LV

Teaching and Research Farm "Pēterlauki"

The Teaching and Research Farm "Pēterlauki" of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU) is a structural unit of the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Technology (LPTF), established in 1993. Its core was formed from state-owned capital shares that were separated from the joint-stock company "Platone" during privatization. As a result, a farm with crop and livestock sectors was created, incorporating the experimental field that had been operating since 1968 under the then Agronomy Faculty.

The farm serves as a base for setting up field trials to implement agronomic research projects and support the study process. Its purpose and main tasks have remained unchanged since the establishment of the Agronomy Faculty's Experimental Field in Pēterlauki in 1968.

The scope of the "Pēterlauki" Teaching and Research Farm significantly expanded in the early 2000s when it incorporated the Jelgava State Variety Testing Station, taking over its functions and material-technical resources.

Currently, "Pēterlauki" operates in several locations in Latvia: Platone Parish and Cena Parish in Jelgava Municipality, as well as Višķi Parish in Daugavpils Municipality. The farm now has more than 250 hectares of arable land, equipment suitable for field trial establishment, maintenance, and harvesting, and a reliable and qualified staff to carry out research-related tasks.

The farm facilitates field trials for:

  • Research work by researchers, students, master’s and doctoral students of the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Technology;

  • Variety identity verification in control plots;

  • Testing of pesticide efficacy required for Plant Protection Product registration.

We assess the agronomic traits of various field crop varieties and set up demonstration trials each year in collaboration with different companies. We also produce seed material for various crops.

Equine Teaching Center "Mušķi"

The main goal of the Equine Teaching Center "Mušķi" is to provide students with the opportunity to acquire and enhance comprehensive knowledge through practical work with horses. The center offers training in basic horse-handling skills. Students also learn the fundamentals of classical equestrian sports.