In Soviet times, the land of the Ivanivske private agricultural enterprise was part of a collective farm. In the 90s, Yurii Pyriatynskyi was offered the position of agronomist here, but he refused because he liked working with machinery more.
In 2 years of work, the new management of the collective farm simply destroyed it, working to the point where all the land was leased and the account had one and a half million in debt.
“That's when I was invited to head the farm. And in 1998 I started working as the head of Nadiya, which later became Ivanivske. I looked into the situation, reorganized the enterprise into a private one. Then I settled the issue of debts, and the farm came under my management,” the farmer recalls.
The new farm had 3 areas: crop production, cattle farm, and pig farming. However, due to the activities of the previous managers, most of the herd had to be eliminated, leaving only healthy and productive cows. As a result, 36 cattle remained on the farm, and Yurii Pyriatynskyi began to revive the farm.
“We currently have 60 dairy cows. Every day we get about 1 ton of extra-class milk. For us, milk is a stability that allows us to keep the farm profitable,” says the farm manager.
In addition to livestock farming, Ivanivske also generates income from crop production.
“Our company is based on three pillars: a family business, partners and colleagues who can help us out, and the team. But of course, all decisions are mine. That's why the success of the farm directly depends on the ability to manage processes in a comprehensive manner,” says the farmer.
The farmer chooses crops for the farm based on crop rotation and profitability, and also considers each crop as a fodder base for livestock. He admits that last year, his crop profits dropped significantly. The farm lost 2 thousand UAH for just 1 ton of wheat due to lower prices. Last season, corn was the mainstay of crop production. Due to the well-chosen hybrids, the farm got good yields and harvested dry grain. Thus, they did not spend anything on drying.
They managed to grow profitable corn, even despite the low price.
Year after year, Ivanivske receives high crop yields and provides the farm with fodder. According to Yurii Pyriatynskyi, the farm has abandoned plowing. They use a moisture-saving vertical tillage cultivator made in Ukraine. They grow winter rapeseed and wheat, a little winter barley, because it is an early crop and is needed to feed cows. The spring crops include corn, sunflower, spring barley and soybeans.
“Last season, the profitability of crop production decreased significantly. For most of our fellow farmers, previously high-margin corn and sunflower became unprofitable. On the contrary, corn helped us last year. Firstly, because we select good hybrids and thus get good yields. And secondly, it was a dry summer and we harvested dry grain. So we didn't spend anything on drying it. Therefore, we reduced the cost of growing and benefited from this. It is the same with sunflower,” he says.
When choosing corn seed, the key characteristics of hybrids for Yurii Pyriatynskyi, based on the experience of previous years, should be the ripening period and moisture yield. As for sunflower, he primarily considers the maturity group, yield and oil content.
“I have seen from my own experience that Ukrainian breeding can produce no worse results than imported ones. My sunflower and corn come exclusively from VNIS (Ukrainian Scientific Institute of Breeding). To choose hybrids, I contact the company's manager, and if new hybrids appear, we sow demo plots, look at the results and make a decision. And when I am told that an imported hybrid yielded 10 t/ha, I am surprised, because my hybrids from VNIS yield up to 12 t/ha,” says Yuriy Pyriatynskyi.
The yield of corn and sunflower directly depends on the choice of seeds.
The yield potential of any field depends on the cultivation technology, weather, and other factors, but the seeds are still the most important. That's why we asked Yuriy Pyriatynskyi how he chose corn and sunflower hybrids, and also talked about trends in the seed market with Viktor Parkhomchuk, Sales Manager at VNIS.
Tell us, when did you first sow VNIS seeds?
Yurii Pyriatynskyi: We have been cooperating with Viktor for 5 years. When he came and offered to sow VNIS seeds, I was suspicious because I had never heard of the company before. Then Viktor suggested that we sow a small demonstration plot so that we could evaluate its yield. We decided to give it a try. After harvesting, we decided to sow these seeds. Since then, 70% of all fields on the farm have been sown with VNIS hybrids.
When choosing seeds, do you rely only on your own opinion?
Yurii Pyriatynskyi: I always listen to advice. Viktor is quite good at choosing hybrids that suit the needs of my farm.
Victor, tell us in more detail what hybrids are grown on the fields of the Ivanivske agricultural enterprise.
Viktor Parkhomchuk: We have been cooperating with Yurii for a long time, and during this time we have already developed friendly relations. Last year, the farm sowed Shannon, Magnum sunflower and VN 6763 corn. And I want to note that despite the difficult conditions, because remember that last spring was quite wet, the farm got a good yield.
Yurii Pyriatynskyi: This year we will again sow Magnum sunflower and Tesla corn hybrid. We want to try a hybrid with a higher FAO, so we listened to Viktor's advice and chose Tesla. FAO 350 is a stable and powerful hybrid. It has good resistance to stress factors and diseases.
In Ivanivske, we use seeds of domestic selection, although many farmers still prefer imported hybrids. Viktor, can VNIS seeds compete with foreign seeds?
Viktor Parkhomchuk: Actually, this is more of an outdated opinion than a reality. Today, there are worthy Ukrainian companies on the market with a strong breeding base and high-quality seed that competes with each other and with foreign breeding. Each farm has its own demands, needs and opportunities, and they choose what works for them.
The most important qualities of corn hybrids today are yield potential, fast moisture release, resistance to stress factors, and grain quality. For sunflower, these are high yields, adaptability to growing conditions, oil content, and resistance to new races of broomrape and diseases.
Does VNIS breeding cope with these tasks? Absolutely. The company's wide range of hybrids allows you to choose exactly the hybrid that is suitable for specific farm conditions.
VNIS never stands still. We are constantly setting up experiments, demonstration plots and offering farmers a product that is relevant and adapted to current conditions.
Mr. Pyriatynskyi, what other indicators distinguish VNIS hybrids from other brands?
Yurii Pyriatynskyi: Another equally important point is the price. In the conditions when farms are tightening their belts and trying to save money, the price of domestic seeds is much more pleasant, and the result is the same. So why pay more? This year, the company has also launched a deferred payment program, which I took advantage of and have already received the seeds.
Sunflower and corn make up a large share of the crop rotation at Ivanivske. However, in recent seasons the price of these crops has dropped significantly and farmers are looking for alternative crops. Have you considered reducing the area under sunflower and corn?
Yuriy Pyriatynskyi: No, we will grow all crops in the same volumes. Of course, this year traders have lowered prices dramatically, and it has been difficult for farmers. But I hope this will change.
The example of the Ivanivske farm and Yuriy Pyriatynskyi's management style proves that with smart management and support from reliable partners, it is possible to operate successfully even in conditions of significant instability. This is facilitated by the director's well-considered agronomic decisions, such as not plowing, maintaining crop rotation, and selecting hybrids that are most profitable for his farm.
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