Swiss dairy farms are more strongly affected by structural change than other farm types. An analysis of the farms exiting the sector or switching focus highlights influencing factors.
No negative impact of pre-flowering application of the insecticide sulfoxaflor on Osmia bicornis was found. And fungicide azoxystrobin did not interact synergistically with sulfoxaflor.
Biodiverse mountain pastures are being overgrown by green alder shrubs. A study conducted by Agroscope and ETHZ shows that hardy sheep and goats can stop shrub encroachment. In particular, the traditional Engadine sheep has a taste for green alder.
On alpine pastures, measures for controlling problematic plants are limited. Nevertheless, grazing offers many options, with goats e.g. able to reverse the advance of green alder.
Agroscope’s new 2022–2025 Work Programme aims to strengthen system research and co-create more research with farmers. It is also increasingly guided by the principles of agroecology.
Agroscope and partners are launching the EU research project MonoGutHealth. This project aims to use innovative nutrition strategies to promote gut microbial colonisation in pigs and chickens in order to strengthen their resilience.
Using pigs to control yellow nutsedge is environmentally friendly, effective, protects the soil, and creates added value: the flesh of the animals can be sold as meat.
