This document summarizes agricultural monitoring activities in Estonia. It discusses soil, water, and biodiversity monitoring programs to evaluate the effectiveness of agri-environmental measures. Soil sampling collects data on organic matter, nutrients, and pH levels across over 78% of arable land. Water monitoring examines nutrient balances and pesticide use on farms. Biodiversity indicators include populations of earthworms, birds, plants, and bees. The goal is to track the environmental impacts of agricultural policies and improve future agri-environmental schemes.

1. Pille Koorberg
Head of Agri-Environmental
Monitoring Bureau
pille.koorberg@pmk.agri.ee
AGRICULTURAL MONITORING IN
ESTONIA
Evaluation of Agri-environmental
Measure (AE) of Rural Development Plan
(RDP)
ANKARA, 24.10.2007

2. Population: 1,34 milj.
Total area: 45 266 km²
Forest area: ~50% of total area, 2,2 milj ha
Agricultural land: ~20% of total area, 850 000 ha
Average cereal (rye, wheat, barley) yield: 2,7t/ha

3. The role of agricultural policy is going through changes –
move from policy that has driven environmental
degradation and biodiversity loss, to one that supports a
sustainable and prosperous farming and land management
sector across the Europe.
Production oriented agriculture is going to be combined with
culture based traditional farming practices through
diversified and innovative development of rural areas.
COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY
(CAP) IS CHANGING
According to (EC) RDP Regulation 1257/1999 (2000-2006)
and 1698/2005 (2007-2013) Member States must include in
their RDP´s “provisions to ensure the effective and correct
implementation of the plans, including monitoring and
evaluation (M&E)”

4. USE OF MONITORING AND
EVALUATION RESULTS
 Results will able EC to observe the progress of
implementation of RDP regulation in EU, also how well
agri-environment scheme or measure is functioning
practically and whether it is achieving the objectives
 Collected data will be used to review and revise
existing schemes and measures and to improve the
design and development of future schemes and
measures

5. EVALUATION OF ESTONIAN RDP AE
2004-2006
“PILOTING THE PROCEDURES”
- Start of baseline data collection
- Testing proposed indicators and
methodologies
- Providing MoA with relevant data/
information to improve existing measures
and to elaborate new measures
- Getting experience for 2007-2013 period
learning by doing!

6. EVALUATION OF AE MEASURE
Additional information
about the AE evaluation
in Estonia –
www.pmk.agri.ee/pkt
Agricultural Research Centre (ARC) is the institution
under the MoA and is coordinating data collection work
related to AE evaluation, ARC will also perform the
function of “independent evaluator” for AE in 2004-2006
(for Axis II measures in 2007-2013 programme), an
additional external “independent evaluator” will be selected
for the evaluation of all other RDP measures.

7. RDP AE SCHEME 2004-2006
ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY
PRODUCTION
SCHEME (EPS)
ORGANIC
FARMING
LOCAL
ENDANGERED
BREEDS
ESTABLISHMENT,
RESTORATION AND
MAINTENANCE OF
STONEWALLS
(2005)
APPLICANT
EPS (Whole-farm scheme)
Main requirements:
- crop sequence plan (15% leguminous)
- fertilization plan (170 kg N total)
- soil analyses
- training (2 days)
- keeping farm animals outdoors

8. AE EVALUATION 2004-2006
5 EVALUATION TOPICS:
 LANDSCAPE – 2 impact indicators
 SOIL – 3 impact indicators
 WATER – 3 impact indicators
 BIODIVERSITY – 4 impact indicators
 SOCIO-ECONOMIC – 3 impact indicators
+ COMPLEX STUDY (organic farming field trial)
Data collection is financed by the EU RDP
measure called Technical Assistance which is
meant for facilitating the implementation,
controlling, monitoring and evaluation activities of
RDP itself.

9. DATA COLLECTION 2004-2006
(INDICATORS)
SOCIO-ECONOMIC:
 Farm income
 Share of organic products sold as organic
 Environmental awareness
SOIL:
 Soil organic matter
 Soil fertility (pH, K, P)
 Soil nutrients dynamics (pilot study)
BIODIVERSITY:
 Earthworms, soil microbs
 Birds
 Vascular plants
 Bumblebees
LANDSCAPE:
 Change in landscape structure in terms of point, linear and area elements
 General upkeep (visual appearance) of the farm
WATER:
 Nutrient balances
 Pesticide use
 Water quality pilot study

10. Methodology: mixed soil samples (~2000 samples, one sample per 3-5 ha)
Start: 2004
 Soil organic matter (%)
 Soil fertility (pH, K, P)
SOIL MONITORING (1)
The objective of those indicators is to
indicate if levels of soil fertility/soil organic
matter for agricultural fields have been
maintained or enhanced as a result of the
implementation of AE schemes.
History of soil sampling goes back to 1960-ties. State funded soil fertility
programme 2002-2004, from 2004 onwards taking soil samples is one of the
obligations of AE measure.
Farmers will get fertilization and liming requirement maps.
Digitalised soil map (1: 10 000), linked with GIS database (soil type, texture),
which will able to compare changes in soil properties in time and space scale.
Coordination and execution of soil monitoring studies in
Estonia is responsibility of Agricultural Research Centre

11. SOIL MONITORING (2)
P sisaldus erinevatel ringidel
0,0%
10,0%
20,0%
30,0%
40,0%
50,0%
60,0%
70,0%
80,0%
90,0%
1965-69 1978-84 1984-89 00-06
v,madal
madal
keskmine
kõrge
v,kõrge
defitsiit
K sisaldus erinevatel ringidel
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
1965-69 1978-84 1984-89 2000-06
v.madal
madal
keskmine
kõrge
defitsiit
K-content in different soil sampling cycles
Very low
Low
Average
High
Deficiency
Very low
Low
Average
High
Very high
Deficiency
Mobile P in different soil sampling cycles

12. SOIL MONITORING (3)
95 325 soil samples taken
411 879 ha of arable land
covered (78%), 2006.

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P väetistarve
1 - 7 (väga suur) Pindala = 0,14 ha
7 - 19 (suur) Pindala = 21,5 ha
19 - 48 (keskmine) Pindala = 70,8 ha
48 - 105 (väike) Pindala = 24,5 ha
105 - ... (väga väike) Pindala = 12 ha
Auaste
Soolu
Satellites are used to determine
the geographic coordinates of
the location that are saved in
pocket PC using Farm
Site software
Laboratory analyses:
- pH
- P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, B, Mn, S
- C%
RESULTS
TO
SERVER
BY
E-M
AIL
Mapinfo and Vertical Mapper
Software are used to synthesize
data and prepare a fertilisation
requirement map for each
producer
TRANSPORT OF SAMPLES TO THE LAB
MAP IS SENT TO
FARMER BY E-MAIL
TO
SERVER
BY E-MAIL
Average soil sample
(20-25 stroces; ca 300 g)
is taken per each 3-5 ha
GEO
G
R. CO
ORDINATES
POINTS ON MAP
SOIL MONITORING (4)

14. Objective of the study is to investigate the soil
nutrients dynamics dependence on land use
(arable, grassland), soil moisture and soil t˚.
Results will help to improve the methodology for
identification of fertilization need (e.g soil sampling
time)
Methodology: soil samples (pH, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn,
B, Cu, C)
Start: 2005
 Soil nutrients dynamics (pilot study)
SOIL MONITORING (5)
 Soil erosion (water, wind) studies
Objective of the studies is to give an estimation
of areas in erosion risk
Methodology: comparing land use information
with soil map data

15. ESTONIAN NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
PROGRAMME
Started in 1994, funded nationally, coordinated by Ministry of
Environment (responsible for reporting to EU)
Data collection coordinated by MoE Information and Technology Centre
More than 40 subprogrammes to collect the data about the Estonian
environmental status (separate sub-programmes for groundwater,
surface and coastal water).
One of the objectives is also to observe the compliance of EU and
national legislation requirements.
Shortage of the programme is the lack of agricultural monitoring data!
Main challenge is to adapt existing monitoring system to be able to fullfil
all EU requirements! Monetary limits! Better use of other existing
systems and co-operation between MoE and MoA!
http://eelis.ic.ee:88/seireveebhttp://eelis.ic.ee:88/seireveeb
WATER MONITORING (1)

16. Estonian National Environmental
Monitoring Programme – water
monitoring stations, 2005
WATER MONITORING (2)

17.  Gross Nutrient Balance
The objective of the indicator is to find out how efficiently nutrients have
been applied on farm-level and estimate the loss of nutrients and potential
risk to the environment
One of the objective of AE measure is to
reduce the risk of groundwater and surface
water pollution caused by nutrient leaching
from soils and to prevent soils and water
from chemical contamination.
 Pesticide treatment load
Methodology: field-book records (calculation period 01.01-31.12),
“farm gate balance”
Start: 2005, 112 farms (different production type, size)
WATER MONITORING (3)
INPUT (purchased) - feed and straw, fertilizers, seed, livestock, ammonia for
straw, nitrogen fixation etc
OUTPUT (sold) – livestock, milk, eggs, crops, manure etc
Results express/able to assess the risk upon environment (not
direct pollution itself)! Showing changes in trend!

18. 19,1
26,8
2,3
0,2
11,7
1,4
17,9
26,3
-1,3
0,2
-6,6
-1,4
20,6
16,3
-2,6
-1,6
-13,5
-5,7
-20,0
-15,0
-10,0
-5,0
0,0
5,0
10,0
15,0
20,0
25,0
30,0
Field crops Mixed Field crops Mixed Field crops Mixed
N P K
surplus,kg/ha
SAP
EPS
OF
Single area payment
Environmentally friendly management scheme (AE)
Organic farming (AE)
NUTRIENT TOTAL BALANCE IN 2005
 Low values of nutrient balance are in accordance with low use of fertilizers. Low risk for
water quality but high risk for soil fertility. Rising trend in fertilizer use indicates also
increased balance.
 N-balance is positive in case of all types of production, which is very much caused by
legumes growing.
 P- and K-balance is negative both in EPS and organic farms, indicating the shortage of
bought-in fertilizer in EPS farms and the low usage of organic fertilizers in organic
farms – with legumes growing, N-balance can be made stable but not P- and K-
balance!
WATER MONITORING (4)

19. 0
20
40
60
80
100
120
1986 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
activesubstance,kg/ha
N
P2O5
K2O
N, P and K quantities taken to the soil with mineral fertilizers in Estonia
1986–2005
WATER MONITORING (5)

20. Objective of the indicator – NO3
—
and NH4
+
concentration in water reflect real impact from
agricultural activities to water quality
 Water quality pilot study
Methodology: water/soil sampling, 5 (+2 fields in
nitrate vulnerable area were added in 2007)
Start: 2005
WATER MONITORING (6)
Concentration of
NO3- in drainage
water in Läänemaa
monitoring fields,
2005
0,0
10,0
20,0
30,0
40,0
50,0
60,0
70,0
80,0
25-Apr 9-May 26-May 6-Jun 24-Oct 8-Nov 21-Nov
NO3-,mg/l
EPS
OF
Concentration of nitrates in drainage was 68 mg/l maximum. Organic
farms and EPS farms with clover-grass had lower results.

21. toitainete bilanss, KST; (nutrient balance, EPS)
Water monitoring areas of AE
2004-2006, nutrient balance +
pesticide use (36 EPS farms)

22. Methodology: Line transects
Start: 2005 (66 farms in total)
 Birds – indicative species (number of species and density)
Main objective of the indicator is to find out: Does
organic farming strengthen the biological diversity?
 Earthworms (abundance and species
diversity) and soil microbial communities
(biomass activity)
Objective of the indicator is to find out -
What is the extent and direction of change in species
composition and the total abundance of the
earthworm communities
Methodology: Soil blocks method for earthworms
and soil auger method for microbes
Start: 2004 (in total 66 farms)
BIODIVERSITY MONITORING (1)

23.  Vascular plants – structure coverage and species richness
Objective of the indicator is to find out - How
has the structure, coverage and species richness
changed when compared to the baseline, what
(weed)species are spreading on fields and what is
the natural extent of variability of the strip
vegetation in traditional agricultural areas?
Methodology: Monitoring plots (1x1m2)
Start: 2005 (66 farms in total)
 Bumblebees – diversity and abundance
BIODIVERSITY MONITORING (2)
Objective of the indicator is to find out - how has
the general state of the environment in a farm
changed in the viewpoint of habitat function due to
the implementation of AE measures?
Methodology: Line transects
Start: 2006 (66 farms in total)
There are 15 bumblebee species widespread in Estonia, from which 9 can be
met everywhere.

24. BD MONITORING AREAS
ESTONIAN AE 2004-2006
(2004/2005 - 3*10 farms)
(2006 – 3*22 farms)

25.  Family farm income (profitability) –
EEK/farm/y)
The objective of organic farming measure is to satisfy the
growing demand for organic products through increased domestic
production and support and enhance the competitiveness of organic
farming.
Objective of the indicator is to find out to what
extent has the programme been conductive to
maintain or improve the income level of the rural
community?
 Share of organic products sold as
organic (%)
The objective of the indicator is to find out to
what extent has programme supported the
market situation of local organic products?
Methodology: Farm interviews, questionnaires
Start: 2004 (in total 100 producers)
SOCIO-ECONOMIC

26.  Preparation of M&E activities (planning) should ideally start before
implementation of programme (or at least in the first phase) –
institutional structure, procedures, choosing the indicators, etc
 Use of experts (establishment of expert groups) is essential to develop suitable indicator
system and methodologies, co-operation between different institutions needed!
 Collecting the baseline data very important! Data collectors need
training and instructions! Keep an eye on quality of methodologies
and selection of monitoring areas!
 Estonia has shortage of good experts and scarce experience in
agricultural monitoring.Therefore, the promotion of
international cooperation in monitoring and evaluation of
programmes is highly reccommended!
 The awareness of producers of support (environmental!)
objectives is relatively low – more training both for producers and
advisers + information materials needed. Feedback to producer very
necessary!
LESSONS LEARNT

27. THANK YOU!
WWW.PMK.AGRI.EE/PKT