Agricultural development and nutrient flows in the Baltic states and Sweden after 1988

During March-August 1990, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania proclaimed independ ence from the Soviet Union. After independence, agriculture in the Baltic s tates changed from a state controlled economy with huge collective farms to a market economy with privately owned family farms. Due to the financial s ituation, the use of mineral fertilizers dropped to the 1950s level. During 1994, the yields of forage grass and fodder grain were only 40% and 50%, r espectively, of Swedish yields. Due to the loss of export possibilities, th e total production of meat, milk and eggs in the Baltic states declined by 40-50% between 1989 and 1994. The aim of this study is to demonstrate chang es in nitrogen and phosphorus flows within agriculture in the Baltic states after independence and to make comparisons with the situation in Swedish a griculture during the same period of time. A special study was made of whet her the changed nutrient flows have caused changes in nutrient runoff from the Baltic states to the Baltic Sea.