The Department of Agriculture of the Swiss Canton of Wallis reorganizes its priorities. The management of pests and diseases should get more attention. The canton Wallis has created two new centers to intensify the fight against pests and diseases. Especially the management of the spotted wing drosophila (SWD), fire blight, and the Flavescence dorée will become a focus point.
This year the SWD has caused massive damage to apricots, especially the variety Luizet. Furthermore, the grape harvest starts soon. The canton recommends winegrowers to apply hygiene and prevention measures and regularly check their acreage and only use insecticides if the limits are reached.
Since the discovery in 2011 of the SWD in Wallis, the Department of Agriculture created a broad network of traps on agriculturally used land. In 2016 additional traps were placed in other areas suitable for the hibernation and migration of the SWD.
Every week, in collaboration with 35 producers, 400 pieces of fruit and 2,000 grapes are sampled across the entire state. These samples are examined under the microscope to detect eggs of the SWD and determine the level of maturity. Together with Agroscope (the Swiss research institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment) trials are conducted in order to improve the effectiveness of the current measures.
For more information:
Landwirtschaftlicher Informationsdienst LID
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Postfach
3000 Bern 6
Schweiz
Phone: 0041 31 359 59 77
Fax: 0041 31 359 59 79
info@lid.ch
www.lid.ch