Excursions

date

time

location

activity – description of enterprise

05.09.

7:30 am

Lednice MZLU, Horticultural Faculty

departure

10:30 am

11:30-12:00

A visit to Vladimír Hamara’s farm in Klátova Nová Ves, Partizánske Region

Klátova Nová Ves lies at the foot of the Tríbeč hills on the border between warm and moderate climate areas, with medium air humidity – average annual rainfall is 600-700 mm. These favourable soil and weather conditions allow the farming of nearly all cultivated crops of the Central European climatic zone. In this really picturesque hilly landscape Mr Vladimír Hamara officially runs his farm as a private farmer. He is registered in the organic farming system under No. SK- 2006/376. He owns 179ha farmland of which 48.81ha is arable land. He mainly grows cereals, root-crops and plants for feeding animals. He also keeps cattle, sheep, goats and horses. He is proud of his modern machinery for milk processing. He is a certified producer of special organic dairy products such as cibajská biožinčica, biobryndza, bioparenica and cibajský sheep’s cheese – smoked and non-smoked.
Refreshment in the form of a picnic including local specialities, coffee, tea.

12.00

Departure from Mr Vladimír Hamara’s farm for Borovce pri Piešťanoch

1:00 pm

Arrival on the premises of the SCPV – VÚRV research site in Borovce pri Piešťanoch

1:00-2:00 pm

A visit  to SCPV – VÚRV Piešťany, Department of Alternative Plant Production to view their experiments

The Department of Alternative Plant Production (OARV) was established within VÚRV Piešťany in 1994, while its foundation was determined by reaction to changes in Slovak and European agriculture, when people became aware of the multifunctional importance of agriculture. OARV began its research into agri-environmental systems (ecological, integrated, low-input) considering biodiversity and sustainable development in 1994. At present, they conduct experiments and investigation into the possibilities of alternative plant production, ecological land-farming systems, integrated systems, methods of plant cultivation that protect the soil, utilization of biomass for non- productive purposes etc.
In areas directly relating to agricultural issues, research tasks are being carried out regarding crop rotation, soil tillage, nutrition and fertilization as well as plant protection in relation to economically important field crops.
The HOPE experiment is being conducted to verify crop rotation and fertilization in different agri-systems (organic, conventional). The experiment began in 1993 and belongs to the longest-lasting fixed-site experiments. The ECORS experiment (6.58ha) was launched in 2006. The whole experiment is registered in the OF system and since 2007 has been monitored by Naturalis SK s.r.o inspection authority. The experiment explores the influence of various methods of soil-tillage and various crop-rotation combinations on defined indicators of sustainability.

2:00-2:30 pm

Departure for Brezová pod Bradlom, birthplace of General M.R.Štefánik; lunch

2:30-4:00 pm

Lunch (including organic food of Slovak origin, tasting traditional dishes of the region), discussion and evaluation of the excursion

4:00 pm

Departure from Brezová

6:00 pm

Arrival in Lednice