Sour cherries become more popular due to their food value. Therefore sour cherries could be a profitable crop for fruit growers in Latvia. Information about sour cherry response to soil moisture adjustment is needed, because based on previous studies it is not possible to predict the influence of irrigation and mulch on sour cherry growing. The trial was carried out at the Latvia State Institute of Fruit Growing in 2007 to determine the effect of soil moisture adjustment on the growth of different sour cherry cultivars. Woodchip mulch and drip irrigation were used as main factors, cultivars 'Bulatnikovskaya', 'Desertnaya Morozovoi', 'Latvijas Zemais', 'Orlica', 'Shokoladnica', 'Tamaris', 'Zentenes' were used as a secondary factor. Vegetative growth, branching angles of lateral shoots, proportions of pruned shoots, spurs and twigs were determined to characterize the response of cultivars to mulching and irrigation. In general use of drip irrigation increased vegetative growth of sour cherries, but the use of woodchip mulch decreased this growth. Branching angles were wider in variant with woodchip mulch. Cultivar 'Zentenes' most positively responded to use of woodchip mulch and drip irrigation.

The investigation was carried out from 2006 to 2008 with the aim of observing the stability of morphological traits in Latgale's melon (Cucumis melo L.) lines in the Tukums region of Latvia. Four lines of Latgale's melons ('8', '14', '5(2)', and '4(3)') were grown in high plastic tunnels: five plants from each line. The following parameters were measured to determine stability of morphological traits in melons: fruit petiole and flower scar diameters (cm), length and wide of melon fruit (cm), and thickness of flesh (cm). Results showed that there was a significant difference in fruit petiole scar diameter between the years 2006 and 2007 for all lines. The melon line '14' was stable in all parameters from 2006 till 2008 except fruit flower scar diameter. The melon line '4(3)' was less stable in all parameters between all melon lines in all years of investigation.

The production of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is developing and it is most cultured finfish species in Turkey. It was first introduced in Turkey in the mid 1970s from Italy. In the following years, culture studies of native trout strains, mainly Black Sea trout; Salmo trutta labrax and Abant Lake trout, Salmo trutta abanticus started in late 1990. Market size trout production was performed in two main categories, inland areas (mainly concrete ponds by flow through fresh water and cages) and in sea (offshore cages). Total trout production was 61.173 tons in 2007.

Performing biofuel use studies, a large number of parameters that characterize engine operation under different conditions and with different fuel mixtures have to be identified. The real driving conditions are usually simulated by driving cycles on a laboratory chassis dynamometer. There are two major categories of driving cycles: legislative and non-legislative. From the viewpoint of cycle formation there are also two ways. One is composed of various driving modes of constant acceleration, deceleration and speed, and is referred to as modal or polygonal. The other type is derived from actual driving data and is called as 'real world' cycle. There is a strong agreement among researchers that driving characteristics of each city are unique because of different vehicle fleet composition, driving behaviour and road network topography. It is therefore better to develop own driving cycles than using driving cycles developed elsewhere. The aim of this investigation is to develop driving cycles or models for dynamometer control software corresponding to peculiarities of Latvia. The procedure for cycle development and fuel consumption and exhaust emissions measurement was worked out. Using real driving data on the Jelgava streets, models simulating driving in different urban areas were constructed. The model quality was determined using vehicle driving parameters and fuel consumption measurement results from both the road and laboratory tests. Since the obtained data coincidence of all the parameters exceeded 98%, the elaborated cycles can be used for the biofuel use efficiency determination.

This article is covering results of pre-commercial thinning, forest infrastructure and undergrowth harvesting field studies implemented in July, 2007 by Skogforsk and LSFRI Silava. A scope of the study was to estimate prime costs of biofuel production from small trees and to compare two types of harvester heads (Bracke C16.a and Ponsse EH25). The productivity in pre-commercial thinning expressed as trees per E0-h (effective hour) ranged between 53 (Ponsse) and 118 (Bracke) in the pine stand and 150 (Bracke) in the mixed spruce stand. In comparison the LVm3 (LV - loose volume) ranged between 9.9 (Ponsse) and 14.1 (Bracke) in the pine stand and was 13.0 (Bracke) in the mixed spruce stand. In the forest infrastructure (roadside ditches) harvesting productivity was 8.2 LVm3 E0-hE-1 for Ponsse and 12.5 LVm3 E0-hE-1 for Bracke. Productivity was economically insufficient in undergrowth removal, both in harvesting (Bracke) and forwarding (Ponsse) operations, respectively 1.1 and 2.6 LVm3 E0-hE-1. Prime costs of harvesting, forwarding, comminution and chip transport (50 km one direction) in pre-commercial thinning in calculation to LVL LVm-3 were 5.93 for Ponsse and 5.85 for Bracke. Prime costs in forest infrastructure in LVL LVmE-3 were 4.97 (Ponsse) and 6.36 (Bracke). Only Bracke was tested in the undergrowth, where prime costs were 37.55 LVL LVm-3. 'Environmental footprint' of biofuel production from small trees in terms of carbon (C) emissions ranged from 2.6 to 10.2 kg CLVmE-3, including road transport (50 km) to terminal.

The research was performed at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Latvia University of Agriculture. At the moment the research in veterinary anaesthesia is in its infancy stage. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the acepromazine maleate on intraocular pressure (IOP) and horizontal pupil diameter (HPD) in a dog's eye. Ten adult dogs of different age, breed and sex were examined clinically and ophthalmologically. All animals were clinically and ophthalmologically healthy. Animals received acepromazine intramuscularly. IOP and HPD were measured every 5 minutes for the total period of 60 minutes. It was established that the acepromazine maleate intramuscular injection causes an IOP decrease in booth eyes. A significant IOP decrease was observed from 35 till 60 minutes after the acepromazine injection. The pupil contraction was observed 5 minutes after the treatment and continued to contract till the end of the research. As acepromazine maleate causes a significant decrease of intraocular pressure, it is not contraindicated to be used in the case of corneal trauma, perforation, glaucoma and corneal ulcers.

Agricultural and food industries constitute a significant part in the economy of European Union (EU), thus providing 15 million jobs and creating 4.4% of the gross domestic product. EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is adopted in all 27 member states and a significant part of budget is allocated to implement it - in 2008 it was 58.8 billion EUR or 44.5% of the total budget. This research performed the analysis of the theoretical, historical and economic aspects of the CAP. Eight main stages of the reform can be distinguished in the CAP development. They have their own characteristics, goals and main support tools. The process of the CAP reform has not been finished yet.

The purpose of this article is to establish the social and/or economic impact of the implemented Cohesion Fund (CF) projects on development of regions of Latvia. Three tasks are addressed to achieve this goal - to study CF projects by regions; analyse distribution of funding by sectors of economy and their compliance with CF objectives; to draft recommendations for improving the absorption of funds and achieving the goals of the European Union (EU) regional policy. The article consists of three chapters, an introduction and conclusions. New scientifically grounded recommendations are developed for improving socio-economic impact of the CF in Latvia. The key recommendation relates to the EU involvement in dealing with problems of increase in costs, namely - by proving that the increase in costs affects several of the new EU member states or Community regions, the EC will have to take part in addressing the problem. Further assessment of the socio-economic impact of the CF on development of regions of Latvia requires additional research.

In the EU funds planning period 2004 - 2006 in total 1141.44 million Euros have been allocated to Latvian national economy. The most part of financing was assigned to the development of infrastructure, development of entrepreneurship and innovation and human resources. Analysing division of the Structural Funds allocation between the regions, most part of the Structural Funds financing of 2004 - 2006 - 49.52% from all the financing has been allocated to the Riga region. That points to unequal division because Riga region has three times bigger Gross Domestic Product then Latgale region. Direct link to the social economic indexes indicating the development of the region and attracted EU funds financing can be surveyed - most developed regions have received most important part of the financing and underdeveloped regions the smallest part. EU funds regional support has to be planned and there should be regional development policy in EU funds distribution. Possible means to endorse the development of the undeveloped regions of the country by support programmes include creating specific support programmes, giving larger aid intensity for projects from regions, consultation work in project development and implementation and other ways.

The study summarises the theoretical and legal aspects of the main types of area payments in Latvia. From the point of view of theoretical and legal arrangements, the area payments may be broken down in two large groups: direct payments and area payments foreseen under Rural Development Programs. The legal package regulating Area Payments consists of the EU regulatory enactments (Council or Commission Regulations) and regulatory enactments of Latvia (Laws and the Cabinet (MK) Regulations). The institutional implementation system of each group of Area Payments is relevant and distinct. The present study analyses 11 different types of Area Payments. Over the period 2004 - 2007, farmers have received LVL 430 million in different Area Payments constituting 58.5% of the total amount of support.