The development of agricultural sector is
influenced by a number of internal and external factors.
The internal factors in this case mean the factors, which
are developed inside the country as the result of a
purposeful activity or, on the contrary, inactivity of the
government. After accession to the European Union,
economy of Latvia is influenced by economic and social
policy of the European Union as well as external factors
influencing the economic development of EU to a great
extent. The totality of these factors is forming the group
of external factors. This paper only outlines the most
significant factors influencing the sector of agriculture
and their possible impact on the development of the
explored object. It is very important to discover these
factors and evaluate them. Commonly in these cases
SWOT method or PEST method is used. The paper
demonstrates a possibility to use a new approach for
identification and evaluation of external and internal
factors – PEST – SWOT and SWOT – PEST methods.

When mink are infected with Aleutian
disease, the immune protection is impaired. In the present
work we have studied the prevalence of fungal flora
in the liver of 18 dark brown minks infected with Aleutian
disease. We isolated 12 genus of moulds. Members
of the genus Candida, Aspergillus and Penicillium were
the most frequently isolated strains. Our results demonstrated
that the distribution of hyphae were between
hepatocytes in all areas of liver acinus, but yeastlike
cells – mainly in interlobular bile ducts.We studied
VEGF and HGF expression by immunohistochemistry.
Results suggested the expression of VEGF in blood vessels
(around central veins) and mainly in periportal
hepatocytes, consequently, this factor is expressed in
areas of the liver, which are moderately and/or richly
supplied with oxygen. Allocation of HGF in hepatocytes
was observed uniform or non uniform, frequently
around bile-ducts and portal tracts.In conclusion, detection
of VEGF and HGF simultaneously to inflammation
liver might be connected to the tissue ischemia and
damage realized by the same inflammatory cells.

The total number of goats in Estonia is low and the
importance of goat husbandry is modest in Estonia.
However, the goat population has increased and
duplicated during the last ten years from 1700 goats in
1997 to 3400 goats in 2007 (Piirsalu, 2007). Although
goat husbandry has low economic importance as
regards the national income, it provides employment for
a large number of rural families living in small holdings
in Estonia. Most breeders keep small non-commercial
herds for home consumption of milk, cheese or for
hobby purposes, with the exception of a growing number
of commercial milk producers. During the last years
bigger farmers got problems with feeding their animals
as there were not national nutritional requirements
existing for dairy goats in Estonia and farmers could
not use rationed feeding. The aim of this study was
worked out by publications the nutrient requirements
for lactating dairy goats, for growing kids and for billy
goats of the Estonian local goat breed.

Jõgeva Plant Breeding
Institute carried through two cycles of field experiments
in 2001–2006 to elaborate seed production techniques
for chewings fescue cultivar 'Herbert'. We studied the
impact of sowing time (10 and 24 May, 10 and 24
June), sowing rate (4, 6, 8 and 10 kg ha–1), drill space
(15, 45 and 60 cm) and the application rate and time of
nitrogenous fertiliser (N 70 kg ha–1 in spring + 35 kg in
the second half of summer, N 70 kg ha–1 in spring + 70
kg in the second half of summer, N 105 kg ha–1 in spring
+ 35 kg in the second half of summer and N 105 kg ha–1
just in spring without nitrogen application in late summer)
on the seed yield and quality. In another experiment
the storage life of viable seeds was monitored in a
warehouse with uncontrolled environment. The efficacy
of five herbicides or their mixtures in controlling shortlived
dicotyledonous weeds on the seed production field
of chewings fescue in sowing year and their impact to
the first seed crop was explored in a field trial. The
appearance of plant pathogens was followed. The
infection levels were recorded during four visual
observartions at plant tillering, flowering and full
maturity of the seeds and on post-harvest aftermath.
Based on the results a guide for seed production of
chewings fescue cv. 'Herbert' was compiled. This is
summed up at the end of current paper.f

The Potato
Collection of the N.I.Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry
is one of the biggest in the world. It totals about 9000
accessions including 3000 accessions of wild and 3500
of cultivated species, 2100 of bred varieties, 400 of interspecific
hybrids and dihaploids. Accessions of cultivated
species, hybrid clones and bred varieties are preserved
in vitro. The initial material with a complex of
valuable traits including resistance to fungal, viral,
bacterial diseases and pests has a special importance
for modern breeding programs. The main source of
genes that control resistance to diseases and pests are
the wild and cultivated species. Complex evaluation of
hundreds of samples is carried out annually at VIR and
its experimental stations. As a result, valuable material
for breeding has been selected. Crossability of wild potato
species belonging to the series Acaulia Juz.,
Glabrescentia Buk., Commersoniana Buk., Demissa
Buk., Longipedicellata Buk., Simpliciora Buk., Megistacroloba
Card. et Hawk., Transaequatorialia Buk.
(=Tuberosa wild Hawkes, =Bukasoviana Gorbat.) with
species of other series and bred cultivars has been investigated.