The Bereket Plus family farm in Bolhrad District, Odesa Region, is an example of a family business that has become a pillar not only for its local community but also for the country’s food security. The farm was established by the Ivanov family in 2008, and today all family members — the father, mother, and two sons — work there, alongside six permanent employees. Bereket Plus cultivates 1,500 hectares in the very south of Ukraine, near the borders with Moldova and Romania, growing wheat, barley, corn, sunflower, and rapeseed. For the Ivanov family, farming is more than just a business — it is a way of life and a continuation of their family tradition.

Like all Ukrainian farmers, the farm has always had to deal with risks such as weather conditions and market fluctuations. But the war has brought an entirely new level of challenges: unstable fuel prices, destroyed oil refineries, and constant threats to logistics. Yet the greatest challenge is the shortage of people, as many of the farm’s employees have joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“Many of our people have gone to fight, because rural residents have always been highly valued in the army: they are accustomed to working with their hands, know how to operate heavy machinery, and, most importantly, how to repair it. That is why a good tractor operator is worth his weight in gold today. We have always valued our employees, but now we value them more than ever. It is also not easy to obtain critical enterprise status. Our task is to make sure there are people available to sow and harvest the crops, so we are actively working to ensure that our employees can remain at work,” says Vitalii Ivanov.

Despite these challenges, the farm is currently actively engaged in its sowing campaign, planting winter rapeseed and already preparing for the next season.

The Ivanov family found a way forward through technology. One of the key solutions was soil analysis, which the farm carried out in cooperation with AgriLab as part of support provided through the USAID AGRO Program. This made it possible to obtain nutrient availability maps and precise recommendations identifying which fields required changes in farming practices.

Of the farm’s total 1,500 hectares, soil analysis was conducted across 950 hectares, with a sampling density of one sample per 10 hectares. Under the terms of the program, the farm covered 40% of the service cost, while the remaining 60% was covered by the AGRO Program.

As a result, the farmers reduced the cost of soil analysis, while the approximately UAH 140,000 saved was redirected toward fuel and crop protection products. Under wartime conditions, maximum cost efficiency is essential, making solutions like these critically important.

The surveyed fields covered by the project are characterized by highly fertile chernozem soils. Soil organic matter content was assessed as high, while plant-available potassium levels were very high. This gives these soils significant productive potential. However, the alkaline soil reaction and high calcium content affect the availability of phosphorus and zinc to plants.

The farm received recommendations from AgriLab on fertilizer types and efficient application methods to ensure optimal crop nutrition.

An assessment of field variability based on soil agrochemical parameters showed a need to implement variable-rate fertilizer application technologies for phosphorus, potassium, and zinc.

The results of this work are still taking shape, but Bereket Plus is already seeing the benefits of its new approach. The farm has successfully completed its winter rapeseed sowing campaign and is preparing for the next season. The team is confident that healthier soils and more precise decisions will help deliver more stable yields and higher profitability.

“For Ukrainian farmers, it is critically important today to account for every penny. Only those who examine every detail and work with data can remain competitive. That is why we are investing in technology, learning, and adapting.

This journey would not be possible without international support. Assistance from American taxpayers through the USAID AGRO Program is more than just funding. It is an investment in ensuring that Ukrainian farmers can continue working, feeding the country, and remaining an economic foundation of Ukraine even during the war,” says Vitalii Ivanov.

The family farm plans to continue investing in technology, modern machinery, and knowledge in order to operate efficiently amid climate change and market instability. The Ivanov family believes that Ukraine’s rural sector has enormous potential and that farmers, even in the most difficult times, remain a pillar of the state. At Bereket Plus, they believe that every innovation makes the soil healthier, yields more stable, and the country closer to victory.