The purpose of this paper is to identify the main characteristics of the modern farm in Lithuania and to analyse correlation between features, which should have a modern farm, to understand the age of agricultural system and agricultural concept. The research based on the answers of two groups of experts (180 experts: 98 experts-professionals and 82 experts-farmers). The present paper is examining the characteristics and role of agriculture modernization in the economic and social development of Lithuania. The main characteristics of the modern farm are: new machinery and equipment, technologies, modern production buildings, farms apply a range of innovations, farmers are seeking knowledge are interested in innovation, take part in exhibitions, events, they are energetic, creative and implementing good management practices. Big farms in Lithuania had the opportunity to devote more funds to co-finance structural support, and were able to get more support and modernize faster than small or medium-sized farms. The big farms are more modernised than small ones, but the impact of farm modernization on the rural development sustainability is bigger and more positive from the smaller farms than bigger ones.

The paper aims at examining the levels of social cohesion and socio-economic dysfunctionality in former State Agricultural Farms (post-PGR) areas and at assessing the possibilities for initiating bottom-up actions, and for participating in the creation of mechanisms for local development. Data used in the study was obtained in multimethods approach, i.e. mainly during a questionnaire survey, in-depth interviews and observation concerning the financial situation and the social environment (social problems and cohesion), that is, the elements predicted to be the key factors obstructing effective corrective actions within local development. We have demonstrated that post-PGR areas should be treated as especially problematic not only because of their economic dysfunctionality, but mainly because of the complex social problems they experience (lack of local ties, hostility, aggression between neighbors). Such a difficult environment requires substantial interference which should take into account the problems specific to the population. The threat resulting from the heterogeneity of such communities should be a significant factor shaping the perception of local development problems.

Innovative activity of small and medium-sized enterprises is one of the factors for effective business. The aim of the article is to determine the innovative activities of small and medium-sized businesses in the frontier regions of Latvia (Latgale region), Lithuania (Vilnius region, Alytus region, Utena region, Panevezys region, Kaunas region), Belarus (Vitebsk region, Grodno region, Minsk region, Mogilev region). The novelty of the research has a cognitive character: the authors have determined the level of innovation potential for small and medium-sized enterprises in the regions, which is characterized by a complex of various resources, the amount of the production of innovative product and innovative technology, service in the regions, the branch structure of innovations in the regions, dominance of certain models of innovative entrepreneurship on the basis of innovative process organization in the companies located in the frontier regions has been established. The following methods are used for the research: logical analysis and synthesis, monographic and analytical method for studying economic theoretical and empirical sources of the international level, quantitative and statistical methods of data processing – frequency analysis, sampling; for the collection of the initial primary data the instrument of questionnaire was used.

In the EU during the last decade, interest has risen for both consumers and producers in Food Quality Schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs. For producers, the appeal lies in the benefits associated with the collective reputation of quality that characterizes labels linked to geographical origin. This paper obtained estimates of technical and scale inefficiencies of PGI bean farms in Greece by applying the DEA methodology. The main part of the divergence from the efficient frontier is more due to inadequate use of inputs and less because farms are not operating at the optimal size. The vast majority of the farms in the sample achieved technical efficiency scores in the range of 70–100% and scale efficiency scores in the range of 80–100%. Average technical efficiency is lower than average scale efficiency which means that a larger segment of overall inefficiency is due to producing below the frontier than to operating at an inefficient scale.

The purpose of the research is to evaluate the technologies, available to the Latvia’s sector of fish processing and their utilized capacity, as well as to identify the factors influencing production process, providing recommendations for development and improvement of further policy of the sector. The author evaluated availability and utilized capacity of production technologies in the Latvia’s sector of fish processing, considering the analysis of financial indicators of the made investments, production capacity load and fish processing companies. In view of economic theory, the factors, influencing the production process of Latvia’s sector of fish processing, were defined. As a result of analysis, the author established that the development of production of Latvia’s fish processing sector is to a great extent influenced by the availability of human resources, raw materials and investments, as well as undertaking. For further development and policy planning of the sector it would be advisable to take into account these factors, influencing the production process of Latvia’s sector of fish processing and their changes. The formed combinations of indicators may be used in scientific researches on establishment of production technologies availability and their utilized capacity, and identification of factors, influencing the production process; they may facilitate researches for its calculation and importance, as well as may assist the institutions involved in the fisheries’ policy formation to work more successfully and improve the common policy in the field.

Spatial modifications should be introduced in areas where members of the local community actively participate in consolidation projects. Social acceptance is the key prerequisite for successful land consolidation. How should the sequence of land consolidation measures be planned in a rural area whose inhabitants have not expressed their opinions about the project? Are the existing criteria, which are applied to evaluate land consolidation measures mostly in agricultural regions, sufficient? Scientists and practitioners have been developing criteria that should be taken into account in the process of planning land consolidation measures. This article analyzes the criteria for planning land consolidation measures in Poland. Most of them are based on economic parameters, such as farm fragmentation, average land plot area, average farm area, shape of farm fields, proportion of plot sides. A criterion that is disregarded in the planning process is the local community’s attitude to the undertaking. This article attempts to define additional criteria for planning land consolidation measures based on the local community’s attitude to the project. The study was carried out in the Lublin Region, which is characterized by the highest number of land consolidation schemes in Poland. Attempts were made to describe social activity levels in the region’s rural municipalities. The selection of variables characterizing the local community was a key stage of the study. Variables that were indirectly indicative of social activity were included in the analysis: voter turnout in elections, municipal councilors’ level of education, number of non-governmental organizations, and number of local action groups.

The purpose of this study was to predict and compare salt accumulation in the soil profile under drained and undrained conditions. The water management simulation model, Drainmod (Ver. 6.1) was used to determine the optimal drainage system design parameters, which will decrease soil profile salinity and provide maximum crop yields in Ankara-Bala Basin of Turkey. Soil sampling points were coordinated with the Global Positioning System (GPS). Soil, crop and site parameters were obtained as an input. The model was run for 5 years from 2005 to 2010 to simulate optimum drainage design parameters (drain depth, drain spacing) while controlling soil salinity in the root zone. Soil water conditions and soil salinity level were simulated for crop rotation of corn (Zea mays) and winter wheat (Triticum). Yield of individual crops was predicted for each growing season. The results of the simulations were analyzed to identify alternatives of subsurface drainage system that would satisfy maximum crop productions. According to the simulation results, the drain spacing of 130 m and drain depth at 160 cm are recommended for Bala Basin. Soil salinity maps were created for undrained and drained conditions. Results showed that the soil salinity level and salinity stress can be reduced and yield increased by installing a drainage system.

Oat (Avena sativa L.) is one of the small grain crops produced in temperate climate zone. Common oat has been studied most often due to its multifunctional characteristics and nutritional profile. The main function of the oat husk is to protect grain from harmful conditions during harvesting and storage time. Oat grain size uniformity is an important parameter to the oat milling industry. The aim of this study was to compare the husk content of common oat cultivars grown in Latvia and to obtain its changes at different grain size fractions during three growing seasons. The field trial was carried out at the State Stende Cereal Breeding Institute from 2012 to 2014. Ten husked oat genotypes were studied. Oat samples were fractioned into size fractions and samples of each fraction dehulled by hand. Results showed that significant (p is less than 0.05) differences in the husk content were observed among genotypes, growing season and different grain size fractions. Significantly lower husk content was for genotype ‘Arta’ in all growing seasons. For majority of used genotypes increasing grain size the husk content decreased.

Pisum sativum L. (field or garden pea), is widely cultivated in Europe. The purpose of this investigation was to see whether pea varieties differ in their yield and content of protein and nutrients. Another aim was to select the best varieties suitable for breeding or production. A field experiment with different varieties of peas (‘Bruno’, ‘Capella’, ‘Clara’, ‘Mehis’ and ‘Vitra’) was carried out at the Estonian Crop Research Institute in 2014. Yields (t haE-1) were not statistically different. Crude protein content (g kgE-1 in dry matter) was lowest in ‘Clara’; all other varieties had a higher content of protein, within much the same range. The lowest N content was found in ‘Clara’, followed by ‘Capella’ and ‘Vitra‘, ‘Mehis’ (44) and the highest in ‘Bruno’ (45). The lowest P content was found in ‘Clara’, followed by ‘Capella‘ and ‘Vitra’; the highest was found in ‘Bruno’ and ‘Mehis’. The lowest K content was found in ‘Mehis’, then ‘Clara’, followed by ‘Capella’ and ‘Vitra’ and the highest in ‘Bruno’. The lowest Ca content was found in ‘Clara’, followed by ‘Capella’ and ‘Mehis’, ‘Vitra’, and highest in ‘Bruno’. The lowest Mg content was found in ‘Capella’, followed by ‘Clara’ and the highest in the other varieties ‘Bruno’, ‘Mehis’ and ‘Vitra’. Thus, choice of the right variety for pea cultivation is very important, but depends on the local agro-climatic conditions. This investigation has been developed with the help of the project EUROLEGUME, funded from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration under the grant agreement no. 613781.

In Estonia, the most promising perennial grass used as raw material for production of heat energy is reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.). Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden) implement a technology including single harvest of the above-ground biomass from frozen soil early in spring. This technology cannot be used in Estonia as the ground does not freeze to the extent of bearing harvesting machines every year. Harvesting in spring is virtually impossible as herbage lodges excessively under the snow weight. A divided harvesting method of reed canarygrass was tested in field trials in 2010–2013 at the Estonian Crop Research Institute. Herbages were cut in July at the height of 60–65 cm, mass was dried as hay, stubble hay was left to grow and was harvested next spring before the growth started but soil had become dry. The effect of seeding rate, row spacing and nitrogen fertilizer on the dry matter yield of reed canarygrass was investigated. The amount of produced heat by trial variants was calculated. The variant with narrow spacing (15 cm), seeding rate of 8 kg haE-1 and usage of fertilizer N70 in the beginning of growth and N70 kg haE-1 after the first cut was giving the best results. Two cuts of this variant yielded on average 8.12 t haE-1 per year, of which the stubble hay, harvested in spring and with better combustion properties, made 64%. Energetic value of the yield was 138 GJ haE-1 per year.