• Twelve informational newsletters were published and sent out to 120 farmers in the Sergiev Posad region, 250 agricultural-technical colleges in Russia, and (by special request) to farmers, organizations and agricultural producers in other regions.
  
  
• Over two hundred consultations (both written and in-person) were conducted on techniques of agricultural production and marketing. The consultations lasted from one hour (in-office) to two days (on- farm).
  
  
• An academic course has been developed, and the first [week-long] training seminar conducted, for 26 agents and consultants on sustainable agriculture systems. We plan to conduct these courses regularly in the future.
  
  
• At the request of farmers and extension specialists, 25 agricultural extension flyers were translated into Russian. See the list below.
  
  
• Three internship training programs were organized for regional farmers and teachers of the All-Russian Agricultural College (ARAC) in France, Poland and Vladimir, Russia.
  
  
• 6 farmers in the region were among the first to receive organic certification in Russia. EkoNiva conducts the certification program in accordance with IFOAM standards.
  
  
• A demonstration field has been organized on the ARACÕs training farm to show the use of leguminous crops as cover crops and green manure.
  
  
• In cooperation with the ARAC, a conference was organized in November of 1995 on ecologically-safe agricultural practices.
  
  
• Presentations and other materials from the conference are currently under translation (nearing completion).
  
  
• The FDS has actively participated in the creation of the ÒScientific- Methodological Center for Environmentally-Safe Agricultural PracticesÓ at the ARAC. The scientific and informational resources of this Center will be the basis for our future work, since it is financed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, as well as by the private company "Service-Center."
  
  

1. Both the regional administration and local agricultural institute (the ARAC) have donated critical resources such as staff time, office space, phone service and agricultural data, allowing the FDS to effectively build on what has already been accomplished rather than reinventing the wheel. In addition, both the regional administration and ARAC understand and support privatized, mid- scale, sustainable agriculture.
   
   
2. Program funds have been used directly to strengthen the capability of local institutions to respond to pressing agricultural needs, and to institutionalize training of Òagents of changeÓ who can directly support Russian farmers. Program funds have NOT been used to a) directly sponsor capital improvements in agricultural or support- business infrastructure, b) purchase expensive computer systems, or c) refurbish offices or purchase furniture.
   
   
3. The extension service is guided by a council of local farmers, who volunteer their time to participate and define research & extension priorities for the Service. This ensures responsibility to the needs of the service's end-user clients - local agricultural producers and processors.
   
   
4. The availability of a wide range of agricultural experts from the All-Russian Agricultural College has helped provide an interdisciplinary approach to solving farmersÕ problems. The Extension Service is used as a simple Òtransfer vehicle,Ó linking the needs of farmers to the resources of the local agricultural training institution.
   
   

Extension Flyers Translated by the Farming Development Service:

1. Sheep raising and shearing - eight articles.
2. Organic Fertilizers - S.L. Johnson.
3. Recommended Fertilizers for Alaska - Vegetables. D.L. Volvers.
4. Carrots in Alaska. W. Vandre.
5. Weed Control for Cold-Climate Crops: Carrots, Lettuce, Peas.
6. Preventative Measures Against Vegetable Pests and Diseases.
7. Sowing Vegetable Seeds.
8. For Those Starting a Greenhouse Business. V. Kelly, D.S. Hanson.
9. Organic Fertilizers Used in Flower Raising.
10. Appropriate Tools for the Garden. S. Ehrhardt.
11. Back to the Basics - Growing Food Crops. S. Ehrhardt.
12. Independent Investigation of the Market. J. Green.
13. Preliminary Evaluation and Planning of a Small Agricultural Enterprise.
14. Sustainable Agricultural Systems. Vegetable Production.
15. [The Role of a] Cooperative Director.
16. Basic Principles of Sustainable Agriculture. V.D. Hadson.
17. Training Course for Extension Agents.
18. Materials of the November Conference - English and Russian.

Other Russian-language Ag Extension Materials available at each of CCI's Business Information Centers (seven Russian offices):

Volume One

1. Basics of Management and Marketing in Agribusiness
2. Marketing for Farmers
3. Bookkeeping and Finances for Farming Enterprises
4. Education of a Rural Population - Working with Groups
5. Cooperatives: Principles & Practices
6. How to Create a Cooperative
7. Principles and Legal Foundations of Cooperatives
8. Management of Cooperatives
9. Financing and Tax Obligations of Cooperatives
10. Rights and Responsibilities of Cooperative Members
11. Cooperatives in Agribusiness
12. Storage, Processing and Growing Seed Potatoes
13. Production of Sausage and Meat Products
14. How to Make Cheese, Yogurt, Butter
15. Successful Transplanting of Trees
16. Diagnosing Problems with Greenhouse Harvests
17. Selecting Soil Samples
18. Preparing the Soil
19. Maintaining pH Levels to meet the Requirements of your Plants
20. No-Till Gardening
21. From Radishes to Riches
22. Ridge Cultivation
23. Rooftop Gardens - Capillary Irrigation
24. Pest Management
25. Mixes for Containers

Volume Two

1. The Production Cycle
2. Development of a Business-Plan
3. Agricultural Foundations and Funding Sources
4. Base Standards for Certifying Organic Produce and Organically-
5. Processed Foods
6. EKONIVA: Structure of the Certification Program
7. EKONIVA: Standards of AgroEcological Production
8. Organic Fertilizers
9. Techniques of Producing Winter and Summer Canola for Grain
10. Industrial Storage of Fruits, Vegetables, Flowers and Seedlings

Volume Three (currently under compilation in San Francisco)

1. Pests and Diseases of Cabbage
2. Pests and Diseases of Potatoes
3. St. John's Wort (Zveroboi)
4. Production of Strawberries (FDS)
5. Management of Grain Storage
6. Potato Storage (TACIS)
7. Creating Mini-bakeries - The Tomsk Experience (TACIS)
8. Principles of Reorganizing Collective Farms (TACIS)
9. Rabbit Breeding (USDA/Volkhov)
10. Possibilities for Telecommunications in Russia (FADR)
11. Rooftop Gardening - The St. Petersburg Experience (CCI-St. Petersburg)
12. LifeLab - Science & Nutrition through Gardening for grades K-12