By the end of October, the hens had laid 2.8 percent more eggs in Swiss stables than in the previous year, according to the statistics of the Aviforum Foundation to promote Swiss poultry production and husbandry. Especially in summer, significantly more eggs were produced. And in the stores there were promotions on eggs and egg products.
The big egg peak periods remain Easter and Christmas days. The market could be completely covered with eggs from conventional farms, except for organic eggs, as the Agricultural Information Service (LID) announced.
In general, Swiss consumers prefer Swiss poultry. Up to September, one percent more chickens and turkeys were produced than in the same period last year. By contrast, the production of beef and veal declined.
Tree bug led to crop failures
The balance for fruit and vegetable producers is less pleasing. The marbled tree bug affected the crops, the losses in fruit are up to 20 percent (2018: 10 percent). The pest also affected crops in the vegetable tunnels, but also in the field. Countermeasures are currently being studied.
Summer was also challenging for rapeseed. At 68,000 tons, the harvest was significantly smaller than the maximum quota of 93,500 tons. In addition to high pest pressure, the rapeseed farmers also had a negative impact on the consequences of frost in spring.
There were two long periods of heat in the summer, Agir says. In contrast to 2018, it had rained sufficiently in different regions. For the grain, for example, the climate was ideal in summer.
Low point in honey production
Things were going less well for the vegetable growers. After a good start to the season, production declined because heat waves followed after extensive rains. For example, the potato harvest was 33,000 tonnes less than in 2018.
However, the biggest losers in 2019 were the beekeepers. The honey harvest was never so bad in Switzerland with 13 kilograms per bee colony. In 2018 there were a whopping 10 kilograms more per nation. Above all, the very poor harvest in spring put pressure on the result. The cold May meant that the bees had to tap their honey reserves so that the colonies survived. (SDA)
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