The research paper summarizes the results of the influencing factors of small and medium enterprises development: government's policy, access to short and long term financing with reasonable interest rate, investments, tax system, geographical environment, business environment and infrastructure, experience and knowledge. Most of all the small and medium enterprises development is influenced by the investments but also other factors have very significant role.

The paper is aimed at the assessment of opportunities for the financing of innovative activities in Latgale region. The analysis is based generally on the case of Rezekne. Firstly, the problem is determined - Latgale is the weakest region in Latvia from economical development point of view. Secondly, the overview of the financial resources for innovative activities is given. Finally, the author argues his opinion on necessity to develop innovative business in order to improve the situation in Latgale. One of the most important aspects that hamper Latgale's development is the lack of financial resources. The optimal schemes for the financing of innovative business are offered. The research lead to the conclusion that finances for sustainable development of innovative business could be attracted through the Latgale's small enterprises (SMEs) cooperation with regional higher education institutions (Rezekne Higher Education Institution, Daugavpils University), business support centres and Rezekne Special economical zone structures.

In the article there are used statistical data about Latvia rural private households of the years 2001 and 2003. The distribution of natural households in Latvia countryside is investigated. The possibilities of the use of input-output models in the research of natural rural household economy are investigated. Making use of private household "Galakrogs" input-output tables for the years 1999, 2000, and 2001 published by A.Eglite, corresponding input-output models are compiled and their informative analysis is performed.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the application possibilities of berries marc in wheat bread making to improve its quality. Sensory evaluation was used to determine the liking degree of bread with berries marc. Twenty samples of wheat bread with raspberries, white currants, gooseberries and seabuckthorn marc were produced by using standard technology. A 9 point hedonic scale was used to find out the degree of liking. The sensory data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test. The results of hedonic scaling show that berries marc (5-10% of the flour mass) can be used in baking wheat bread.

Turkey is a mountainous country with many high mountains. Recent estimations show that there are approximately 20.7 million ha of forested area in Turkey, covering 25.8% of the total land area. However, little over half of this forested area is classified as unproductive (51.7%). Artvin is located in the North Eastern Black Sea part of Turkey and is the home of a very rich biological diversity. Forests in Artvin region are in different climatic zones - from temperate climate to continental climate zone - and there are several vegetation zones in the region which ranges from sea level to the altitude of 3500 m. A Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) plantation, planted in 1996 in the alpine zone in Artvin-Ardanuc region, was investigated. The size of study area was 40 ha and this research was done on 12 sample plots. There were 50 Scotch pine seedlings on each sample plot. Height and root collar diameter of the seedlings were measured. The mean slope was the same (60%) on the sample plots, and the effects of exposure and altitude significantly affected the height and root collar diameter growth of the seedlings (P is less than 0.05). It was determined that increased altitude is associated with decreased height growth and root collar diameter of the seedlings.

Nowadays the industrial society changes over to the information society. The introduction of elements from distance education and e-studies is an effective means in updating traditional education system in higher educational establishments of Latvia. Due to the decrease of the amount of contact classes and increase of the share of independent work, the version of studies of a mixed-mode type (the introduction of separate elements from the distance education and e-studies in traditional subjects of studies) is the most appropriate types of education in higher educational establishments of Latvia. Hence new study materials elaborated exactly to cover the needs of independent active studies with feedback are required. The techniques type of study materials has to be acceptable for students of different age groups. The aims and tasks are to be clearly defined in the study materials for distance education and e-studies. Tests and examinations are carried out to state whether the aims and tasks are fulfilled. The objective of tests and exams is not a severe evaluation of student knowledge but the analysis of made mistakes. With the introduction the elements of distance education and e-studies in the process of teaching and learning of subjects in higher educational establishments, the students from towns and country will have greater possibilities to acquire knowledge at the speed, time and place most suitable for them.

A study was conducted to determine efficiency of a phytoadditive on pig growth processes and digestive tract microflora. The pigs of control group were fed without the phytoadditive. The feed of the trial group piglets contained 0.5% of the phytoadditive per tonne feed, for starter pigs and finished pigs - 0.2% per tonne feed. The study indicated that at the age of 170 days, pig mass in the trial group was 111.67+-1.22 kg on average, but in the control group - 101.79+-0.81 kg, which showed that pigs from the trial group had by 9.7% higher average mass than in the control group (p is less than 0.05). Average daily gain for the trial group was 0.777+-0.009 kg, which was by 12 % more than for the control group pigs (p is less than 0.05). Feed conversion in the trial group was 2.928 kg, but in the control group - 3.129 kg, which was by 6.4% higher than in the trial group. Gastric microflora analyses showed that use of phytoadditive reduced mould colony forming units (CFU) amount in the trial group decreased by 24 times. Duodenum microflora analyses showed that use of phytoadditive reduced mould CFU amount by 25%, yeast CFU amount by 34%, Escherichia coli mesophilic and termophilic forms CFU by 16.3% compared to the control. A lactic acid bacterium CFU in the trial group was 2.5 times higher compared to the control. Rectum microflora analyses showed that use of phytoadditive reduced mould CFU amount by 31.6%, yeast CFU amount - by 62%, Escherichia coli mesophilic and termophilic forms by 57 % and 15.6 % respectively. Lactic acid bacteria CFU amount in 1 g of sample in the trial group increased by 5.1 times.

Fuel as the main energy resource in agriculture and forest production is surveyed in the work. Specific weight of fuel and lubricants in applicable expenses in country farms is analysed, average fuel and oil consumption in farms of different specialization, as well as changes in oil price in farms of different size and specialization are shown.

Relevant resources for renewable biomass fuel production are wood, cereal straw residues, and emergent vegetation from wetlands. Peat is an important slowly renewable biomass fuel too. Using blended peat and woody or herbaceous biomass, sulphur content of the fuels is increased and, if the mixture is burned, sulphates are formed instead of chlorides, and the risk of high temperature corrosion is avoided. The loading, storage container discharging, mixing and automatic feeding process depends on internal stresses acting in the biomass volume. To estimate vertical stress in silos, a mathematical model was built. Vertical stress in the opening of the silo hopper reaches 1.4 kPa if the diameter of a silo is 0.4 m, but for the diameter of 2 m it is possible to obtain even 7.2 kPa. Increase of the coefficients lambda and mu to the maximal values (lambda = 0.6; mu = 0.5) decreases vertical stress for more than 70%.

The paper presents the investigations performed by Water Management Institute of Lithuania University of Agriculture on the pollution and treatment efficiency of wastewater formed in an up-to-date slaughterhouse built in 2003. Wastewater is canalized from the slaughterhouse by red and green sewerage systems. Initially the wastewater is pre-treated in a fat separator, further treatment process is performed in physical-chemical treatment facilities and settling ponds. After primary treatment, the wastewater is directed into two-stage constructed wetlands of horizontal flow. The wastewater in slaughterhouse is about 4-5 times more polluted than domestic wastewater containing even 20 times higher for concentration. During the primary treatment process (fat separator + physical-chemical treatment device + settling pond), from 73.1 to 98.9% of pollutants are removed. After primary treatment, indices of wastewater are similar to those of domestic wastewater: pH - 8.5, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) - 98 mg lE-1 of O2, Ntotal and Ptotal - 46 and 8.9 mg lE-1 respectively. After biological treatment in two-stage constructed wetlands of horizontal flow, the wastewater satisfies the environmental protection requirements according to organic (BOD5) and biogenic (Ntotal and Ptotal) pollutants and thus may be realised into the environment. Regression dependencies of medium and strong relation (R**2=0.503-0.893) of pollutants BOd5, SS (suspended sediments), Ntotal and Ptotal in treated wastewater on the total of constructed wetlands have been determined.