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Intelligent farrowing pen on the way
02/07/2008
Scientists aim to reduce piglet mortality by developing a new type of climate control and monitoring in farrowing pens. The result could be improved pig welfare and farmer finances.



New degree programs in Aarhus, Denmark, will improve food quality
30/06/2008
The University of Aarhus has launched five new progressive degree programmes that focus on climate, nature, environment, agriculture and animal science and, thereby, food quality.




Climate change offers opportunities
27/06/2008
An international conference on challenges and opportunities with regard to climate change will be held in Denmark in 2009.

At eye level with your grass
27/06/2008
Farmers can receive a text message with a forecast for the condition of their grass as an aid in planning grazing, mowing and feeding.


Windy weather included in spraying program
25/06/2008
A new module in the IT-program Crop Protection Online makes it possible for the farmer to adjust his sprayer in relation to biological conditions in the field and how the wind is blowing.

Resistance in the plant world
25/06/2008
Nordic scientists have formed the ’Nordic Resistance Action Group’ in order to handle the challenges connected with increasing resistance against pesticides.



Stress affects species survival
24/06/2008
Unpredictable climate changes and inbreeding are two stress factors that can be critical for the survival of a species.


Cheese with a taste of summer?
24/06/2008
The protein and fat content of milk varies throughout the year, which can affect cheese-making. Scientists will now investigate how the fat and protein compositions vary.





Making friends horse-style
24/06/2008
Scientists are investigating how long it takes for horses not previously acquainted with each other to become buddies.


Getting under the earth’s skin
16/06/2008
A new international soil science research education programme based in Denmark has been launched.

New PhD research fellowships to be offered
12/06/2008
The PhD school SAFE at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Aarhus, will be posting 23 new PhD research fellowships.

Dairy cows’ frequency of visits in automatic milking systems affected by feed formulation
22/05/2008
The composition of concentrates is important for the frequency of visits to the automatic milking system (AMS) and the milk yield.

Huge potential in biomass
21/05/2008
The use of biomass from agriculture can be quintupled from the present level, according to a report prepared by scientists from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Aarhus.


Huge potential in biomass
21/05/2008
The use of biomass from agriculture can be quintupled from the present level, according to a report prepared by scientists from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Aarhus.


Environmental impact can be lessened in pig production
21/05/2008
A more efficient use of nitrogen on pig farms and pig feed with digestion-promoting qualities can help reduce the effect on the environment when farmers produce pigs, according to a PhD thesis from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences.


Better beginnings for pigs in new type of pen
21/05/2008
Floor heating in the farrowing area reduces piglet mortality, according to studies of a new farrowing pen prototype. In their design of the pen, scientists have taken natural sow and piglet behaviour into consideration.



New publication: Phytophthora.exe ver 2.0. PC-program for the storage and upload of Phytophthora infestans isolate information to the EUCABLIGHT database. User manual.
05/05/2008
A manual describing Phytophthora.exe (P.exe), which is a PC-program for the upload of phenotypic and genotypic data regarding Phytophthora infestans to the EUCABLIGHT database, has been published.

Tomato virus transmitted via seeds
24/04/2008
Research results show that the tomato disease caused by Pepino mosaic virus can be transmitted from tomato seeds to tomato plants. The result is lower yield and discoloured tomatoes.

Technology takes over farmers’ fields in the EU
14/04/2008
Together with colleagues from other EU countries, scientists from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences are in the process of assessing the potential for reducing the use of pesticides using precision spraying.

A pig is a pig…or what?
14/04/2008
As the result of an unusual collaboration between the Faculty of Theology and the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at University of Aarhus, for the next months you will be able to find a philosopher in the midst of animal scientists.


Chicory roots can replace castration
14/04/2008
Roots from the chicory plant reduce boar taint and can make castration of male pigs redundant.

New technology on the way to the field
14/04/2008
Online communication between the tractor, the office, GPS and weathermen will make the farmer’s work in the field much more efficient.

Long pig transports to be studied more closely
09/04/2008
When pigs are transported over long distances, we do not know very much about their behaviour and welfare. Scientists from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Aarhus intend to rectify that.



Good news for male pigs – castration not necessary
08/04/2008
If male pigs are slaughtered early they can avoid castration.


Task: Find the best IT-systems for plant protection
08/04/2008
An elimination race is on in an EU project in which the University of Aarhus is participating. The scientists involved are getting an overview of the software available for plant protection in Europe, and are determining which are the best and should be further developed.


EU scientists join forces to fight fungi
08/04/2008
In an extensive EU project, scientists are working together to minimise the use of pesticides using different approaches to the problem. Using plant varieties that are resistant to fungal diseases and adjusting fungicide dosages to suit actual requirements are some of the ways to do it, according to Danish experience.




The best of both worlds
14/03/2008
By combining knowledge and methods from organic and conventional farming farmers can benefit from the best of both worlds in their battle against weeds.

Students to invent the wheel
14/03/2008
It looks like an oversized ant but is a four-legged robot on special wheels. With the wheels, that are still being developed, the diligent “ant” can feed pigs, shepherd animals and mow grass.

Danish bedbugs becoming hardier
09/03/2008
Bedbugs in Denmark are partially resistant to several of the insecticides that are commonly used against them.

Food or energy – is there land enough for it all?
29/02/2008
Energy, food, feed, city and nature – can we humans continue to fill our many demands on the land that is available to us? A new report from the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries with contributions from scientists from the universities of Aarhus and Copenhagen provides an overview of the situation regarding production of biomass for energy.

New publication: Danish pork production – An environmental assessment
22/02/2008
Feed production and slurry handling are the most polluting links in the Danish pork production chain, whereas pig transport pollutes only slightly.

Agricultural degree programmes given the go-ahead
22/02/2008
Four new agricultural degree programmes have recently been officially approved.

New vice-dean on the way to University of Aarhus
21/02/2008
The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Aarhus has appointed professor Henriette Giese from the University of Copenhagen as its new vice-dean.

New publication: Anaerobic digestions of by-products from production of ethanol
21/02/2008
Scientists from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Aarhus have investigated the possibilities of anaerobic digestion of by-products from ethanol processing industries. Anaerobic digestion of such products can be used in the production of biogas.

A peek into the cow using a new monitoring system
21/02/2008
A new monitoring system can discover if a dairy cow is under the weather or in heat. The system, which was ranked as a three star New Product in Europe at Agromek 2008, has been developed on the basis of research results from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Aarhus.

President of the battle against weeds
21/02/2008
The newly appointed president of the European Weed Research Society comes from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Aarhus.

Grass with citrus smell a sour experience
21/02/2008
The fresh and lemony smell of toilet cleaner is something many people find quite refreshing. However, if grass has that smell, it is not something that cattle are particularly keen on. In Uganda the weed plant ”false lemongrass” smells strongly of toilet cleanser and that is a major problem for cattle and farmers.

Knowledge of plant pests in European database
20/02/2008
An extensive EU-project is gathering knowledge about crops and crop protection in one large database. Danish scientists are contributing knowledge about plant pests.

Savings costs in greenhouses
18/02/2008
A new software product for commercial greenhouses uses cloud cover forecasts and knowledge of the variability in electricity prices during the day as a guide to when artificial light should be used. In this way commercial greenhouse gardeners can save energy and benefit their finances and the environment.

Satellites to monitor midges and stop animal diseases
18/02/2008
A new research project will use satellites to predict where in Denmark small blood-sucking midges are most abundant. Midges are millimetre-sized mosquitoes that carry and spread the animal disease Bluetongue.


Impact of soil erosion on the global carbon cycle
09/01/2008
Scientists have long debated whether erosion of agricultural soil has a positive or a negative effect on the global emission of carbon to the atmosphere. An international group of scientists has now come closer to answering the question by, among other things, using information from nuclear fallout from past nuclear testing.

Hot hens more healthy
09/01/2008
The immune system of hens is affected by heat. This can be used to improve hen health to the benefit of producers and consumers.

Fluctuating climate bad news for some species
07/01/2008
Animals that like it hot can be left in the cold and vice versa. Some species may have only one chance to adapt to global climate changes – and that might not be enough. If the climate fluctuates unpredictably, then it can be impossible for some species to survive.


Climate change can lead to new plant diseases
07/01/2008
Danish farmers will need to keep their eyes open for new emerging plant diseases as global warming creates climate changes in Denmark.

Climate changes affect weed control
07/01/2008
Balmier temperatures, wetter winters and more CO2 in the air: that is how it will probably be in the future in Denmark and that will affect the weeds in farmers’ fields.


Danish wine, tomatoes and maize could be the future
07/01/2008
In Denmark climate changes are important with regard to which crops farmers choose to grow. Grain maize will spread to the whole country and there will be more focus on robust and environmentally friendly crop rotations.

Seven groundbreaking piglets chosen as the top Danish science news of the year 2007
07/01/2008
The birth of the world’s first cloned piglets with genes for Alzheimer’s disease produced by scientists at the University of Aarhus and University of Copenhagen won the prize for the best science news of the year 2007.

Danish scientists affect African policy
17/12/2007
Courses and meetings held by Danish scientists in Kenya are building up knowledge and awareness of potential benefits and risk factors of GMO, thus paving the way towards an autonomous decision to introduce GMO into Kenyan fields.

Historic animals with modern benefits
11/12/2007
Old livestock breeds can benefit modern Danish natural landscapes and be used for niche production of ”culturally historic” meat.


Milk flavour starts in the cow pasture
11/12/2007
The first steps towards making designer milk are being taken by scientists who are investigating if you can control milk flavour by controlling the composition of the cow pasture.


From biomass to bioenergy
11/12/2007
There is almost no limit to how much domestic green energy Denmark can produce by growing and producing biomass.

Organic farming may aid rural development
10/12/2007
Conversion to organic farming may promote growth and development of rural areas.


New ladybug enjoys indoor life
10/12/2007
A species of ladybug, that is new in Denmark, enjoys not only the outdoor life but has also been found in Danish homes.

From farm to pharmacy
10/12/2007
On some farms traditional agricultural crops such as grain and sugar beets will be replaced by rosehip and chicory destined for use as plant medicine.

New publication: A New Concept for Practical Feed Evaluation Systems
07/12/2007
A new feed evaluation system for pigs has been developed in Denmark based on new principles. Traditionally, feed evaluation is based on either digestible, metabolizable or net energy. The new feed evaluation system is based on the potential physiologically available energy with direct relation to feed nutrient composition.

New publication: Management Systems for Organic Egg Production - Aiming til improve Animal Health and Welfare
03/12/2007
Animal health and welfare is an important part of organic husbandry, both in terms of the organic principles and owing to the consumer interest. But problems in the organic egg production resulting in high mortality and feather pecking, have led to the need for management tools in order to secure animal health and welfare.

New publication: Supplementary Report from the Danish Working Group on the Co-existence of Genetically Modified Crops with Conventional and Organic Crops
05/11/2007
This Supplementary Report on co-existence of genetically modified crops with conventional and organic crops comprises an update of “the 2003 Report” authored by the same expert group.

Full speed ahead with bioenergy
05/11/2007
The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at University of Aarhus will focus sharply on research in bioenergy.

Nobel Peace prize winner from University of Aarhus
01/11/2007
Former American vice-president Al Gore and the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) share the honour of winning the Nobel Peace Prize 2007.


Biogas for renewable energy and a better environment
01/11/2007
The world’s largest experimental biogas plant was inaugurated on 30 October 2007. The new plant, which is situated at Research Centre Foulum, will improve the utilisation of biogas and the effect of agricultural production on the climate and the environment.

Big brain boost for agriculture
30/10/2007
The University of Aarhus will be starting up 37 PhDs in agriculture, food production and the environment. It is the largest ever Danish investment in the training of experts with specialist knowledge in these areas.

Pesticides continue to be leached from agricultural soils
30/10/2007
A new report from the Danish Pesticide Leaching Assessment Programme reveals that several pesticides or their metabolites are being leached from the root zone of agricultural soils.

Automatic hoof care to improve animal welfare
30/10/2007
Hoof disorders are a common problem in Danish dairy cattle, for which both the animal in question and the industry in general can pay a heavy price. A partnership between scientists, trade organisations and the agricultural industry is now set to try and overcome this problem via a new project funded by a grant from the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries under the Innovation Law.

Important position goes to DJF scientist
12/10/2007
Senior scientist Kristen Sejrsen has been elected president of an international organisation.


Past ignorance comes expensive
12/10/2007
Phosphorus loss from agricultural land to the aquatic environment in Denmark must be reduced to achieve the quality goals for surface waters. Researchers are in the process of mapping high-risk areas and finding effective mitigation options.


Medicine in the fields
09/10/2007
The North European fields of the future will not only be supplying food, feed and bio energy. They will also be supplying plant medicine. Scientists are paving the way by identifying the most promising plants and then finding the most suitable ones and documenting their effect.

Contact with animals is good for the mind
05/10/2007
Scientists plan to investigate how and why contact with animals has a positive effect on humans. More knowledge in the area can contribute to optimising and focusing the effects.

Factory veggies should taste like garden greens
04/10/2007
Packaging is the most critical factor for the quality of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. It is also the most difficult factor to control. Scientists investigate how fresh-cut products keep taste and freshness after processing.

New publication: Participatory Common Learning in Groups of Dairy Farmers in Uganda and Danish Stable Schools
18/09/2007
Farmer Field Schools (FFS) is a well-known concept, which is widely used in many types of farming systems in the Global South. In this report different approaches to FFS adjusted to Ugandan smallholder dairy systems and to Danish organic dairy systems are explored and discussed.

Journey with our reporter to the Far East
07/09/2007
Follow the weblog of our reporter as she travels in Japan and China.

Large mink produce fewer kits
06/09/2007
Large mink dams tend to produce smaller litters and fewer weaned kits. This is a dilemma for the mink farmer since both size and fertility are important breeding goals.

New rules with greater consideration for fur animal welfare
06/09/2007
The new fur animal departmental order includes several new regulations regarding breeding, production and housing of mink and foxes. Some of the rules are based on well-documented research results regarding animal behaviour.

New manure standards available
04/09/2007
The latest updated information regarding farm animal manure is now available on the internet. The tables show the manure’s nutrient content and the amounts of manure that the animals produce.

Fewer weeds and diseases in organic carrots
04/09/2007
Scientists and farmers are joining forces to promote further development of environmentally friendly and labour-saving methods for growing organic carrots.

Pigs programmed to forget
28/08/2007

With the aid of trailblazing biotechnology seven piglets have now seen the light of day with the prospect of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The goal is to glean knowledge about the disease with the aim of preventing and treating it in humans.

Automatic milking moves outdoors
24/08/2007
World premiere: Robot milking of dairy cows directly in the field

Brochures about DJF
15/08/2007
The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at University of Aarhus has published two new brochures about DJF.

New web-tool predicts soil stress exerted by modern agricultural machines
05/08/2007
A new Internet tool illustrates the impact of traffic in the field and may help farmers choose suitable combinations of wheel loads and tyres.

Room for all
05/08/2007
There is room for organic, conventional and genetically engineered crops (GMO) in Danish fields.

The best berries and cherries are from Denmark
05/08/2007
Close collaboration between research and the private sector can help Danish berry growers to survive in the competition with cheap berries and cherries from Poland.

Grapevine news in Denmark
05/08/2007
Danish wine growers are itching to take advantage of the apparently increasing temperatures in Denmark. Together with scientists from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (DJF) at University of Aarhus, the vineyard Hideaway has started investigating which grape varieties are best suited for growing in Denmark.