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Inclusion of the countries in Central Europe (CECs) in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the European Union raises a large number of issues, not the least in the context of the accession negotiations among the current EU member states and the newcomers. However, in the process of enlargement, negotiations will also be necessary with other countries. This is because both the EU and the accession candidates have commitments in the WTO and inclusion of the CECs in the CAP may affect the nature of these commitments, as well as the ability of the enlarged Union to honour them. The paper deals with the fundamental problems in connection with presented themes.

The aim of this presentation is to introduce partial results of this research project aimed to the efficiency of businesses working with the organic systems. The proposal of mesures will be formed with the respect of results of analysis to support organic businesses, to increase organic land area corresponding with the progress in the EU and therefore to help to satisfy increasing demand for organic food, last but not least also to prove, that organic agriculture is truly functioning part of multifunctional agriculture.

The main idea of the paper is to evaluate the state and development of financial structure of selected agricultural co-operatives in accounting periods from 1994 till 2001. Assets financial stability constitutes an ability of an enterprise to create and balance an accurate relation between assets and their financial sources. The results of the research work document a positive tendency in financial structure in favour of equity capital (Table 1). On the other hand, there have been problems with borrowed capital mainly with the liabilities from business relation. An increasing level of earnings can be assessed positively as well as the participation of new loans in the financial basis of enterprises (Table 3).

An assortment of 15 cultivars of root parsley was studied in field experiments to evaluate morphological characteristics, market yield, content of selected minerals and nitrate content. Storage ability of roots was also assessed. Mean root weight ranged from 87 g (cv. Bartowich Long) to 129 g (cv. Atika). Root head diameter was from 39 mm (cv. Lange) to 49 mm (cv. Halflange Omega and Hamburg). Mean root yield amounted to 1.35 kg/m² and the highest value was found in cv. Atika. Nitrate content did not exceed the tolerance limit ranging from 113 to 617 mg/kg of f.m. Mean content of K was 4,690 mg, Ca 124 mg, Mg 509 mg, and Na 425 mg/kg of f.m. Weight losses ranged from 10 to 32%; cv. Jadran showed the lowest value. Newer Czech cultivars (Atika, Jadran, Orbis) had a good commercial and growth potential.

The subject of this paper was to assess the effects of pulverised dolomitic limestone applications on prosperity of Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) plantation and on the soil in extreme ecological conditions of the Jizerské hory Mts. The characteristics such as plant mortality, annual height increment, diameter of root collar (stem base diameter), crown diameter, nutrient analyses and some data from soil analyses are evaluated in this paper. An eleven-year period of observations is summarised. According to the observations and measurements carried out until now, the effect of limestone applications (1 kg per tree) on the spruce plantation prosperity seems to be positive without any serious negative impacts on the soil.

In vitro propagation of Tilia platyphyllos Scop. has been achieved by axillary shoot proliferation and somatic embryo-genesis. The influence of tree age, explant source, genotype, and phytohormones on micropropagation of juvenile and mature trees of Tilia platyphyllos has been investigated. Nodal segments and shoot tips were used as initial explants for axillary shoot proliferation. Low concentration of cytokinin (BA, BPA, TDZ) plus auxin (IBA) stimulated fast shoot multiplication. Microshootsexcised from proliferating cultures were rooted on low salt medium and produced trees were planted in the field. Embryo-genic tissues were initiated from zygotic embryos cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D. After transfer of embryogenic tissues with developing embryoids on media lacking 2,4-D and supplemented with low concetration of IBA, the development of somatic embryos was enhanced. Secondary somatic embryogenesis led to the formation of new adventive somatic embryos. Trees produced from somatic embryos were planted in the field and exhibited normal growth and morphology.

Molecular sampling of HSVd in grapevines in the environs of hop gardens was performed. Specific RT PCR primers were designed to unambiguously distinguish between HLVd and HSVd infections. These primers were used for detection and analysis of HSVd cDNAs from individual samples by thermodynamic methods, TGGE and cDNA heteroduplex analysis. We found that at least 70% of grapevine samples from locations close to hop gardens inNorthern Bohemia(Žatec and Úštěk hop production areas) were infected with HSVd forming populations containing quasispecies. Particular sequence variants, dominant in grapevines from wine-growing areas like Znojmo, were also found in minor private vineyards. HSVd was experimentally transmissible (80% success) from these samples to Osvald's clone 72 of Czech hop, where according to the cDNA library screening, one of the dominant HSVdg variants corresponding to AC E01844 was detected in early populations three weeks p.i. HSVd was detected neither in reproduction materials nor in examined hop gardens. However a potential danger for hop cultivation, consisting in the high biological potential of HSVd spread is discussed.

Four kinds of cereal crops were grown without farmyard manure application. The effect of farmyard manure was supposed to be replaced by post-harvest residues (PH treatment) or by ploughing the total by-product, i.e. straw (PZ treatment) into soil. After seven years of application, this soil farming system did not influence the contents of Cox and Nt in soil. The amount of organic carbon had declined after the first year, but in the following years it remained at the same level (1.2%). The total nitrogen content increased from 0.143 to 0.166% without any considerable difference between the treatments. The amount of microbial biomass (C_mic) in PH treatment had been varying and in 2000 it decreased approximately by a half (from 215.96 to 132.00 mg C/kg of soil dry matter). The input of organic matter due to ploughing the whole by-product (PZ treatment) into soil acted favourably and the value of C_mic in 2000 was quite comparable with the average values of the individual years of 1994-1997. This land management and cereal growing caused a reduction of the ratio of microbial biomass carbon to soil organic carbon (C_mic/C_org). In the year 2000, the values decreased from 2.59 to 1.09% and from 2.88 to 1.82% in PH and PZ treatments, respectively. The amount of the biologically releasable nitrogen (Nbiol) and the intensity of nitrification were the highest in the year 2000. There was a moderate negative correlation (r = -0.474) between the N_biol values and biomass amount values in PZ treatment, and a very close negative one (r = -0.972) in PH treatment. This relation became strong in both treatments when the values Cmic/Corg and Nbiol were compared, i.e. r_PH = -0.863 and r_PZ = -0.921. The results confirmed that the amount and the quality of organic matter influence microbial biomass and its activity which is responsible for the nutrient release.

Three maize inbred lines (Os86-39, Os89-35 and Os87-24) were grown in pots with Eutric Cambisol using 9 fertilisation variants (control 10 kg/ha Zn - on soil surface; 5 kg/ha - foliar application; 61 kg/ha P; 61 kg/ha P and 10 kg/ha Zn - on soil surface; 61 kg/ha P and 5 kg/ha Zn - foliar application; 183 kg/ha P; 183 kg/ha P and 10 kg/ha Zn - on soil surface; 183 kg/ha P and 5 kg/ha Zn - foliar application). The effects of phosphorus and zinc fertilisation on the dry matter yield, plant height, stalk diameter as well as phosphorus and zinc concentrations in ear-leaves were investigated. Significant differences were found between the lines in all parameters investigated except for phosphorus concentration. Line Os87-24 was characterised by the best results in the total biomass production. Zinc fertilisation decreased while phosphorus fertilisation increased total plant dry matter mass. Phosphorus fertilisation increased its concentration in the ear-leaves. Zinc fertilisation, especially foliar, resulted in Zn concentration increase in the ear-leaf of the lines investigated.

Automatic steering devices for farm machinery and tractors have the task to relieve the driver from the physical and mental stress of monotonous steering work. Simultaneously, they are intended to help exploit machines and tractors closer to their full performance and improve the quality of work. However, it is not possible to rule out malfunctions or breakdowns of sensors, gaps in guidance lines, obstacles in the field such as ditches or pylons, temporary hazards like the sudden appearance of animals in front of a moving machine or a temporary lack of concentration of the operator. Most of these problems may be prevented by a safety system for automatically steered agricultural machinery developed at the Department of Agricultural Engineering of the Martin-Luther-University in Halle. The function of the components of the safety system and preliminary results obtained in field experiments are introduced and discussed.

The analysis of the development of prices in the foodstuffs vertical, it means the prices of inputs into the agriculture, agricultural products, food products and consumption prices of foodstuffs, on the basis of the price scissors, and with crucial products on the basis of the price shares and differences, has shown that price liberalisation with the applied partial regulation of their development within the market-oriented reform has evoked the greatest raise of prices within 1991-2001 regarding inputs into the agriculture, while prices of agricultural products were growing slower. The parity coefficient (the ratio of price indices) between the development of the prices of inputs and outputs became worse as of 1989 to the detriment of agriculture from 93.9 reached in 1990 to 50.3 in 2001, what means a significant opening of the price scissors to the detriment of agricultural producers. That situation was influenced mostly by the development in the first year of the reform but the trend of opening the price scissors, except for 1994, was persisting, though in the last two years the differences in the trends of the development of prices of inputs and outputs have been moderated. At the beginning of the development, the effect of the low level of the agricultural products prices was not adequately reflected in the prices of food producers and consequently in consumer prices. This was influenced mainly by the pressure of food producers evoked by the need of settlement of additional costs connected with the transformation, in particular to the detriment of the agricultural products prices (opening of the price scissors with the parity coefficient dropping from 90.8 in 1990 to 56.5 in 2001), but this negative trend has been stopped in the last two years. A gradual accommodation of demand and supply and a growing competition environment also through large retails established in our country has been reflected in closing the price scissors between the prices of food producers and consumer prices of foodstuffs (the parity coefficient raised from 76.6 in 1991 to 88.7 in 2001). The development of the shares and differences in prices as of 1994 pointed to a substantial differentiation in the development of prices in the vertical of the production and consumption of individual products what was effected by the applied regulation system as well. With milk and milk products, the majority of the evaluated products was showing a slightly raised share of the raw cow milk price in the final food products prices, and in the last three years, also the processor price share in the consumer price. This narrowed the difference between the producer and dealer prices. With slaughter cattle and the major kinds of beef, a gradual decline of the slaughter cattle price share in the processor price was interrupted in 2001, what, to a certain extent, was also caused by the crisis evoked by the BSE and by the minimum price which prevented transferring of these consequences, to a larger extent, to farmers. Similarly, in 2001, a non-standard situation occurred between the processor and consumer prices of the individual kinds of beef. With slaughter pigs and the evaluated kinds of pork, after the period of dropping slaughter pig prices share in the processor price of the major kinds of pork, its growth was

Precise categorisation and permanent and completed evidence of agricultural land are necessary for rational utilisation of land fund in Slovakia. Current complex evaluation information system is the only system of this category in our country and consists of the following parts: (1) land-cartographic information system, (2) evaluation data bank. Evaluation data bank includes data about all evaluated soil-ecological units in basic classification, according to users, cadastral areas and higher units of administrative state division. Evaluation data bank is open system updated, improved and widened constantly. It is important source of information used for calculation of land fund evaluation, calculation of financial damage, calculation of land tax, setting of land rent level, estimate of orientation prices for purchase or sales of agricultural land. Recently the data from evaluation data bank have been used for setting and specification of criteria for classification of agricultural land and subjects into the less-favoured areas in Slovakia.

Although empirical findings show the deterioration of living standards in post- communist countries in the 1990s, there are significant differences in the public opinion about the "welfare state" project in countries where more rigorous liberal reforms were implemented and countries with much slower progression towards the liberal model of capitalism. The Czech Republic with its economic development is still on the symbolic crossways to make a decision about how to approach the welfare state. There is a very actively discussed model of an "active approach" (non-state subjects) to social policy with a residual role of the state. The model should have a chance to a more effective implementation in (small) rural communities where social problems can be better identified and resolved. The questions to be asked are that of the potential of social policy actors to participate in the process and the attitudes and approaches to social policy models in rural communities. It should be asked how the opinion of actors can be evaluated in the process of making a new system of social policy which still remains a "reform from above". The paper follows a preceding qualitative study of the author with a quantitative survey of public opinion on the participation and responsibility in social policy actors' action and acceptance of the welfare state model based on the liberal model of capitalism. The first part provides a review of international studies on rural poverty in post- socialist states. The main part of paper presents results of a quantitative investigation in one Czech rural community where significant social problems of the welfare state project (unemployment, illness, education, age, living conditions) have been studied.

The objectives of this study are to determine a trend of the radial growth at breast height (b.h.) and to compare the radial growth of trees of younger and older generations in the XX century for fir (Abies alba Mill.), beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in the Świętokrzyski National Park. In the investigated area fir, 41 to 200-300 years of age at breast height, gradually regenerated its radial growth after a very strong decline during 1971-1990, and most likely the process of vitality reduction and death of its stands of various age is slowly coming to an end. Pine showed a systematic decrease in the radial increment during 1885-1994, and there were no distinct symptoms indicating a change of this unfavourable trend. Beech showed no significant decrease in the radial increment during 1885-1994. In the Świętokrzyski National Park the differences in the radial growth between younger and older generations were noticeable only in the case of beech. The radial growth of trees of different ages was very similar in the case of fir and pine.

The Hymenoptera (Aculeata) fauna was studied in birch stands (Betula pendula Roth) of colder areas of Northern Bohemia using the method of Moericke's yellow traps. Altogether 159 species were trapped; the most important were Andrena lappona, Vespula vulgaris, Halictus sp., Trypoxylon minus and Vespula rufa. Only 12.7% of the species are widely spread in this ecosystem type. In 1990-1994 and in 1995-1999 we compared the abundance of the fauna and discovered that many species of the families Apidae and Sphecidae receded from the birch stands due to changing site conditions (light, weed infestation).

A traditional approach to problems of the opening-up of forests has been based primarily on technical and economic aspects. It results particularly from the ground configuration and calculations of minimum costs for logging and transport operations. Optimum density of main forest roads is determined by a minimum value of the summary curve of costs of forest road construction and timber skidding. A new conception from the aspect of integrated forest management taking into account forest functions is based on a standard approach when technical and economic aspects are complemented by the particular functions of the forest. Thus, the technical and economic approach is changed to a technical-economic-environmental conception that will contribute to a reduction in negative effects of the construction of forest road network on the environment.

Soil map at the scale 1:250 000 was set up by means of transformation of the published and later digitised soil map of theCzechRepublic. The legend to this map reflects a new classification system of Czech soils that can easily be correlated with the reference international classification system FAO-WRB. In the next step this map was converted into the SOTER system, which links the soil cover to the geomorphology. The modification of the original SOTER procedure consisted in the abandoning of the consequent hierarchy geomorphology - lithology - soil associations. Only in territories characterised by rather shallow transported slope deposits over compact or consolidated rocks was this principle observed in the SOTER unit delimitation. In flat landscapes covered with deep sediment deposits the prevailing soil cover (mosaics of taxonomic units and their parent materials) determines the borders of SOTER units. Ten major landscape units were delineated. They are based on relief intensity and hypsometry. The slope gradient map enables a detailed insight into the landscape geomorphology. 158 SOTER units are defined by the combination of 10 major landscape units, 21 grouped soil parent materials and 19 grouped soil units. The single factors and their combinations are reflected in GIS layers that can be matched with the map of soil associations. The major soil regions, which are conceptually close to the SOTER units, will be delimited as homogeneous mosaics of the individual SOTER units with respect to regionally integrating factors (climate, vegetation). The interconnection of the geometric and attribute data generates the soil information system. This system is anticipated to be used for the soil policy regulation both in the Czech Republic (PUGIS) and within the EU (EUSIS).

In small-plot field trials conducted in 2000-2002 we studied the effect of fungicides on the yield and selected technological parameters of grain of malt barley and on malt. For the treatment we used Cerelux (active ingredients: fenpropimorph, flusilazole), Amistar (azoxystrobin) and Caramba (metconazole) applied in two stages of stand development (DC 47 and 55). Compared to the untreated control plants the yield grains ranged between 6.9 and 16.5% after the application of fungicides. The application of fungicides increased the proportion of full grains and had a favourable effect on the chemical composition of grain. After the treatment with azoxystrobin the content of N-substances decreased from 11.43 to 11.07% as compared to the controls. The highest starch content of grain was observed after the application of the active ingredient metconazole; the average content ranged between 64.44 and 64.62%. Compared to the controls the highest relative yield of malt starch (124.2-125.2%) was achieved after the application of azoxystrobin or a combination of azoxystrobin and metconazole in the DC 47 stage. The highest average attainable degree of fermentation was 78.57% and was discovered in the untreated control.

Grapevines infected with Grapevine leafroll-associated virus-1 (GLRaV-1) and Grapevine leafroll-associated virus-3 (GLRaV-3) were selected. Total RNA was isolated from grapevine phloem tissue scrapped from dormant canes by three different methods: extraction with urea buffer followed with phenol-chloroform extraction, method using Concert^TM reagent (Invitrogen) followed with chloroform-isopropylalcohol extraction, and procedure using RNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen). The highest yield of RNA was obtained using Concert^TM reagent. If this RNA was used in RT-PCR, GLRaV-1 and GLRaV-3 were easily detected. From RNA isolated by other two methods these viruses were not detected.

The goal of the measurement of the tractor ZTS 164 45 equipped with digital electrohydraulical control EHR-D BOSCH during ploughing with ploughs KUHN (4 bottoms) and 5 PHX 35 (5 bottoms) was to obtain time dependent states of pressure in the hydraulic system of the three point hitch of tractor. From the point of view of comparison of obtained results testing conditions were determinated with respect to physical and mechanical properties of soil such as soil volume mass, soil humidity, penetration resistance and shear resistance of soil. Beyond these measurements also measurements of operation parameters as a ploughing depth, ploughing width, working speed and fuel consumption were accomplished. The measured results of physical and mechanical properties of soil show big content of loam elements and stones in the soil. Simultaneously the measured results of the operation parameters of the ploughing sets confirmed that the ploughs KUHN and 5 PHX 35 are suitable for tractor ZTS 164 45. Based on the measured results there is a possibility to infer following conclusions: Control system of the three point hitch offers a reliable function. Hydraulic circuit is equipped by an improper distributor which causes pressure peaks which are corres-ponding with safety valve adjustment. Hydraulic circuit has a low conductive resistance. Loading of tractor body is higher when using mounted plough than with semi mounted plough.

The paper analyses the pay system in a particular enterprise in the Czech Republic and proposes a change in this system. The establishment of two scales based on pay classes per month is proposed: one scale that allows for overlaps of pay classes but does not allow for overruns into other categories, and another scale that allows for no overlaps at all.

These traits of fruit colour were evaluated in 24 apricot genotypes for six years: basic colour, overcolour, flesh colour and attractiveness. The evaluation involved variability of colour traits and correlations between these traits in a six-year period. The evaluated genotypes were significantly different in colour traits; it will facilitate the selection of commercially interesting genotypes. Highly significant correlation coefficients (r = 0.56⁺⁺ to r = 0.96⁺⁺) were calculated for the rank of the values of particular traits in 1994-1999; it confirmed that the traits are genetically conditioned. As for the correlations between the traits, the closest correlation was found out between basic colour of fruit and flesh colour (r = 0.53⁺⁺ to r = 0.96⁺⁺) and between basic colour and overcolour (r = 0.45⁺⁺ to r = 0.65⁺⁺). In the six-year period fruit attractiveness showed the lowest variability expressed by average coefficient of variation (v = 14.98%) while fruit overcolour had the highest variability (v = 41.14%). The coefficients of variation for basic colour and flesh colour were at a medium level. Harogem and Harlayne were the most interesting varieties by their colour traits. Among the registered and most frequently grown varieties in the CR it was Velkopavlovická LE-6/2. The varieties Lednická M-90-A and Vynoslivyj were the most promising for producers by their colour.

In the years 1999-2000, I studied damage to transplants in the planting and wildlings in the natural seeding at the locality Zamrlô in the Starohorské vrchy Mts. (750-1,000 m a.s.l., NE exposure, forest type Abieto-Fagetum). Damage to the woody plants by the mammals and birds in the planting was much higher (14%) than in the natural seeding (7%). All woody plant species were also more damaged in the planting (spruce 16%, larch 9%, fir 24%, beech 10%, and sycamore 10%) than in the natural seeding (spruce 7%, larch 6%, fir 10%, beech 7%, and sycamore 9%). There were found 8 mammals that damaged woody plants both in the planting and natural seeding (Apodemus sp., Capreolus capreolus L., Cervus elaphus L., Clethrionomys glareolus SCHREB., Lepus europaeus L., Microtus agrestis L., Microtus arvalis PALL., Sciurus vulgaris L.). Only one bird species was found to damage woody plants in the planting and natural seeding (Tetrao urogallus L.).

The effect of droplet spectra on efficiency of contact and systemic herbicides was evaluated. As a model components were used: mixture of clethodim 240 g/l + surfactant (90% raps fluid, 10% polyetoxyl esters); bentazon 600 g/l and bentazon 480 g/l + Wettol LF 150 g/l. The effect of droplet spectra on Elytrigia repens (L.) Desv. was evaluated using systemic herbicide (clethodim 240 g/l + surfactant). No significant differences of the efficiency were observed between different droplet sizes at the treatments of mixture of clethodim + adjuvant between very different droplet size ranging from VMD = 193 µm to VMD = 929 µm. The effect of droplet spectra on Chenopodium album L. and Galium aparine L. was evaluated using contact herbicides (bentazon 600 g/l and bentazon 480 g/l + Wettol LF 150 g/l). Six droplet spectra, ranging from VMD = 183 µm to VMD = 911 µm, were used. The efficiency significantly increased with smaller droplet sizes. The worst results were achieved by droplet spectra of 586 µm and 911 µm for both bentazon 600 g/l and bentazon 480 g/l + Wettol LF 150 g/l. Effect of droplet spectra is more pronounced in contact compounds. Translocation of systemic compounds may be the main mechanism that nullifies the effect of the droplets size and lower leaf coverage.

The aim of this study was to determine the most sensitive growth stage of common buckwheat to frost temperatures and evaluate differences in frost resistance among varieties. A modified field-laboratory method was utilised for the study on four varieties of common buckwheat. The lethal temperature (LT50) was determined for all variants. The critical time of frost action (Lt50) was determined for the lethal temperature and for the most sensitive growth stage. Buckwheat is most sensitive to frost temperature from the stage of primary leaves to the stage of two secondary leaves. Differences among the growth stages developed with plant hardening during the growth. The lethal temperature of buckwheat was in the range -1.3 to -2.9°C depending on the stage of development and growing conditions. The critical time of frost action (temperature -2°C) was in the range 4.3 to 5.9 hours. Varieties Pyra and Emka were most resistant from chosen varieties.

The Pb, Zn and Cd phytoextraction potential of 14 different plants was assessed in a chelate induced phytoextraction experiment. In the used soil heavy metals mainly reside in carbonate, organic matter, and residual soil fractions. The addition of a chelate, 5 mmol/kg ethylenediamine-tetracetic acid (EDTA), increased the proportion of phytoavailable Pb, Zn and Cd in the soil (dissolved in soil solution and exchangeable from soil colloids), and also their uptake by tested plants up to 48 times (Sinapis alba), 4.6 times (Raphanus sativus oleiformis), and 3.3 times (Amaranthus spp.), respectively, compared to the control. The biodegradable chelate ethylenediamine-disuccinic acid (EDDS) was generally less effective (tested on a selection of 4 plant species), except for Cannabis sativa. In a treatment with 10 mmol/kg EDDS, Pb, Zn and Cd concentrations of 1053 ± 125, 211 ± 16 and 5.4 ± 0.8 mg/kg, respectively, were measured in the biomass of Cannabis sativa and were 105, 2.3 and 31.7 times higher, respectively, than in the control treatment. The calculated Pb phytoextraction potential of Cannabis sativa amounted to 26.3 kg/ha.

The transition to the CAP and admission to the internal market triggered a shock wave in Austria which caused fundamental changes in the country's farming and food industries. Behavioural patterns stuck in traditional routines and petrified structures began to break up. The resulting thrust towards modernisation has been a major success of the EU integration. Eastern enlargement, about to be embarked on by the European Union, will have a greater impact on Austrian agriculture than the country's accession to the EU ever had. Farmers will have to brace for a loss of market shares and an additional pressure to adjust. The rural regions bordering the accession candidates will be particularly hit and thus require special attention in terms of economic policy measures. Agriculture and rural regions in Eastern Europe will profit from the EU-membership.