Foundation Accomplishments

• Heather E. White, RN and director of the White Knight Fund joined the Auksuciai Foundation Board of Directors and is serving as Director of Alternative Agriculture and Development.

• The University of California at Davis Office of International Programs provided a $10,000 grant to C. Qualset and L. Clement, both affiliated with the University, as partial support for a symposium to be held in July 2004 at the farm site and the University of Siauliai. Qualset was accompanied by Professor Charles Francis, a specialist in sustainable agriculture research and education, in Lithuania in May 2003. They had discussions at the Ministry of Agriculture, Lithuanian Agricultural University, and Siauliai University where the symposium concept was warmly accepted, both for participation of Lithuanian scientists and sponsorship support. The symposium participants will include farmers, agriculture business representatives, scientists and agricultural development specialists from the U.S., Lithuania, and other countries.

• Both Qualset and Francis presented papers at an international conference on rural development at the Lithuanian Agricultural University in Kaunas, Lithuania. Qualset's presentation was presented in behalf of Foundation board members and local staff, "The Auksuciai Project in Lithuania: Building a new Paradigm for Rural Development." He also conducted a workshop on priority-setting for the Foundation's projects at the Farm and Forestry Center. Development of this agenda is the main goal of the 2004 symposium. Qualset also made a similar presentation at the annual convention of the American Society of Agronomy in Denver, Colorado in November.

• Board Member Lawrence Clement, V.P. of Operations, served as Director of the farm. In addition, he made a presentation regarding the Auksuciai Foundation program to the Lithuanian Sciences and Creativity Conference in Chicago.

• A grant was received from the Lithuanian-American Foundation as partial support for the education symposium previously mentioned.

• Thirty-six donors contributed $21,312.49 to the Foundation during 2003. The Foundation has no paid administrative staff; therefore, almost 100% of the donation funds were used to support programs in Lithuania.

Farm and Forestry Center Highlights for 2003

• Jurgita Tamutyte, a M.S. Landscape Architecture student from the University of Michigan developed an on-site plan for landscaping the farm entrance and pond area utilizing native species of plants. She has agreed to continue as the Foundation's volunteer landscaping consultant. Her activities were funded by personal contributions from the Board and grants from the University of Michigan. Jurgita is a native of Siauliai.

• A Research and Education Report was published showing results of experiments of 2002 trials with various vegetable, grain, and forage crops.

  

• A long term research site for study of agricultural systems was initiated at the farm. The research is focusing on "ecologically friendly" agriculture. This project will be known as the Long-Term Research on Agricultural Ecological Systems (LTRAES) and will attempt to determine the long-term effects of intensive farming systems on the environment.

• Dr. Charles Francis reviewed the farm and forest site and its activities and presented a very useful report that presented suggestions for improvement of the goals and overall operations.

• A new financial accountant was hired and an improved accounting system was instituted

• The farm manager completed newly required Safety School courses.

• Contact was made with the Siauliai University Botany Department for identification of native plant species found at the farm.

• Two additional plastic greenhouses were constructed, making a total of four, for early establishment of seedlings of vegetable crops and other research activities at the farm.

  

• Extensive research trials on blueberries and commercial planting of asparagus are planned for 2004.

• Foundation Board members made five trips to Lithuania in support of fulfilling Center's activities.

• The Farm and Forest Center Board of Directors includes several Lithuanian specialists along with members of the Foundation Board of Directors. This Board met in Lithuania in 2003.

• Foundation President V. Sliupas continued his work in Lithuania on the legal status of the Foundation's and Center's activities in Lithuania and pursued the complex issues surrounding the construction of the Center's new building to support research and outreach education.

Foundation/Centras goals for 2004

• Begin construction of the Agricultural and Forestry Research and Training Center at the farm site in Lithuania.

• Conduct a Symposium and Field Day in July of 2004 involving local farmers and agricultural specialists from Lithuania, U.S., and other countries.

• Install the ecological native plant landscaping in the entrance and fire pond area near the site of new Research and Training Center.

• Construct a grain-drying facility at the Farm site and establish a program for assisting farmers to improve post-harvest crop handling practices.

• H. White will be working on EU approved environmentally safe treatments of the varona mite in Lithuanian beehives, and will be active in trying to establish the equivalent of a government "Honey Board" to coordinate these treatments, support Lithuanian beekeepers, and promote the production/sales of Lithuanian honey in the EU and elsewhere.

• Publish the 2003 Research and Education Report.