Specialists of the KSUE "Niva-Bards" told how they managed to collect the largest grain harvest in its history

Topic News: One of the leading agricultural enterprises in the Mogilev region, Niva-Barsuki, harvested its largest grain harvest in history this year. As a result, for the fourth consecutive year, the agricultural organization was awarded the honorary challenge banner of the Kirov District Executive Committee. Furthermore, the enterprise is among the top three agricultural producers in the Mogilev region in the "Economic Efficiency" category. We spoke with experts to discover the secrets of their success. 
Use the best: 
The fertility score of the farmland here is 32.9. The soil on the farm is cohesive sandy loam, with groundwater levels close to the surface. This soil is generously productive, but very capricious. If the winter is snowy and the spring is rainy, you have to wait, even though neighboring farms are already in full swing with sowing. This might seem like a gift for dry periods, but in summer, the water insidiously sinks deep, and the soil becomes as hard as concrete. Despite these challenges, everyone at Niva-Barsuki State Agricultural Unitary Enterprise says the season's results are encouraging. 
"This year, the grain harvest is almost 12,250 tons," says chief agronomist Sergei Sivchikov. "Of course, there were some challenges: snow in the spring, night frosts, and low temperatures. They played a role. But the rains helped, as the grain was ripening. Plus, at the director's initiative, we applied saltpeter in addition to nitrogen fertilizers. And this also yielded results. 
Last year, the farm allocated 1,780 hectares to winter barley, wheat, and triticale, and 1,250 to spring crops. Another 600 hectares were planted for winter rapeseed. Winter crop areas have been expanded for 2026. 
"Today, we have almost no 50-hectare fields left; most are 200-300 hectares. We are deliberately increasing their contours," explains Sergei Sivchikov. "This approach pays off during cultivation and sowing." We use high-powered equipment with a wider reach, which requires space when turning. During harvesting, we employ a different strategy: to keep the combines busy, we split the field into two halves, allowing for harvesting in both directions. 
By the end of November, the Niva-Barsuki agricultural enterprise completed fallowing. In preparation for spring, they are finishing hauling organic matter to the fields. Commenting on the farm's strong performance this year, the chief agronomist notes, 
"The region's figures are constantly improving, and so are ours. We strive to fully comply with the regulations: timing, fertilizer application, and chemical weeding. Any deviation from the regulations will impact the yield. Today, we don't sow even seeds inferior to the first reproduction anywhere, and we only use the super-elite for winter crops. We update them every year – we use the very best we have." 
The main crops grown at Niva-Barsuki Agricultural Enterprise are rapeseed, barley, wheat, triticale, corn, and sugar beets . The farm uses experimental plots annually to test new hybrids. 
"Their implementation allows us to continually improve crop yields," emphasizes Sergei Sivchikov. "Domestic means reliable 
. "Over the past five years, we've been constantly updating our fleet of equipment, replacing about a fifth of it annually," explains the farm's chief engineer, Vyacheslav Bushma. "We primarily purchase Belarusian-made machinery and equipment, including MTZ-3522 tractors; we currently have three of them. 
The grain harvesters at Niva-Barsuki are primarily from Gomselmash: the KZS-1218 and GS-12. They fully meet the farmers' needs. They demonstrate excellent performance, and there are no issues with spare parts. During this harvest season, the farm employed eight combines, and all performed exceptionally well. Grain was transported using three twenty-ton MAZ trucks, which were also purchased in recent years. 
"We're leasing all our equipment under Presidential Decree No. 146," explains Vyacheslav Bushma. "Our most recent purchase is a KGP-6.2 stubble cultivator from Amkodor." 
Focusing on Dairy Farms
  This year, Niva-Barsuki State Agricultural Unitary Enterprise purchased semen from American-bred cattle . The producer promises that approximately 90% of the offspring will be heifers. 
"For our farm, where milk production is more profitable than beef, this is a significant boost," explains Alexander Dostanko, the farm's chief livestock specialist. "Last year, we got over 7,000 kilograms of milk from one cow. This year, we plan to achieve at least 7,500 kilograms. 
A robust forage base allows the farmers to achieve these results. For about seven years, they haven't used green fodder. They only use haylage and silage year-round. We exceeded our haylage plan this harvest season." Even at the new dairy complex in the village of Skriplitsa, which will open in December, two silage and haylage trenches have been dug. And all the trenches on the farm are now completely filled.

The total livestock population at Niva-Barsuki is approximately 4,500 head, with 1,481 dairy cows . Currently, the farm has three operating silage and haylage trenches, and a fourth is about to open. Next year, another one will be added at the merged Barchitsy-Agro dairy and haylage trenches. 
"We made the right transition from tethered housing to silage and haylage trenches," explains Alexander Dostanko. "It's a more advanced technology. The entire herd passes through milking parlors, where three machine milkers operate for 600-700 head. Previously, this type of work would have required 15 people. We have excellent staff. These are experienced workers who are passionate about their work and care about the results." Their salaries are decent. For example, a milking machine operator earns from 3,500 rubles per month. This is a great incentive to achieve high results. 
The chief livestock specialist notes that during the off-season, a milkmaid earns even more than a machine operator. Therefore, there are no staffing issues at MTK. On the contrary, there is a waiting list of people willing to work, even though the work is challenging. 
We are ready for next season 
. "This year, we achieved a record yield for the farm – 52.6 centners per hectare. The weather conditions were generally favorable, we followed all the procedures, and applied fertilizers to meet the plants' full requirements. The team worked with complete dedication. All this combined allowed us to achieve the results we have at the finish line," notes Ivan Rynyak, Director of the Niva-Barsuki State Agricultural Unitary Enterprise. 
Ivan Vladimirovich has managed the farm for over twenty years and has received state awards. For example, in 2016, the President awarded him the Order of Honor. Ivan Rynyak began his career as a machine operator, so he knows the value of farmers' work: 
 "Everyone did an excellent job; it's very difficult to single out anyone." During the harvest, the harvest yield ranged from 1,570 to 2,334 tons. Among the best machine operators were Sergey Gushchin, Roman Kononovich, Vladimir Lebedev, Gennady Makaronok, Alexander Petrankov, Andrey Svirko, Oleg Stelmakov, Nikolay Taranov, and Grigory Shcheglov. The high results are largely due to them.

Seven years ago, Niva-Barsuki Agricultural Unitary Enterprise (KSUP) stopped using green fodder. Only haylage and silage 

are used year-round. Niva-Barsuki Agricultural Unitary Enterprise (KSUP) fattens young bulls. 
They gain an average of 850-900 grams per day. 
Each month, the farm delivers 80-100 head of cattle weighing 450 kg or more to the meat processing plant .  Alexey Gorbunov, photo: BELTA  UNP 700015925