Research work involved development of the integrated model for risk assessment and management in agriculture, including the integrated risk assessment methodology, risk management model, risk-adjusted farm efficiency assessment methodology. This model enables identifying risk factors of a farm, the change of risk over time, direction and scope of the effect of individual types of risks on the total risks, and, in view of the direction and scope of the effect, selecting the appropriate risk mitigation measures. The Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania recommended applying the model at agricultural companies and farmers’ farms. <...>

JSC ,,Šeduvos avininkystė“ specializes in keeping and selling of breeding sheep. In order to provide farmers with healthy breeding lambs and to reduce labor costs for maintaining breeding sheep, the company has purchased a modern technology line that meets animal welfare requirements and is used for preventive health care of sheep. The technological line includes: smart scales with computer data storage, a disinfection stall with a tub, an automatic sheep bonitization machine and a mobile reversible sheep hoof care tool. The purpose of this investment was to improve the sheep health and their hoof condition, as well as to assess the characteristics of a particular breed and the suitability of lambs for breeding (bonitization) more accurately. The implementation of this technology line did not cause any difficulties and the staff did not need any training. <...>

Reproductive characteristics and productivity of fattening cattle increase as they receive accurately-dosed, pre-formulated feed. As the farm specializes in breeding of controlled and fattening bulls, it decided to invest in the process of feed preparation and distribution, and purchased feed cutting-mixing-dosing technology with an integrated weighing system (Feed Preparation System - FPS) to test it in production. Prior to this investment, the animals on the farm (average annual number of cattle up to 300) were fed manually (4 employees look after the cattle), so it was not possible to calculate the accurate amount of dispensed feed. The purchased FPS helped to optimize, control and, if necessary, quickly adjust the feeding. The data of farm production for 2016, 2017 and 2018 (before and after investment) confirm that FPS had a positive impact on weight and health of yearlings; the labor costs for preparing and distributing feed have reduced, and the costs of feed produced by farm itself has lowered. <...>

The main activity of JSC Upytes Experimental Farm is a cultivation of agricultural products (cereals, flax and other crops), dairy farming, raising beef cattle, breeding heifers and calves. The farm has 823 cattle, including 298 dairy cows and 36 Charolais beef cattle. There are also Lithuanian Red, Swedish Red and Dairy Simmental breed cattle. There are 16 workers who take care of the cattle: 6 milkers and 10 auxiliary workers. In 2017, the company implemented the following technological innovations: herd and feeding management systems and a somatic cell counter. These innovations were chosen because it is very important for the farm to reduce production costs, use information more efficiently and timely, increase productivity, improve milk quality, animal health and profitability of the farm. <...>

Liquid and viscous feed dispenser connected to the milking robot helps to optimize and individualize animal feeding and prevent metabolic diseases. The individual dosing of feed ensures the cow's full daily ration, it also helps to prevent certain metabolic diseases, and protects the cow at the milking site from competitive fighting in the herd. <...>

PI ASU Educational Farm acquired and installed an automatic steering system and an automatic management system for the sprayer sections on the tractor. The farm operates 450 hectares of land, of which 30 hectares are cultural pastures, and the remaining area is arable land. About 90 hectares are sown with a mixture of biennial grass (clover and timothy) for the production of forage. The farm employs one agronomist, three tractor operators and one mechanical engineer. <...>

Grain germination using hydroponics that was applied in the EIP project is a widely used method of soil-free cultivation in greenhouses with dosing either water or water with nutrient solutions as appropriate. The hydroponic system is installed in a room with controlled air temperature, humidity, and lighting with seed preparation equipment and five- to six-story shelving units arranged vertically for germination with an automated system for irrigation, dosing, and water collection. Sprouted grains, evenly distributed on the shelves, produce shoots within 7 days, which are then used to feed animals by mixing them with the conventional feed. The main advantages of this feed production method are that no soil is needed, and little water is required to grow the feed. The short feed production cycle allows for quick and flexible adaptation of feed production to changing needs. Successful feed production depends on the quality of germinated seeds, hygiene, and conditions during the production. <...>

The aim of the project is to evaluate soil moisture control measures and their effectiveness in the territory of Lithuania, their economic and ecological benefits in order to increase agricultural competitiveness and encourage farmers to implement innovative research-based technologies that ensure sustainable use of water resources and environmental protection. Practical problems are solved: unfavorable soil moisture regime and sub-optimal provision of moisture reserves for plants during dry periods; agricultural losses due to excess or scarcity of moisture, less efficient use of nutrients (NPK), and pollution of surface water bodies. Controlled drainage has an environmental impact: the resulting hydraulic head in controlled systems reduced NO3-N and NH4-N concentrations in drainage water by 71 and 100%, and phosphorus, Pb PO4-P and Nb contents in controlled systems are lower by 29, 43 and 43%. At 40 cm, the moisture reserves are 5.1–6.9%, at 60 cm - 21%, and at 1 m - 3.1% larger. <...>

Drainage systems installed in agricultural areas help to regulate the soil moisture regime, improve field cultivation conditions, however, at the same time drainage water washes away unabsorbed plant nutrients (i.e. nitrogen and phosphorus compounds) into surface waters, the entry of which into water bodies causes their eutrophication. Of the drained lands, 80% of the total nitrogen and 53% of the total phosphorus enter the Baltic Sea. Addressing this issue through agronomic or rigid farming limitation measures alone, due to the diversity of natural factors and changing climatic conditions, often does not achieve the expected result. It is obvious that technological transformations are needed in the drainage systems themselves, therefore, their reconstruction, integrating new, environmentally friendly technologies, would be a relevant and important solution for the country's economy. <...>

The project developed a sustainable farming methodology, which includes studies of soil cover properties and plant physiological parameters and moisture based on aerodistance spectrometric methods, as well as a complex economic assessment of farm resources. Applied research was performed to determine the parameters of accuracy and applicability of the developed methodology. Methods for calculating various spectral parameters in crops were used to assess the overall physiological characteristics and stress of plants. The methodology describes the process of calculating and compiling them. The economic activity of the surveyed farms was assessed and according to the obtained indicators, the methodology of sustainable farming was developed and verified. It consists of an overview of economic, environmental and managerial indicators that assess the ability of farms to farm sustainably and allow for better management decisions. A guide to using a sustainable farming model is also provided. <...>

The need for sustainable crop production solutions is constantly growing worldwide. ThermoSeed is an innovative, highly effective and environmentally friendly seed treatment technology with added value for both certified seed multipliers and farmers. ThermoSeed technology was developed at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, in Uppsala, Sweden. Every year, over 100 000 tons of seeds are processed using this technology, the technology is well established in Sweden since 2005 and since then, the volumes produced are continuously growing. The process is mainly used for conventional agriculture, with the purpose to shift to a sustainable solution with added value without compromising productivity. However, the process also perfectly fits for organic seed production, as no chemicals are involved, whatsoever. The technology is based on dizinfection of seeds using high temperature steam. Its effectiveness has already been confirmed on a large scale by a large number of tests and is suitable for use on see <...>

Due to diversity and abundance of harmful organisms and the lack of information on the spread of diseases and pests in real time, the use of plant protection products by crop growers is inexpedient and spraying operations are carried out at the wrong time. Jug-handled and irresponsible use of plant protection products is associated with an increase in risk: there is a high probability of agro-ecosystem changes - biodiversity reduction and increasing pollution of plant production, in addition, the inefficient use of plant protection products at the national level increases crop losses, degrades the quality of agricultural production, increases the cost of production and reduces the competitiveness of farms. <...>

Until now, the plantation forests of these tree species have not been planted in Lithuania, because there was no legal basis for this. After the legalization of plantation forests of these tree species, the technology of their planting, maintenance and growing has been developed, and pilot plantations have been established, maintained and protected in 10 holdings of different Lithuanian ecoclimatic regions. There highly qualified employees create conditions for the plantations to achieve economically justified productivity, and reduce the potentially negative impact on the growth rate of seedlings. <...>

The proposed model can be applied to agricultural producer groups and would benefit farmers for the following reasons: 1) increase farm incomes; 2) animal welfare requirements are met (partly by adapting to halting global warming); 3) this would strengthen livestock herds; 4) all adapted measures are implemented from the support or only with the partial contribution of the farmers themselves; 5) farmers would learn to work in a group and see the perspectives for their further activities; 6) the state income from value added tax would increase due to the increased income from the sale of products. <...>

EU agriculture emits more than 90% of ammonia, an important atmospheric pollutant that affects water, soil and the atmosphere. It also determines the acidification and eutrophication of natural ecosystems, contributing to the formation of solid particles that have a negative impact on human health. The animal husbandry sector is responsible for as much as 8-11% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions such as ammonia, methane and nitrous oxide. The intensity of the animal husbandry farming is increasing every year. It is projected that by 2050 demand for milk and beef will increase by 72% and 82% respectively. Without any additional measures, greenhouse gas emissions could increase. Therefore, great attention must be paid to the largest source of ammonia in animal husbandry - animal excrements. <...>

The timeliness of information on the spread of diseases or pests in various agricultural crops is important in order to produce more and healthier products with as few plant protection products as possible. Farmers are encouraged to use information systems such as IKMIS, which not only provide information on pest or disease threats and their catalogues for identification, but also provide advice on which protection products to choose. <...>

In order to reduce nitrogen losses on animal husbandry farms as the main source of ammonia emissions, farmers in the Baltic Sea region are introduced to the latest slurry acidification technologies and encouraged to implement them on their farms. These technologies will be of great benefit not only to nature, but also to farmers themselves - acidified slurry retains more organic nitrogen, therefore, crops need to be fertilized less with mineral fertilizers. <...>

In order to increase competitiveness and economic profitability of the modern Lithuanian dairy farm, as one of the most complex enterprises of agricultural production, it is encouraged to share knowledge that determines the increase of farm productivity and to use innovative farm technologies on the farm. PI LAAS implemented a project during which the cooperation between the farmer, the adviser and the scientist was expanded. During the project implementation, farmers were provided with knowledge and the latest information on scientific research in the fields of feed production, feeding, and environmental protection. The project covered the entire technological process from pasture fertilization to the use of omega-3 acid supplements for animal feed. Each farm must create a stable and balanced grass forage base for the animals, with the aim of providing a valuable ration for animals throughout the year: good grasslands grown on farmers’ farms guarantee a sufficient supply of quality grass throughout the grazing period, and quality grass can produce valuable preserved forage for winter. <...>

To ensure a healthy future, we must maintain an unexhausted and healthy main natural resource, the soil. The Best4soil project, which is creating a knowledge exchange network across Europe, bringing together growers (farmers), advisers and researchers, contributes to this goal. <...>

Today’s farming is becoming increasingly complex: climate change, investment, plant diseases, sustainable pest and weed control, changing market trends, etc. – all these challenges are driving the search for new technologies and solutions that would make farming more efficient and sustainable. <...>

In recent years, agriculture has become increasingly modern with a variety of digital technologies and innovations being applied in different areas. Those who relate their future to agriculture need to learn, introduce digital technologies and innovate on a regular basis. This helps saving time and money by monitoring, collecting and analysing information in real time. <...>

Under today's conditions, the work results of each economic entity and its competitiveness increasingly depend on the production costs incurred. In practice, insufficient attention is paid to the accounting, analysis, and cost price calculation. When deciding whether or not to produce a particular unprofitable product, it is important to understand how that cost price is calculated and what expenditure is included in it. <...>

DISARM is an active network dedicated to finding innovative solutions for antibiotic resistance. DISARM aims to reduce antibiotic resistance by reducing the need for antibiotics in livestock farming by focusing on disease prevention and prudent use of antibiotics. It is a collaboration between farmers, veterinarians, advisory services, academics and industry to disseminate innovative solutions for antibiotic resistance management in livestock production to alleviate the threat of antibiotic resistance. <...>

The intensive, extensive, and often unjustified use of antibiotics on farms leads to the development of more resistant pathogens and a reduction in the effect of the drugs, leading to recurrent diseases and higher doses of antibiotics. Research has shown that bacteria with antibiotic resistance genes are transmitted from animal to animal and from animal to man. The problem is significant as antibiotic resistance in micro-organisms is evolving faster than the invention or development of new antimicrobial drugs. <...>

To help farmers to report their commitments more easily and quickly, to properly assess the state of their declared fields, and to find information related to their payments, a free digital tool, a "NMA agro" mobile application has been developed and is constantly being improved. More than 20,000 users have already experienced the practical benefits of the app. The app is equipped with Copernicus Sentinel satellite images and maps of the different vegetation indices, which allow farmers to monitor and assess the condition of their crops in their fields and to carry out the necessary management actions when needed. Sentinel satellite images and vegetation index maps are updated every 5 days. Farmers can also report actions carried out or non-compliances corrected not only to the NPA, but also to other supervisory authorities. "NMA agro" allows you to send photo images with precise coordinates and direction directly from the field, as well as measure distances and areas on the screen. The app provides access to NPA information package with up-to-date news, a calendar with deadlines for major commitments and works, and a weather forecast. Through the app, you can access the NPA's information portal to find out the administrative status of your applications, the amounts of aid paid, etc. The app is not only for farmers, but can be used by all Lithuanian citizens. <...>