to assess the influence of grassland management on the presence of ragwort and to identify important site conditions associated with the species. Botanical relevés…
Environment

Calanca P., Fuhrer J., Jasper K., Torriari D., Keller F., Dueri S.

Climate change and agricultural production

The shift in climatic conditions expected for the coming decades could become a major challenge for the Swiss agriculture. Relevant questions in this context concern the extent of the regional climate changes, their impact on agricultural ecosystems and the possibility for agriculture to adapt to the new conditions. Providing an answer to these questions is…
Environment

Reidy B., Menzi H.

Farm and manure management in Switzerland

Reliable estimates of ecological impacts of agriculture require a detailed knowledge of farm management and structure. To establish a new Swiss ammonia emission inventory, a representative survey on parameters relevant for ammonia emissions was conducted in 2002. The stratified sample of farms allowed the differentiation between nine different regions and four farm types. The results…
Environment

Neftel A., Ammann Ch., Calanca P., Flechard Ch., Fuhrer J., Leifeld J., Jocher M.

Greenhouse gas budgets of grassland systems

The field experiment «Kyoto-Wiese» in Oensingen (CH) shows that the conversion of arable land to intensively managed permanent grassland leads to an increase in the soil C-content of around 1.5 tons per hectare and year, provided that a sufficient amount of N-fertilizer is applied. This sequestration of carbon corresponds roughly to the yearly emission from…
Plant production

Uehlinger G., Pfiffner L., Schaffner D.

Does soil tillage cutting regime improve the quality of wildflower strips?

We have investigated effects of single soil tillage or cutting regime on the quality of wildflower strips including a control treatment without any regime. The treatments were performed at three different dates at the 2nd (autumn) and 3rd (spring and autumn) year. A randomized plot-trial was set up during 1996-2001 with four replicates, where the…
Agricultural economics

Beyeler Ch., Friedli R., Spring P., Hilty R.

Investment costs for fattening pig houses

The aim of the present survey was to evaluate the investments for fattening pig barns in Switzerland based on realized objects. The investments were analyzed on 24 objects built between 1997 und 2004 with an average capacity of 372 fattening pigs (FP) (200 to 800 FP). The capital cost was evaluated based on the construction…
Agricultural economics

Marbé-Sans D., Heitkämper K., Schick M.

Measurement of standard times in horticulture

Actually the FAT database of standard times in horticulture is revised. In general standard times are measured in grape, appel, cherry and berry cultures and some single vegetable cultures.The application of the standard time methods is described by using different examples of horticultures. The focus is on the difference between standard times on the one…
Agricultural economics

Huber R., Rieder P.

Economic costs of Swiss agriculture

Since the separation of price and income policies, the economic costs on the supply side of Swiss agriculture have decreased considerably. They amount to about half a billion Swiss francs, which corresponds to 0,15 % of the Swiss net social product in 2002. Compared to the overall costs in Swiss agriculture, the loss of social…
Animal production

Wyss U.

Testing silage additives 2004

In 2004, we tested the efficacy of the silage additive EM to promote the main fermentation. The trials were carried out in small-scale silos with a mixture of lucerne and cocksfoot. Forage of the first and also of the second cut was ensiled at two different dry matter levels (about 20 and 30 % dry…
Environment

Tobias S., Nüesch A., Nebel R., Guilmain A.-L.

Suburban agriculture or landscape management?

Cities and conurbations are usually located in places that are favourable for agriculture. However, in urban regions there are very few people working in the agricultural sector. Although most people use the landscape adjacent to residential areas for recreation, they still expect an agrarian look of this landscape. An investigation of agricultural structures of municipalities…
Plant production

Suter D., Briner H., Mosimann E., Jeangros B., Stévenin L.

Variety trials with tall- and golden oat-grass

Between 2002 and 2004, Agroscope FAL Reckenholz and RAC Changins tested four varieties of tall oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius L) and four varieties of golden oat-grass (Trisetum flavescens L.) at five and seven experimental sites respectively. The varieties were compared for yield, juvenile development, vigour, disease resistance, winter hardiness and competitive ability. With golden oat-grass the…
Agricultural economics

Kopainsky B., Rieder P.

Decentralised settlement: Who can replace agriculture?

Settlement can no longer be assured by agriculture alone. An integrated, regional approach is essential if decentralised settlement is to be maintained. This paper investigates the future prospects of endangered boroughs and the impact of development strategies designed to stabilise employment and population. A dynamic simulation model serves as the basis for this study. The…
Agricultural economics

Buchli S., Kopainsky B., Rieder P.

Agriculture and decentralised settlement

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the manner in which agriculture fulfils the obligations relating to its contribution to decentralised settlement and the respective measures implemented by the Federation. In the first stage, we investigate the role of agriculture in the situation threatening decentralised settlement and come to the conclusion that the sector…
Agricultural economics

Mack G., Pfefferli S.

Regional and national economic forecasts for different policy scenarios

The Swiss federal milk and meat market policy is due to undergo reform over the next few years. This article investigates the consequences of various policy scenarios on the basis of model calculations. The results clearly show that reducing milk-market support without modifying the direct payment system would lead to a decrease in dairy-cow livestock,…

Project partners

  • Logo AGRIDEA
  • Logo Agroscope
  • Logo ETH Zürich
  • Logo ZHAW

© 2026 Agrarforschung Switzerland Terms and conditions