PRODUCTION AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF MOUNTAIN GRASSLANDS IN LOW-INPUT FARMING SYSTEM

Ecological management of semi natural grassland was evaluated in three-year long vegetative cycle in locality Chvojnica (Strážovská vrchovina). Experimental treatments were studied in variant 1- unfertilized, variant 2 – 30 kg*ha-1 of P and 60 kg*ha-1 of K, treatment 3 – PK + 90kg*ha-1 of N. Vegetation in all treatments of fertilization was cut three times in haymaking time of ripening. The aim of research was to find changes in phytocenology, production, nutrition and economy under different treatments of fertilization, cutting and experimental years. In the structure of semi natural grass vegetation, grasses dominated in the first cuttings, clovers dominated in the second cuttings and other meadow herbs dominated in the third cuttings. Application of fertilizers increases production of dry mass. Non fertilized grass vegetation produced 3.43 – 5.16 t*ha-1 of dry mass, vegetation with added PK fertilizers 4.71 – 5.91 t*ha-1 of dry mass and vegetation 7.12 – 7.97 t*ha-1 of dry mass. Costs per 1 ha and 1 ton of hay and sales per 1 ha increased in the following sequence: var. 1 ? var. 2 ? var. 3. As for the profit, the most effective variants were variant 1 (256.79 EUR per ha) and variant 3 (227.34 EUR per ha). The least effective variant was the variant fertilized by PK (180.62 EUR per ha)

Grasslands and herbivore production in Europe and effects of common policies

The European project Multisward (http://www.multisward.eu/multisward_eng/) aims at supporting developments and innovations in grassland use and management in different European farming systems (including low-input and organic farming systems), pedoclimatic and socio-economic conditions i) to enhance the role of grasslands at farm and landscape levels to produce environmental goods and to limit the erosion of biodiversity and ii) to optimise economic, agronomic and nutritional advantages for the development of innovative and sustainable ruminant production systems. The identification of the innovations and their implementation required an exhaustive analysis of the state of grasslands and herbivore production in Europe including how they changed over decades. The effects of public policies were investigated. The results of this analysis are published in the present book

The future of organic grassland farming in mountainous regions of Central Europe

8 % of the total EU population lives in mountainous areas which represent a particularly important eco-region in Central Europe. Because of ecological, climatic and economic reasons an increasing pressure is imposed upon agriculture. Hence in large parts of European mountainous areas drastic changes in agricultural structure and land use systems can be observed in terms of emigration and land abandonment. Due to disadvantaged production conditions, and the high ecological sensitivity, organic farming is an important option for a sound regional development. In alpine regions organic farming does not proceed in a homogeneous way. One essential reason for that could be seen in the differences of national and regional “traditions and orientations” and supporting tools. For a positive development it is necessary to work on further integration of organic farming in regional development concepts (e.g. organic regions) and on the development of the “quality leadership” through cross-regional production, marketing and merchandising concepts. Undisputedly, further positive development of organic farming in mountainous regions depends on ongoing financial, research and advisory support

Forages for the Red Soils Area of China - Proceedings of an International Workshop, Jianyang, Fujian Province, P. R. China, 6–9 October 1997

Crop Production/Industries,

Low Input Farming Systems: an Opportunity to Develop Sustainable Agriculture - Proceedings of the JRC Summer University - Ranco, 2-5 July 2007

The concept of sustainability applied to agriculture developed mainly as a result of growing awareness of negative impacts of intensive farming systems on the environment and the quality of life of rural and neighbouring communities. Intensive farming systems are based on genetically uniform crops and livestock breeds, vulnerable to pests and diseases. High yields are obtained through dependency on external inputs (especially fossil energy, fertilizers and pesticides) which can cause decreased air, water, soil and food quality. Intensification and specialisation also bring about landscape changes, resulting in its homogenisation and destruction of traditional landscape elements and, consequently, loss of habitats. Marginal areas, on the other hand, are threatened with cessation of agricultural practices and land abandonment. All these factors also lead, directly or indirectly, to the loss of biodiversity. Lewandowski et al. defined in 1999 sustainable agriculture as ¿the management and utilization of the agricultural ecosystem in a way that maintains its biological diversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality, and ability to function, so that it can fulfill ¿ today and in the future ¿ significant ecological, economic and social functions at the local, national and global levels and does not harm other ecosystems¿. The search for sustainability of agriculture inevitably leads to the exploration of the potential of Low Input Farming Systems (LIFS) to achieve this goal. Within this context, the European Commission Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability and SOLAGRO organized a Summer University ¿Low Input Farming Systems: an Opportunity to Develop Sustainable Agriculture¿ which took place on 2-5 July 2007 in Ranco (Italy). The programme of the Summer University has been drawn to reflect the diversity of Low Input Farming Systems in Europe and the complexity of factors currently impacting on European agriculture. This report contains the papers which were presented at the meeting as well as final conclusions, summarizing the main points of the discussions which suggested possible lines of future research and policy options which might support LIFS in EuropeJRC.H.5-Rural, water and ecosystem resource

Identification of High Nature Value Farmland in France through Statistical Information and Farm Practices Surveys

The Concept of High Nature Value (HNV) farmland has been evolving over the last fifteen years in Europe. In the European Union this has been closely linked to the aim of integrating environmental concerns in the Common Agricultural Policy. The idea that nature values, environmental qualities, even cultural heritage are linked to or dependent on farming, also underlies and supports the concept of a multifunctional 'European model of farming' which provides benefits other than food. The 'High Nature Value farming' idea thus ties the preservation of biodiversity and wildlife value of the countryside to the need to safeguard the continuation of farming in certain areas with maintenance of specific farming systems associated to the long-term management of these areas. The work presented in the report aims at better identifying and characterising HNV farmland at national level (France) with a farm system approach based on FSS statistical data and specific national surveys, taking into account the whole farm with the total agricultural area and its characteristics. In a first step relevant variables have been selected to calculate the “crop diversity” indicator at NUTS 5. In a second step the crop diversity indicator has been combined overlaid with other data sets from other surveys (“Grassland” Survey and “Forestry” Survey) to build “the landscape elements” and “the extensive crops and grasslands” indicators. In a third step these three indicators have been weighted to calculate a final score and draw maps at municipality scale (NUTS 5).JRC.H.5-Rural, water and ecosystem resource

Agroforestry: Reconciling Production with Protection of the Environment A Synopsis of Research Literature

This is a synopsis of research literature that investigates the potential of temperate agroforestry as a sustainable production system. Agroforestry is a concept of integrated land use that combines elements of agriculture and forestry. An emphasis on managing rather than reducing complexity promotes a functionally biodiverse system that balances productivity with environmental protection

Does intensification result in higher efficiency and sustainability? An emergy analysis of Mediterranean sheep-crop farming systems

The embodiment of resources in agricultural products depends on the way they are made, i.e., the production system. We applied emergy analysis on three contrasting sheep-crop farming systems according to different degrees of specialization, integration and intensification of production in Mediterranean Spain. We studied emergy flows, transformity values and emergy indices at the system level and per product (lamb meat; permanent crops: rainfed olive and almond; arable crops: rainfed barley, irrigated barley, alfalfa and sunflower). We found that the specialized pasture-based sheep system had the lowest intensity and efficiency and the highest sustainability, as opposite to the partially-integrated mixed system, while the fully-integrated mixed system obtained a balanced position. Lamb meat production was 1.9 and 1.3 times more intensive and efficient, respectively, in the partially-integrated mixed system than in the pasture-based sheep system, but 5.1 times less sustainable. All sheep sub-systems had comparatively lower intensity and higher sustainability than crops due to their higher capacity to use local and renewable natural resources. Our findings suggest that further support of agricultural development based on local and renewable natural resources and best practices is necessary to ensure long-term farming sustainability and social welfare

Farmers and Nature Together: High Nature Value Farming and Agri-Environment Payments for the Republic of Macedonia

This publication presents many of the key outputs and recommendations from the project ”Promoting High Nature Value Farming and Agri-environment Payments through Civil Society Organisations in the Republic of Macedonia” that was undertaken jointly by the Avalon Foundation (the Netherlands), DEM (Republic of Macedonia), CCI (Republic of Macedonia) and IEEP (UK), with the financial support of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the MATRA Social Transformation Programme. Although the main aim of the project was to build the capacity of civil society organizations in the Republic of Macedonia on the importance of HNV farming, it also has involved carrying out case studies on the occurrence of and issues facing HNV farming systems in three different regions in the country - Lacavica, Mariovo and Rekanski. The main findings of the case studies have been presented to the farmers and responsible institutions and are also presented in this handbook. The publication is intended to serve different stakeholders in the agricultural and rural development sector including policy and decision makers, regional authorities and services, non-governmental and scientific organizations addressing social, environmental and agricultural issues and the inter-linkages between them. The book is therefore produced in both the Macedonian and English language and can be used as a reference for future programming in the rural development sector in the country. Chapter 1 of the publication examines the impact of current agricultural practices on the environment in the country. Chapter 2 then outlines the concept of HNV farming in the EU and its development over the time. A first attempt to develop a typology of HNV farming systems in the Republic of Macedonia and the case study areas, along with indicative maps of their distribution are found in Chapter 3. The needs of the HNV farmers and the main problems they face, as identified through the workshops, discussions and face to face meetings with them are presented in Chapter 4 and the link between HNV farming and social capital is further elaborated in Chapter 5. The hidden values of HNV farming systems are also presented in Chapter 6. In order make the project results as useful as possible, proposals for agri-environmental type measures that could support HNV farming in the Republic of Macedonia were developed. The measures proposed are intended to complement the existing proposal for the NAEP of the Republic of Macedonia and to respond to the needs of the farmers in rural areas as a whole, and the case studies areas in particular. These proposals are presented in Chapter 5