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A characteristic feature of the organic system of production is the lower productivity of cows. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of cow age and collecting number on the level of immunostimulating colostrum components in an organic farm. From the basic herd specializing in organic milk production, 40 cows of the Polish Holstein-Friesian Black and White breed were selected: 10 primiparous, 10 cows in 2nd lactation, 10 cows in 4th lactation and 10 cows in 5th lactation. The colostrum samples were collected according to the following scheme: the first one maximum of two hours after calving, the second on the same day and the third and fourth on the following day. For three consecutive days samples were taken once a day (7 colostrum samples from each cow). Statistically significant differences in the level of bioactive components of colostrum with immunostimulating properties has been shown due to the time of intake from calving and significant differences in the level of these components due to the age of cows. Multiparous cows synthetized colostrum with a higher content of total protein, casein and non-fat dry matter than the primiparous. Variability of the immunoglobulin content of colostrum obtained in 1st and in the 2nd collecting after calving was higher in multiparous cows than in primiparous cows. Furthermore, it has been shown that there was a clear correlation between the quality of colostrum and the age of cows. In conclusion, a high impact of the interaction of age of cows x collecting number on the development of colostrum stimulating ingredients in the organic production system has been demonstrated.

Agriculture in Lithuania, Poland and Slovenia experienced drastic changes after the accession to the EU. Entrepreneurial competencies are demanded to deal with these changes. Therefore, entrepreneurship and competencies of dairy farmers were studied by means of a survey among 334, 334 and 362 dairy farmers in Lithuania, Poland and Slovenia respectively. These countries were considered to reflect farm communities in Central and Eastern European and other similar countries. The study revealed that the dairy farmers in the participating countries still are production oriented as they most often choose expanding dairy production and further specialization in dairy farming as their preferred farm strategies for the upcoming five years. Farmers with higher competence levels were more inclined to change, were more positive about their future, had larger farms, and were more content with their family income and farm results. This indicates that investing in entrepreneurial competencies may help farmers to deal with the challenges they are facing and keep their farms viable.

After accession to EU, farmers in the new-member states have to adjust to the EU agricultural policies and market. In Slovenia an analysis is made of the farm development plans and information exchange under quota and CAP. Three research questions were addressed: what information is received and how; how does the farmer prefer to receive information and what kind; how to make decisions to react to the new EU policies concerning farm management and future plans. These questions were linked to the base variables, being the farm and farmers’ characteristics. As tool a questionnaire was distributed to dairy farmers. 1114 questionnaires, 22% of the distributed ones have been returned anonymously, implying that 11% of the dairy farmers’ population is part of the analysis. It appeared that the research sample of farmers used represents the more future oriented farmers. As main factors describing the farm and farmers’ characteristics were found farm size, age and number of other activities than dairy. Results show that nearly all farmers did receive information about some specific aspects of the quota system. Communication channels dealing with this administrative info and also with farm management advice are divers, but frequency of direct contact with advisors may be less than predicted. Results also indicate a very significant demand for info about strategic planning, farm management aspects and EU premium programs, especially about CAP general policies and milk premiums, and a considerable activity in farm planning. About 40% of farmers choose for keeping the farm business the same and 50% intend to develop the farm further.

Farms are advised to be entrepreneurial, but empirical research showing that an entrepreneurial proclivity (EP) of farmers results in better performance is scant. This research will test empirically whether an EP contributes to the performance of farms. We provide a model with hypotheses about the relationship between EP and performance, which is tested for a sample of Dutch and Slovenian farmers. We find that EP has a universal positive influence on performance and performance expectations of farmers in The Netherlands and in Slovenia. The influence of the underlying dimension of EP, i.e. innovativeness, proactiveness and risk taking, on performance are mixed and context specific.

Po įstojimo į Europos Sąjungą Lietuvos, Lenkijos ir Slovėnijos žemės ūkis patyrė reikšmingų pokyčių. Tam, kad būtų lengviau prisitaikoma prie pokyčių, būtinos verslumo kompetencijos. Todėl siekta ištirti pieno gamintojų verslumą ir kompetencijas. Tam panaudota apklausa. Tyrime dalyvavo 334 Lietuvos, 334 Lenkijos ir 362 Slovėnijos pienininkystės ūkininkai, atstovaudami Vidurio, Rytų Europos ir panašių šalių ūkininkams. Tyrimo rezultatai atskleidė, kad tiriamieji buvo orientuoti į gamybą, nes dažniausiai rinkosi pagrindinę ūkio strategiją būsimus penkerius metus plėsti pieno gamybą ir toliau specializuotis pienininkystėje. Aukštesnio kompetencijų lygio ūkininkai buvo labiau linkę keistis, pozityvesni dėl savo ateities, turėjo didesnius ūkius, buvo labiau patenkinti savo šeimos pajamomis ir žemės ūkio rezultatais. Galima daryti išvadą, kad verslumo kompetencijų stiprinimas gali padėti ūkininkams geriau susidoroti su patiriamais iššūkiais ir išlaikyti savo ūkius perspektyvius. Agriculture in Lithuania, Poland and Slovenia experienced drastic changes after the accession to the EU. Entrepreneurial competencies are demanded to deal with these changes. Therefore, entrepreneurship and competencies of dairy farmers were studied by means of a survey among 334, 334 and 362 dairy farmers in Lithuania, Poland and Slovenia respectively• These countries were considered to reflect farm communities in Central and Eastern European and other similar countries. The study revealed that the dairy farmers in the participating countries still are production oriented as they most often choose expanding dairy production and further specialization in dairy farming as their preferred farm strategies for the upcoming five years. Farmers with higher competence levels were more inclined to change, were more positive about their future, had larger farms, and were more content with their family income and farm results. This indicates that investing in entrepreneurial competencies may help farmers to deal with the challenges they are facing and keep their farms viable.

'Trends' in the way we eat are discussed in this chapter. Three potential trends are taken as points of departure, namely health concerns, convenience, and process characteristics. Some of the evidence provided may not necessarily be evidence of a trend itself, but can be regarded as indicators or important issues taht may change the way we eat. However, the food industry plays a major part in shaping these trends, and both direction and speed will depend on how the food industry handles these developments.