Today, the adoption of modern precision and efficient farming technologies opens up new opportunities to increase the profitability of agricultural businesses. Innovative approaches based on a deep understanding of soil requirements enable farmers not only to achieve consistently high yields but also to use resources more efficiently. Against the backdrop of climate change and rising input costs, precision farming is becoming a key to high yields and consistently strong profitability by ensuring an individual approach to every field.

Agronomists in the fields of Dibrova i K Farm, Vinnytsia Region.

Dmytro Dibrov, Chief Agronomist at Dibrova i K Farm, which is part of the Carefield group of companies, shared with us the farm’s journey from conventional farming to precision agriculture. Carefield is one of the companies successfully implementing innovative solutions to optimize resource use and improve soil fertility. The farm has been working with AgriLab since 2015, and over the years, numerous effective solutions have been implemented based on the company’s specialists’ recommendations.

This year, the farm used soil analysis services and four agronomic and technological consultations, which helped significantly improve the efficiency and profitability of production. Thanks to support from the American people through the Agricultural and Rural Development Program (AGRO), the farm was able to implement innovative approaches that not only improve the yields of grain and oilseed crops but also optimize resource use. The primary goal of this cooperation is to support micro, small, and medium-sized agricultural enterprises, thereby contributing to their sustainable development and improved economic efficiency. As the experience of Dibrova i K Farm demonstrates, this can result in significant financial benefits and stable growth.

Soil Characteristics at Dibrova i K Farm

Dibrova i K Farm is located in Vinnytsia Region and cultivates 1,400 hectares of land, including 900 hectares under irrigation (800 hectares using sprinkler irrigation systems and 100 hectares under drip irrigation). The farm is located near a river, which affects the structure and composition of its soils. The soils are predominantly sandy loams, loams, and sands with low organic matter content: humus levels are only 1.5–1.9%, requiring a specific management approach. At the same time, organic matter content in areas close to the river reaches 7%. Nevertheless, Dibrova i K Farm grows seed corn, commercial sunflower, soybeans, winter wheat and barley, as well as peas, sugar beet, and spring barley.

Fields of Dibrova i K Farm

The first comprehensive soil analysis was conducted by Dibrova i K Farm back in 2015. A repeat analysis was carried out in 2019, followed by a third survey in 2024, making it possible to track changes over time and assess the effectiveness of the farming technologies being used.

What Motivated the Farm to Partner with AgriLab?

Dmytro Dibrov, Chief Agronomist at Dibrova i K Farm, explains that the goal of working with AgriLab was to implement precision farming in order to use resources as efficiently as possible. At a certain stage, the farm encountered a problem: the methods it had previously used were not delivering the expected results, and crop yields were falling short of expectations. Detailed soil analyses revealed uneven pH levels, insufficient organic matter in some fields, and suboptimal potassium and phosphorus levels. These factors were negatively affecting overall field productivity.

“We plan to fully transition to precision farming, which is why we turned to AgriLab. This year, we have already collected soil samples and received the results. We also developed prescription maps based on management zones so that fertilizers can be applied exactly where they are needed and at the required rates. The same applies to chemical soil amendments for liming. Thanks to AgriLab’s recommendations and productivity zone maps, we can now not only apply fertilizers and soil amendments, but also use variable-rate seeding based on the specific soil conditions,” he noted.

Dmytro Dibrov, Chief Agronomist at Dibrova i K Farm

Optimizing Crop Nutrition and Variable-Rate Liming to Improve Soil Efficiency

One of the first steps in optimizing crop nutrition was the introduction of variable-rate liming. Soil analyses revealed significant pH variation across different areas, and a soil amendment application map was developed based on these data. This approach made it possible to use lime more efficiently by directing it only to the zones where it was needed.

Changes in soil pH indicators in 2015, 2019, and 2024

One of the key results made possible by AgriLab specialists’ recommendations was achieving optimal potassium and phosphorus levels across the farm’s fields. Back in 2019, following expert recommendations, the farm began applying phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, which gradually improved the levels of these nutrients in the soil. Thanks to support from the American people through the Agricultural and Rural Development Program (AGRO), the farm was able to conduct its third field survey. As of 2024, phosphorus and potassium levels had almost doubled, confirming the effectiveness of a comprehensive approach to soil nutrition and representing an important step toward the farm’s sustainable development.

At Dibrova i K Farm, the estimated results have also been calculated, and the figures speak for themselves. Taking into account the implementation of variable-rate seeding on the analyzed areas, the expected financial effect may exceed $20,000. Variable-rate fertilizer application is expected to generate an additional $5,000 in benefits, while the implementation of soil amendment measures could provide approximately $9,000 more. Overall, the expected total financial effect of these measures may exceed $35,000. Although the final results are still ahead, the farm is already confident that joining the initiative was an important step toward sustainable development. Going forward, the farm plans to continue moving toward precision farming by conducting soil analyses every three years. This will make it possible not only to monitor changes in nutrient levels across the fields but also to adjust the farming strategy for even greater economic efficiency.

Changes in phosphorus levels in 2019 and 2024

Next Steps: Scaling Up Variable-Rate Fertilizer Application

With the new soil analysis data, Dibrova i K Farm plans to scale up its variable-rate mineral fertilizer application system. This approach will help save money and resources, as fertilizers will be applied only where the soil actually requires them, maximizing efficiency and crop yield profitability.

The farm’s near-term plans also include expanding variable-rate seeding to a larger area and upgrading its machinery fleet. The farm believes that precision farming is not merely a technology, but a strategic decision that makes it possible to understand the situation more deeply and work more precisely, taking into account the actual needs of each field rather than assumptions.

To date, AgriLab has provided agronomic and technological consultations to 104 micro, small, and medium-sized agricultural enterprises. The total area of the farms covered exceeds 80,000 hectares.

Seeding and fertilizer application in the fields of Dibrova i K Farm