Sustainability has been an emerging issue for years in the economy and agriculture. Making agriculture sustainable has become so essential that it has become part of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). However, producers ultimately decide individually the practices they implement. This is why farmers play a central role in ensuring a sustainable agricultural system, which results from farmers’ knowledge and expectations. Although numerous studies address sustainability issues, little is known about farmers’ knowledge and implementation of sustainable practices at different types of farms, especially in central and eastern Europe. This study aimed to determine Polish farmers’ awareness of sustainability with regards to animal and crop production. This paper also shows how farmers value the advantages arising from sustainable production. The study was carried out among 300 farms classified by type (dairy, beef cattle, pork, and crop production). The research instrument used was a questionnaire, with the Likert scale. The results show that dairy farmers and pork farmers declared higher knowledge and better implement sustainable practices than other farmers. The producers’ views on the benefits coming from sustainable agriculture varied. However, the two most significant advantages were recognized—the protection of water against pollution and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Purpose: The aim of the research is to identify and assess the opportunities and processes of implementing sustainable development in agricultural activities. It is also to assess farmers' awareness and knowledge of the principles of sustainable development in agriculture. Design/Methodology/Approach: Research on the application of the principles of sustainable development in agricultural production was carried out in 2019. Data was collected in four voivodships using the interview questionnaire. The research area was chosen deliberately. They were voivodships with the largest share of sown crops. The collected material was analyzed in terms of farmers' knowledge of the principles of sustainable development in agricultural production and the level of their application on the farm. Findings: Based on the collected information, it was found that the respondents had a high level of knowledge about the sustainable development of agriculture. The results show significant differences in the application of sustainable development principles. It was also found that there is a relationship between the level of education and age of farmers and the application of sustainable development principles among them. Knowing the principles of sustainable development has not always coincided with the application. Practical Implications: The results obtained may be used for development of the agricultural policy, aimed at agricultural farms, as well as in programming agricultural development and shaping farmers' income. Originality/Value: The results are original because they can be used to develop future agricultural policy scenarios in terms of compensation for conducting agricultural production in a sustainable way.

The paper aims to present opinions of farmers on selected issues related to transportation and loading animals on the farm. The research was conducted in 2017 using a questionnaire survey in 68 farms, mainly keeping cattle and pigs. Farmers declared more frequent use of specialized vehicles for transporting animals that provide such services (mainly for slaughter) than their own means of transport. According to the respondents, the family and drivers of vehicles transporting animals provided evidence of assistance in loading animals. During the loading, ramps of various types were used most often, mainly car with full covers (less frequent elevators), and various devices supporting the movement of animals. Loading usually took place in silence, although there was a difference between the loading of pigs and cattle. Pigs made loud noises much more often, and the urging of animals to move is usually done by voice. In terms of interest in the fate of animals leaving the farm, there was a significant difference.

The study is dedicated to the issue of implementing rules of sustainable development on farms. Research was conducted on 310 farms. The farm classification criterion was the education of the farm manager. Farms in four provinces were analyzed: Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Mazowieckie, Lubelskie, and Wielkopolskie. The aim was to determine the knowledge and scope of applying sustainable development in farming, depending on the farmer's education level. The research consisted of determining the importance attached by farmers, depending on their declared level of formal education, to features of a sustainable farm and advantages of this mode of management for the environment, the society, and agricultural producers themselves. It was assumed that the higher the farmer's education level, the better the familiarity with sustainable development principles and their practical application. It was found that depending on the agricultural producer's education, the importance attached to individual variables characterizing a sustainable farm varied. In terms of environmental advantages, the most important feature was water protection; among benefits for the society, safe food was considered to be of the highest significance, while for producers, the most important was a higher income. The research results did not make it possible to unambiguously state that university education determines farmers' familiarity and compliance with sustainability principles. In some cases, farmers, who had good knowledge of sustainable agricultural practices, failed to apply them in their operations.

This study aims to estimate the knowledge about sustainable agriculture and its implementation as part of farm practice, depending on a subjective evaluation of farm income status. Moreover, an attempt has been made to determine the importance of benefits for the environment, community, and farmers resulting from the implementation of this concept, in the opinion of farmers declaring a varying income status. The research carried out in 2019 for a sample of 291 farms using an interview questionnaire states that a more favourable subjective evaluation of own income status was connected with a more significant share of farmers formally declaring to know the concept of sustainable agriculture and the methods of this agricultural system. The research shows the following ranking of environmental benefits: water protection against pollution, reduced emission of greenhouse gases, reduced consumption of energy from non-renewable sources, and increased biodiversity in the natural environment. No distinct diversification was observed regarding presented groups according to age and declaration of income status evaluation. As regards benefits for the community in general, the succession was as follows: the production of safer foods, improvement of working conditions in a farm, improvement of farm animal welfare and better attractiveness of rural areas. However, this hierarchy differed depending on income status evaluation. As regards farmer benefits, the developed ranking showed minor diversification of the average position (rank) of individual advantages (ease sale of products, better farm productivity, improved soil condition, acquired knowledge and experience), which primarily resulted from different preferences of respondents depending on their income status.