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Vitalii Hrytsenko, Chief Agronomist at Uba-Agrosvit LLC, spoke about the farm’s specifics, crop optimization, and the beginning of its cooperation with AgriLab.

About the Farm and Its Soils

Uba-Agrosvit LLC is located in the village of Voloshynivka, Brovary District, Kyiv Region, while its fields are also located in Baryshivka and Pereiaslav districts. The farm operates a total of 2,850 hectares.

“We have a very interesting farm with a wide diversity of soils. Sandy, loamy, and gray podzolic soils predominate. We also have peat soils, which add their own specifics to crop production,” says Vitalii Hrytsenko.

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Crop Optimization: Moving to Three Main Crops

When I joined the farm, we were growing 12 different crops. However, an analysis of their economic efficiency showed that some of them were unprofitable on our soils.

After the first year, we reduced the number of crops to six. Over time, however, it became clear that even this did not provide the optimal results. Some crops could not adapt to the farm’s conditions. For example, wheat did not produce a quality yield on sandy soils, while on peat soils, its crops were particularly vulnerable to flooding.

“We settled on three main crops — soybeans, corn, and sunflower. This decision allows us to use our resources as efficiently as possible and achieve a stable, profitable yield,” explains the Chief Agronomist.

For example, this year, the farm’s soybean fields had good moisture availability, particularly on peat soils. Yields reached 3.95 t/ha, which is a very good result for our farm under the current conditions. In the future, we plan to introduce irrigation on some fields to further increase yields.

Cooperation with AgriLab: First Results

In 2024, Uba-Agrosvit LLC began working with AgriLab. The main objective was to conduct comprehensive agro-diagnostics and receive four agronomic and technological consultations as part of a joint project supported by the USAID AGRO Program.

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“We had been following AgriLab’s work for a long time, attending your conferences and analyzing the results of your trials. In 2024, we decided to take the first step — to conduct soil analysis to understand exactly what our fields were lacking,” says Vitalii Hrytsenko.

The results revealed deficiencies in zinc and potassium, which became a major challenge for the farm. Based on AgriLab’s recommendations, Uba-Agrosvit will begin implementing variable-rate fertilizer application and variable seeding rates this year.

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“We suspected that there were problems in our fields, but now we have scientific confirmation. The analysis results allowed us to develop clear plans to increase yields and improve the efficiency of our land use,” says the Chief Agronomist.

Looking Ahead and Advice for Farmers

Vitalii Hrytsenko believes that development, making the right decisions, and digitalization are key to modern agricultural business:

“The most important thing in difficult times is not to give up. Invest in soil analysis and technology, keep developing and improving. This is the path to stable yields and profitability.”

Cooperation between Uba-Agrosvit LLC and AgriLab has only just begun, but the agronomist is confident that the results will not take long to appear: “2025 will show how effective our first steps have been.”

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