Ing. Vladimír Krtouš, Zdíkov - Branišov 9, 384 73 Stachy, tel.: 0602/83 09 98, vladimir.krtous@npsumava.cz
Administrator: Ing. Vladimír Krtouš, tel.: 0602-83 09 90
Board of Administrators: Ing. František Scheinost, Ing. Pavel Vokál, Ing. Milan Skolek
The whole of last year bore the sign of changes in legislative standards and regulations for ecological farming. Most of the farmers, with the assistance of RC advisors, successfully solved problems and confusion related to this. The KEZ inspection activities and connected administrative work were also affected by the new legal regulations. Not everything was fully clear, even some controversial views appeared. About 1/3 of farmers joined the "Interest Groups" programme and used the services of authorised advisors.
Šumava farmers created an Agricultural Division as a subject of the Regional association of Šumava rural concils which brought them adequate representation in this body and thus they can better promote their interests and renewal and development of rural areas.
This is also closely related to questions of potential usage of the EU pre-entry funds, especially SAPARD. During the year a development study, entitled AGRO-EURO REGION ŠUMAVA, was completed, which is aimed at utilization of the SAPARD fund in the Šumava region for particular farm projects.
Farmers associated with PRO-BIO RC Šumava made an agreement and became a collective member of the afore-mentioned Agricultural Division of the Regional association of Šumava rural councils. During the year an ecological information centre for farmers started work in Stachy. There was an ecological education course for farmers and a specialist excursion to Austrian and German organic farms was organised. A promotional leaflet entitled " Ecological farming in the Šumava region" was published in Czech and German versions.

Priorities of 2001
The plan of PRO-BIO RC Šumava activities, approved on 2nd January 2001 was fulfilled in all its 11 points. The most emphasis was put on helping RC members applying for registration according to the Act No. 242/2000 on Ecological Farming and providing advisory service in professional questions, promotion, education and conceptual matters. Close attention was given to elaboration of the AGRO-EUROREGION development study. So far only a little satisfaction comes from organic-quality products.

List of events and projects implemented:
· 16th February in Vimperk and 18 February in Velhartice - a training course focused on the new law and its procedural decree
· 10th May, Haidmühle - cross-border cooperation (Interreg projects)
· 3rd August, Stachy - a get-together of PRO-BIO RC Šumava members
· 8th September, Hoslovice - Organic Harvest Festival
· 10th - 13th September, Žďár nad Sázavou - participation in a training course for advisors (2 advisors)
· 3rd - 5th October, Vimperk - ecological education course for farmers
· 16th October - excursion of German organic farmers from the Regensburg and Freyung-Grafenau districts to the Šumava region
· 24th October - excursion of the PRO-BIO RC Šumava members to ecological farms in Austria and Germany


Interest Group:
In view of the long-term decline in state subsidies for advisory services - as low as under 50% already - farmers interest in such services has decreased as well. Therefore advisory activities supported by state subsidies were only used by 16 agricultural companies, included in the interest group of PRO-BIO Šumava, although there are 46 ecological farmers registered in PRO-BIO RC Šumava.