Changes in the business environment also had an impact on the producer's structure in the Slovak agriculture. Restitution, transformation and privatisation were the key tools of the economic reform after 1990 leading to the establishment of new business entities in agriculture, such as limited liability companies and self-employed farmers. Both groups together with agricultural co-operatives are preparing for business enterprising in accordance of laws, standards and rules of the European Union. From this viewpoint, the aim of this work is to specify the position of self-employed farmers within the agricultural and food complex of Slovakia. Research showed a decrease in the number of these farmers in 2001 (16.700), compared to 2000 (20.355). The area of agricultural land they farmed was in a range of 5 to 20 hectares, so they were not able to compete with bigger agricultural enterprises. In the period under study, we also investigated the activities of self-employed farmers, using a questionnaire method. Among these activities, suitable for small- and mid-sized and family companies, are, for example, production of traditional Slovak specialities from cow and sheep milk, making sweet pastry or providing agri — tourism services. Profitability is a very important indicator of economy of self-employed farmers. Over 1999-2001, it increased by 20 per cent on average in all Slovakia (from 52 % in 1999 to 72 % in 2001).