Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Making Hay the Swiss

I was lucky enough to spend a week in Switzerland mid September and visit a number of farms. Here we had the chance to make "hay" the Swiss way. Farmer get different rebates from the government depending on how they manage their land.

 

Views: 558

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John Schwartzentruber on October 6, 2011 at 10:14am
That is fascinating! Thanks for posting the video. Can't see some of our operators rushing to try that technology though!
Permalink Reply by Roadrunner on November 6, 2011 at 5:57am

Nice video Mackenna,

The Swiss must subsidize the milk producers alot if they can use lawn mowers to cut hay.

There practices are not likely cost competitive with the mass production dairy farms in California etc.

How large was the dairy you visited?

 

Permalink Reply by Mackenna Roth on November 8, 2011 at 5:36am

Hi Roadrunner,
This farmer here had about 50 head milking. It was a learning great learning experience and I really enjoyed seeing the differences in the North American vs European way of farming.

I also visited a few farms that were very modern as well as two apple farms. The Swiss had an amazing year for Apples, the trees were so full. Never had seem something like that before. As well as a mini - kiwi farm.
Mac

Roadrunner said:

Nice video Mackenna,

The Swiss must subsidize the milk producers alot if they can use lawn mowers to cut hay.

There practices are not likely cost competitive with the mass production dairy farms in California etc.

How large was the dairy you visited?

 

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Ag Salary Benchmarking: How Agribusinesses Set Competitive Pay

In a tightening labor market, agribusinesses are turning to specialized salary benchmarking tools to set competitive compensation and retain top talent across agriculture and food sectors.

Ontario Grain Farmers Open 2026 Legacy Scholarship

The 2026 Grain Farmers of Ontario Legacy Scholarship offers financial support to eligible Ontario students pursuing post-secondary studies that contribute to the future of the grain and agri food sector

CROPLAN Expands Canola Portfolio with Brevant® Hybrids

CROPLAN expands its canola lineup by adding proven Brevant® hybrids, providing Canadian growers and independent retailers with reliable seed choices for the 2027 growing season.

From Tractors to Putting Livestock at Risk: The Rising Cyber Risk Facing Canadian Farms

Canadian farms are becoming cyber targets. Experts urge better awareness training and faster response to protect livestock food systems and farm technology.

Western Canadian Wheat and Barley Breeding Groups Push for New Long-Term Vision

Western Canadian wheat and barley breeding groups say the sector is at an “inflection point” and needs a renewed, collaborative vision to keep delivering better varieties for farmers and end-use customers. The Canadian Wheat Research Coalition recently brought together stakeholders directly involved in wheat and barley plant breeding in Winnipeg to discuss the future of the sector. Participants included the Canadian Barley Research Coalition, Seeds Canada, the University of Manitoba, the University of Saskatchewan Crop Development Centre and the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Alberta. In a joint statement Thursday, the groups said they agreed that Western Canada’s wheat and barley breeding system should be innovation-driven, while allowing collaboration and competition to exist side by side. The shared goal is to attract more diverse investment and provide farmers with a wider choice of superior, field-ready varieties that meet market

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service