The “AgroForsazh 2024” Field Conference, held on September 20, became an important platform for discussing key aspects of agricultural production during a crisis. At the conference, farmers had the opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness and profitability of innovative technologies in real-world conditions, explore new agricultural business models, and discuss ways to address the industry’s current challenges. The event brought together forward-thinking farmers ready to develop their businesses by adopting innovations. The conference was organized by AgriLab and Poltava-Sad LLC.

As Yaroslav Boiko, CEO of AgriLab, noted:

“Today, everyone around the world understands the times we are living in. We are at war with an aggressor. Ukrainian farmers are facing extraordinarily difficult conditions. It is not easy to farm, achieve good yields, and, even more importantly, remain profitable. The crisis is compounded by global warming and climate change, which inevitably lead to more frequent droughts. This year has been anomalous for us: most regions of Ukraine have experienced several months without rainfall. That is why our event is focused on finding solutions, tools, and technologies that help mitigate risks and achieve the best possible results in terms of yields and profitability.”

Conference participants had the opportunity to explore new precision farming technologies as climatic conditions change rapidly and water scarcity could become a serious challenge for farmers over the next ten years. 360 Yield Center, together with its official distributor, ID Partners, presented the “360 Rain” system. This modern autonomous irrigation system is designed to use water up to three times more efficiently, reduce production costs, and provide crops with the moisture they need. At Poltava-Sad, where the last rainfall had occurred two months earlier, it was clear that modern technologies such as “360 Rain” can help farmers manage crop production without relying solely on unpredictable weather.

APM Group presented important innovations for farmers, showcasing Fendt 939 and Fendt 942 tractors paired with advanced seeding systems, including “Fendt Momentum,” “Amazone DMC Primera,” and “Maschio Gaspardo Chrone.” The exhibition also featured a “Valtra T235” tractor with a “Maschio Gaspardo Attila 300” subsoiler and a “Valtra G135” tractor with a “Maschio Gaspardo Renata” planter. Other noteworthy machines included the “Maschio Gaspardo Supremo” baler, the “Fendt Twister” from the green product line 🌱, and Amazone’s popular “Catros 7000” compact disc harrow.

“We are proud to offer our customers advanced agricultural machinery. We showcased a total of 13 machines at our stand, and we continue to introduce innovative solutions for our customers. Participating in events like this gives us the opportunity not only to demonstrate new products but also to receive feedback, exchange experience, and better understand our partners’ needs,” said Maksym Fenko, Head of Marketing at APM.

Important innovations for modern agriculture were also demonstrated through systems installed on a “Kinze 3600” planter by Precision Planting and 360 Yield Center. These included:

• “VSet2” — a system designed to provide highly accurate seed singulation across different crops.
• “VDrive” — an electric seed-meter drive that maintains precise seeding rates and supports variable-rate seeding.
• “DeltaForce” — an automatic downforce control system that helps maintain consistent planting depth.
• “SmartFirmer” — a sensor that analyzes soil conditions in the seed furrow, measuring moisture, temperature, organic matter content, furrow structure, cation exchange capacity, and the amount of crop residue.
• “Wave” — a starter fertilizer applicator that cuts the furrow wall and covers the seed with moist soil to promote rapid and uniform emergence.
• “Dash” — a system designed to improve starter fertilizer efficiency through precise placement near the seed.

According to Bohdan Fedii, a technical specialist at Agroterra, these systems are designed to unlock the potential of every plant, improve uniformity of emergence, and increase crop yields.

Visitors also had the opportunity to learn about a unique technology: binary multi-hybrid planting of corn and soybeans across 1,000 hectares. The trial aims to evaluate the technology’s effectiveness and productivity under moisture-deficient conditions. The system combines corn hybrids with different FAO maturity ratings, ranging from 320 to 480, and varies the number of rows to identify the optimal configuration for maximizing yields.

The trial indicates that light penetration is most favorable up to the third row from the edge, significantly affecting plant development and productivity. According to the farm, total precipitation during the season was 130 mm, with approximately 80 mm falling in early June. Of the 1,000 hectares, around 200 hectares are irrigated. Yield differences between these fields will be assessed after harvest.

Tetiana Monke, Agricultural Services Project Manager for the USAID Agriculture Growing Rural Opportunities (AGRO) program, shared valuable insights and practical solutions for farmers. USAID AGRO actively cooperates with agricultural service providers to support farmers in adopting innovative precision farming technologies. Applications are currently being accepted for a new competition through which service providers can receive co-financing for eight projects delivering services to micro, small, and medium-sized agricultural enterprises.

Read more about opportunities offered by the USAID AGRO program here: USAID AGRO Program Opportunities.

Visitors also had the opportunity to explore the “Digital Field 2024” demonstration site established on the fields of Poltava-Sad. The site includes approximately 100 trial plots testing various elements of “Strip-Till” technology. These include trials of different macro- and micronutrient combinations for soybeans, sunflowers, and corn; comparisons of fertilizer application methods; starter fertilizer application during planting using “360 DASH” equipment; demonstrations of Limagrain sunflower and corn hybrids under irrigated and moisture-deficient conditions; studies on the effect of soybean planting density on yield; and trials using variable application rates of urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) to optimize crop nutrition.

One of the highlights of the field conference was “Baby Lou,” a small, medium-early potato variety suitable for long-term storage and capable of producing approximately 30–50 tubers per plant. Visitors watched the “Baby Lou” potato harvest and toured the brand’s processing facility, where potatoes undergo every stage of preparation, from harvesting to packaging. Participants also had the opportunity to taste “Morkishka” carrots, which are grown and packaged at the Poltava-Sad facility. Both brands are available on supermarket shelves.

The key messages of the “AgroForsazh 2024” Field Conference highlight the importance of adopting innovative technologies in agricultural production. Modern solutions demonstrated their potential to significantly improve the efficiency and profitability of agricultural businesses. Events like this allow farmers not only to expand their knowledge and practical skills but also to contribute to the development of the agricultural sector as a whole, helping build a more successful and resilient farming industry.