Milk quality analyses were carried out at the Department of Veterinary Medicine of the LUA Research Centre "Sigra". The total amount of investigated samples was 140, of which 81.4% proved to be appropriate for extra and first class milk, but 18.6% were unqualitative. The total number of microorganisms ranged from 8000 to 20,000,000, but the number of somatic cells from 1000 to 4,068,000 in 1 ml of milk. Coagulase - positive Staphylococcus aureus were isolated in 8 cases or 5.7%. Coagulase - negative Staphylococcus were isolated in 31 cases or 22.1%. Using the BBL Crystal Indentification System for Gram-Positive microorganisms, four species of microorganisms Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus intermedius, Micrococcus sedentarius and Micrococcus luteus were identified which are building various colonies on Baird-Parker Agar.

Spring barley grain of the new registered Lithuanian variety 'Alsa' and German malty variety 'Otis' cultivation, the influence of different rates of nitrogen fertilisers and fungicide Tango on their yield and quality was investigated in the Rumokai Research Station of the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture in 1998-2000. It was established that nitrogenous fertilisers have been increasing grain yield in the spring barley 'Alsa' every year. The influence of nitrogen fertiliser was negative on the spring barley 'Otis' only for the 1998 yield due to meteorological conditions, that were favourable for spreading leaf diseases. Fungicide Tango gave a reliable yield increase - from 0,21 to 1,14 t ha*[-1) - through the whole investigation period. The amount of proteins in grains was reliably increasing due to nitrogenous fertilisers within all the years of investigation, excluding the year 1999. Meteorological conditions made a great influence on protein amount in 1999. No reliable interaction was established between nitrogenous fertilisers, grain size and starch. Medium or strong negative correlation was observed between the grain size and proteins (correlation coefficient was deviating from 0,40 to 0,81). A reliable positive correlative relation was established between starch and grain size in 1998 only.

The article deals with the regeneration process of water resources capacity of the wells in the Baltezers region using mechanical and chemical treatment. The methods of this treatment process are described in detail.

The general purpose was to study productivity of organic grasslands and compare it with productivity at a conventional farm under the same or similar climatic and pedologic conditions. The investigation was based on field experiments that were carried out in 5 different regions of Estonia in 2000. In the current research, the DM-yield of sward (on 4 research plots of 5 square m), the botanical composition, soil pHKCL and humus content (by Tjurin) were measured. Also the content of soluble plant nutrients P and K were measured by DL-(Egner-Riehm) method and Ca and Mg- by AL- (ammonium acetate extraction) method.

The experiment was carried out in 1990, 1991, 1993 in the Rumokai Research station of the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture. The following nitrogen norms were analysed: 0(0+0), 45(0+45), 45(45+0), 90(45+45), 90(90+0), 135(90+45), 135(135+0), 180(135+45), 180(180+0), 225(180+45). Sugar production is negatively affected by soluble non-sugar substances (soluble potassium and sodium salts, amines) that prevent crystallization of sugar. Norms of nitrogen fertilisers increased the amount of: potassium by 8.9-38.2%, sodium - 11.0-54.4%, alpha-amine N - 43.0-163.5 %, while additional application of nitrogen -45 kg ha*[-1) - resulted in the increase of: 1.0 - 7.9% potasium, 1.0-8.0 % sodium, 18.2 - 44.9 % alpha-amine N. Strong positive corelation (eta=0.99) has been established between the norms of nitrogen fertilisers and soluble non-sugar substances. Potassium, sodium and alpha-amine N negatively influence the sugar content roots (eta=-0.59). Among the 14 analysed varieties, the amount of low soluble non-sugar substances was significant in the roots of Kristall, Accord and Extra varieties. The highest yield of white sugar has been found in the varieties of Freja, Anna, Accord, Extra (7.3-7.7 t ha*[-1)).

The article deals with the current situation in production of building materials and foreign trade in Latvia. Export and import of building materials are one of the most important factors influencing the production of building materials. The report analyses import and export development trends within two sections of the harmonized system: wood and articles of wood; the articles of stone, plaster, glassware and ceramics.

In the progressive world, the role of education is continuously growing. International co-operation is a necessary condition for a successful functioning of a higher education institution. In the education process basic compulsory known-how plays a significant role and includes communication, independent and permanent learning, team work, information technology skills and foreign languages. The author presents a research on the role of basic know-how in the labour market.

Latvia has a long-standing traditions in adult education, but only since Latvia regained its independence in 1991, it has obtained a wide public response. Willingness to learn of farmers is increasing every year. The present report describes the latest tendencies in the further education of farmers and states that they are related to changes in social, economical and political situation of the country.

The article describes present situation in further education of agricultural advisers and agronomists. There are three major challenges in rural and agricultural development today - coverage, sustainability and relevance. Changes in further education and information technologies play the most important role for agricultural advisers. Farmers want to study and get a certificate of agricultural education in order to be able to participate in different projects and acquire the EU structural funds. The article deals with the problem of using the EU structural funds for rural development. Agiculturists need professional advice from agricultural advisers.

In 1999-2000 the field trials with spring wheat 'Munk' on optimisation of a nitrogen fertilizers were established at the Skriveri Research Centre of the Latvia University of Agriculture. The field trials were conducted on two different kinds of Luvisol soil: loam and loamy sand. As the influence of the previous crops-grass, grain and potatoes on efficiency of different (0; 50; 100; 150; 200; 250 kg ha*[-1)) nitrogen fertilizers was investigated. Is stated, that as well as predecessor, and mechanical structure of soil considerably influence efficiency of use of ammonium saltpetre by spring wheat. Some relevant soil properties at the beginning of the experiment were: in loam pH (KCl) 6.3; available phosphorus (DL-method) 100 mg P2O5 kg*[-1), available potassium (DL-method) 135 mg K2O kg*[-1); and soil organic matter (Tyurin's method) 2.3% in sandy loam pH (KCL) - 5.7; available phosphorus - 142 mg P2O5 kg*[-1); available potassium - 92 mg K2) kg(-1); and soil organic matter - 2.2%. The data mathematical processing was done using the General Linear Model criterion Tukey of the program SPSS.