The Ministry of Agriculture of the Stavropol Territory discussed the sowing of spring crops, the improvement of GIS and the prospects for dairy production

On February 13, 2017, Vladimir Sitnikov held a weekly working meeting on topical issues of the industry in the main agrarian department of the region

The event was attended by specialists from the Ministry of Agriculture of the region and subordinate organizations, as well as heads of related federal structures and territorial agricultural departments.

The planning meeting began with the presentation by the Minister of the new head of the state technical supervision department of the Ministry of Agriculture. They became Dmitry Berezhnyak. Wishing him success in his work and professional achievements, Vladimir Sitnikov turned to the main issues on the agenda.

First Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the region Roman Kovryga said that the condition of about 90% of winter crops is good and satisfactory. A plan for sowing spring crops for the 2017 harvest has also been formed. The area allotted in the region for these crops is 945.6 thousand hectares (75 thousand hectares more than in 2016): 419.3 thousand hectares – grain (+43.6 thousand hectares), technical and oilseeds – 409.4 thousand hectares (+17.5 thousand hectares).

According to Roman Kovryga, it is planned to carry out plowing of early fallow on 107.6 thousand hectares, harrowing of winter crops on 469.1 thousand hectares, harrowing of fallow and fallow on 618.6 thousand hectares and other types of work.

In terms of conditioned seeds of spring cereals and leguminous crops, the farmers of the region prepared 82% of the demand or 26 thousand tons.

81 thousand tons (77%) of mineral fertilizers were accumulated for the first half of the year, and 64 thousand tons (97%) were accumulated for the first nitrogen fertilization.

Deputy Minister Sergei Ridny, in his speech, reported to the Minister on the work in the region of program No. 1432-p and the renewal of the fleet.

Further, the minister moved on to work in the field. Heads of two agricultural administrations – from the Mineralnye Vody and Turkmen regions were subjected to harsh criticism from his side. The question that worried Vladimir Sitnikov most of all concerned the average level of wages of agricultural workers in these territories – it is noticeably lower than the regional average. The state of affairs in animal husbandry is also a sore point – in these areas the smallest average daily weight gain of dairy livestock and milk yield are observed. Weak positions here and in terms of investment activities, as well as the development of land reclamation, which is one of the priority areas of activity of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Territory. Not everything is going smoothly with the renewal of the fleet of equipment and the work of program No. 1432, which is so much in demand by Stavropol farmers. There were no clear answers from the heads of agricultural departments to the questions posed. As a result, the minister demanded that they prepare this information by the end of the week, draw up a roadmap for dairy farming and personally present it to him.

During the meeting, Vladimir Sitnikov assigned the task to the head of the department for the development of small forms of farming in the agro-industrial complex, Sergey Talalaev, to maximize the efficiency of using grant funds under programs to support start-up farmers and family livestock farms, which are popular among farmers in the Stavropol Territory.

Continuing this conversation, First Deputy Minister Alexei Rudenko spoke on the development of dairy farming in the region over the past 5 years.

In the structure of milk production, the share of agricultural organizations in 2010 accounted for 17.7%, in 2016 – 20%, private household plots, respectively – 78.5% and 74.3%, C (F) H – 3.6% and 5.6%.

The level of self-sufficiency of the population of the Stavropol Territory in milk increased by 5% and amounted to 76.1% in 2016 against 71.1% in 2010.

– The low marketability of milk produced has a significant impact on the situation with self-sufficiency in milk – not all of its volume is available to processing enterprises. And to be precise, a little over 200 thousand tons. At the same time, about 70% of marketable milk is produced in agricultural organizations. Private subsidiary plots, despite the lowest marketability (58%), produced about 24% of marketable milk, and C (F)H – 6% with an average marketability indicator (75%). Despite the reduction in the number of agricultural organizations engaged in milk production from 68 in 2010 to 45 in 2017, the number of dairy cows remained practically unchanged and amounted to 21.6 thousand heads at the beginning of 2010, as in 2016. During the analyzed period, the productivity of the dairy herd in agricultural organizations increased by an average of 1222 kg per cow and amounted to 6300 kg in 2016, and 5078 kg in 2010. The dynamics of productivity in small forms of management is less pronounced – compared to 2010, the productivity of 1 cow increased on average from 3800 kg to 4100 kg. Productivity in the peasant farm was about 5,000 kg, – said Alexei Rudenko.

In breeding organizations in 2016, the average productivity per cow was 7563 kg of milk. The resulting milk yield is 1263 kg of milk more than the regional average in agricultural organizations. Over the past 6 years, productivity in breeding organizations has increased by almost 2000 kg of milk from a dairy cow, in 2010 it was 5564 kg.

In 2016, agricultural organizations of the Stavropol Territory received 3,075.8 million rubles in proceeds from the sale of milk. With the cost of a sold ton of product at 21 thousand rubles and the selling price at 23.6 thousand rubles, farmers received a profit of 332.7 million rubles. The expected rate of return is 12.1%, although in some organizations it exceeds 30%.

For comparison: in 2010, agricultural organizations of the Stavropol Territory engaged in milk production received 1,622.3 million rubles in revenue from the sale of the product, which is two times lower than in 2016. With the cost of a sold ton of milk at 14.4 thousand rubles and the selling price of 15.7 thousand rubles, farmers received a profit of 136.1 million rubles. The profitability level was 9%.

According to the results of 2016, the purchase price for 1 kilogram of milk with a basic fat content (3.4%), excluding value added tax, increased by 50% compared to 2010:

• for agricultural organizations in 2010 – 14.1 rubles and in 2016 – 23.6 rubles;
• for small businesses in 2010 – 13.7 rubles and in 2016 – 17.0 rubles.

– The given data indicate that there is a significant potential for growth in the industry, which lies in the use of advanced intensive feeding, reproduction and maintenance technologies, as well as in-depth analysis of the cost of milk produced and constant work to reduce costs, – concluded Alexey Rudenko.

After listening to the report, the minister noted the need for an individual approach to each farm engaged in milk production.

– We must reach each manufacturer, understand the problems they face, and find optimal solutions that will qualitatively change the situation, – said Vladimir Sitnikov.

Concluding the planning meeting, Vladimir Sitnikov directed his colleagues to take a responsible approach to the preparation and holding of a number of important events scheduled for the near future:

-We have to hold large meetings on land reclamation and milk, as well as an economic conference dedicated to new vectors for the development of the region’s agro-industrial complex. These events must be held at a high quality level. Responsibility is personal, the minister said.