|
|
Auksuciai Agricultural Development Conference
July 14 - 16, 2004
The Public Was Invited
Lithuanian and American
farmers, educators, and governmental representatives including Vygaudas
Usackas Lithuanian Ambassador to the U.S. participated in a Farm Field Day
and Conference July 15-16, 2004 targeted toward building a stronger
Lithuanian agriculture. The program was sponsored by the Auksuciai
Foundation- U.S. and the Auksuciai Farm and Forest Center- Lithuania, the
Lithuanian University of Agriculture, Siauliai University, University of
California- Davis, Ministry of Agriculture, and the U.S. Embassy,
Lithuania. Activities took place at the Auksuciai Farm and Forest Center
site near Kursenai and on campus of Siauliai University in Siauliai.
Center Director, Larry Clement opened the Auksuciai Center Field Day
explaining that the farm is divided into two divisions, one for the
commercial operations and the other for research and education activities.
He noted that the farm's activity differed from the agricultural research
carried on by the Lithuanian University of Agriculture and the
Agricultural Research Institutes in that it focuses on research that can
be directly utilized by the farmer. He discussed how modification of
traditional cultivation practices, reduced use of chemical fertilizers and
herbicides, and the use of integrated pest management practices to reduce
the use of pesticides all require the use of less labor and energy
resources and could result in greater economic gain by the farmer. After a
question and answer session the participants were taken on a tour of the
various research plots, shown examples of new crops and new varieties of
crops and given suggestions on how they might perform in the local farming
systems.
Following lunch at the farm, the participants traveled to Siauliai
University to take part in the Auksuciai Agricultural Development
Conference held the afternoon of the 15th and the morning of the 16th.
This program involved Lithuanian and American university research
scientists, representatives of the Lithuanian Ministry of agriculture,
Lithuanian farm organizations, and agricultural business representatives.
The program focused on an update of the economic status of Lithuanian
agriculture, the impact of involvement in the European Union, how to
encourage the development and marketing of new crops, utilizing farmer
associations and cooperatives, building markets for existing crops and
crops best suited to small farming enterprises. Special attention was
given to projects that should be given top priority in research activity
at the Auksuciai Farm and Forest Center. Dr Calvin Qualset, Director of
International Relations for the Auksuciai Foundation and Dr Algirdas
Radzevicius, Head of Research Division Lithuanian University of
Agriculture served as key organizers of the two day session. A summary of
the proceedings will be available in both Lithuanian and English.
The Auksuciai Farm and Forest Center was incorporated as a Lithuanian
nonprofit corporation in September of 2002. Its board of directors is
composed equally Lithuanians and Americans. Its sister sponsoring
organization in the US, the Auksuciai Foundation is a 501(c) 3
tax-deductible organization headquartered in Burlingame, California. To
review the full scope of its activities please visit
www.aukfoundation.org.
Released August 1, 2004 by: The Auksuciai Foundation (USA),
2907
Frontera Way,
Burlingame, CA 94010 USA
E-mail: [ click here for Vytas Sliupas ] or
[ click here for Larry Clement ]
|