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The present paper aimed to investigate the main characteristics of contract farming versus non-contract farming from Dornelor Basin, Suceava county. The research was based on a large-scale survey conducted in the study area, the data being collected from 52 farms who raise dairy cows. The results reveal that contract farmers are, generally, younger, have a slightly higher education level, with more years of agricultural experience and have larger farms, both in terms of size and number of animals, but they express a lower degree of willingness to uptake sustainable practices in comparison with non-contract farmers. Still, it looks like contract farming could represent a viable support instrument to farmers for converting to more sustainable practices. One possible way of achieving this is by creating a connection between contracting and the adoption of ecological farming methods and by supporting farmers with inputs and training in sustainable agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern agriculture poses new challenges related to the increase of the need of sustainable development of the agrarian sector, and rural territories, respectively. The use of large amounts of chemical preparations in agriculture inevitably hides a number of possibilities for dangers, both for all mankind and for the natural environment. The main goal of this article is to analyze and evaluate the current state of use of pesticides and fertilizers in Bulgaria, as part of the agro-ecological indicators affecting the climate and natural ecosystems. As a result from the research carried out we found that the levels of pesticide use in Bulgaria are below the average, but the last years are marked by a tendency for gradual increase of the areas of the used quantities of nitrogen fertilizers, manure and organic fertilizer, and a deficit in the Phosphorous balance in soil was noted. We need lowering of the degree of ecological risks related to use of pesticides and fertilizers in Bulgaria. This way the results will be multiplied for achieving higher level of economic, social and ecological sustainability in the development of individual rural territories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]