Good quality harvest receive depends on the range of factors. If it is about the weather one, note this year in the Russian Federation the weather conditions have been unstable during the planting campaign. Rains have become the additional assurance of the seed germination and development for the agricultural enterprises finished the planting. At the same the ones which have not finished it yet the rains were a problem. Besides note the factors as growth technologies adherence, technical provision and etc. which also impact the final result. We interviewed Oleg Bukin, Deputy General Director on agriculture Talina SE, about the planting campaign temps on the fields of the Group, and about the company's plans.
Reference
Talina Group of companies is the agricultural holding of complete production cycle. Holding manages the plant growing, fodder production, hog industrial breeding and fattening, sausage meat products production and realization. The complete cycle «from gate to plate» provides advantages of Talina Group price variation independence on raw-material suppliers, control quality on each production stage and produce ecologically clean products.
- What are the temps of planting campaign on your company's fields? What crops do you plan to sow and throughout of what areas? Will you change the planted areas size and why?
Our company has already finished the planting campaign. This year we have held it within the optimal agri-technological terms. The holding's total areas reach nearly 90 thsd ha which are mostly located in Mordovia. Major crops we cultivate are grains, pulses and technical crops as winter and spring wheat, barley, peas, oats, soybean.
This years we have increased planted areas by 11%. Besides soybean planted areas grew by 1.5 times – to 7 thsd ha due to the plans to put into operation the new line on soybean processing in September, 2015. Besides there were sown the new varieties of wheat and barley with protein high concentration.
On this stage the weather conditions are favorable for germination and development of crops in Holding, so this year we plan to improve grains' yield rate up to 3.5 t/ha, peas – to 2.2 t/ha, oats – to 1.8 t/ha, soybean – to 1.2 t/ha.
- You mentioned about the plans of grain and oilseeds yield increase. How do you plan to reach it? What soil treatment technologies do you prefer?
Besides the choice of the most optimal time for planting campaign holding and observance of all the production technologies in order to get high results we use different ways of soil treatment. We have been using the soil minimal treatment Mini-till for the few years. In the recent three years we have started to putting into service the soil zero tillage No-till. In 2014 the stated technology planted areas reached 5 thsd ha with oats, barely, soybean, spring wheat. In 2015 the areas reached 20 thsd ha with the same crops. Our aim is to get cheap and qualitative grain. Zero tillage technology means refusal from land ploughing, use of special cover crops and skillful use of crop rotation. No-till helps to save soil from erosion and to decrease the fuels and lubricants consumption by 50-70%, to low the working hours and as a result to reduce the products' prime-cost.
Thus we reach an excellent result – while having the minimum costs we get the yield increase and grain high quality.
- The technical possibilities are also important besides the technologies and weather conditions. Which producers' machinery do you use in your holding? Do you plan to renew the machinery fleet?
For planting and harvesting of the crops being cultivated on the company's fields we use modern high productive machinery of the western producers, mostly John Deere, Rosselmash and Gherardi. For example for planting we chose the universal sowing pneumatic complexes John Deere a1890 and Gherardi. On my opinion these assemblies are most effective because they are able to work with various crops and area suitable for various technologies of planting. Besides in 2014 we additionally bought three Argentinian seeding machines of direct seeding of Gherardi brand and one seeding-machine of John Deere 1890 brand.
For harvesting we also use agricultural machines John Deere (R8335 tractor, W650b combine harvester ) and Rosselmash (Akros combine harvester). Due to the machinery is equipped with GPS and on-board computers which are fixating the route, work regime and fuel consumption, we also optimize the harvesting works on our fields. So we are not only saving the time and resources but also facing a loss decrease while harvesting crops.
As for new machinery purchase yet we do not plan the large-scale buys. We are equipped with all we need. But the closer the harvesting campaign is the more chances to change our plans. It will depend on the market and holding needs.
- Most part of the agricultural commodities being produced on fields is for provision of the domestic needs of the company – for live-stock industry. Do you plan to start the grains and oilseeds realization on the domestic market? Is it prospective for you?
It is right, most of the agricultural commodities we produce is for fodder production. The availability of own elevator and processing capacities allows the holding to realize the full technological chain of high-qualitative fodder production. Fodder industry is oriented on the holding domestic needs, and for combined-feed production for hog in particular.
As for the crops we produce to be realized on the domestic market it is not actual for us. The most important is to provide the domestic needs of holding with grain.
- Please, tell about the cattle-breeding focus areas of your holding. What results have you achieved in the direction?
Cattle-breeding, and hog-breeding in particular is the priority direction for our holding. The complexes are located in Mordovia mostly and in Ulyanovsk oblast. The total number of stock is nearly 200 thsd animal units. But we plan to increase hog population to 500 thsd animal units by 2016.
As for results achieved in the mentioned area I think we have done a lot. Thus, hog-breeding agricultural enterprises had been assigned with the highest zoo sanitary status – IV compartment which is confirmed by Rosselkhoznadzor and veterinary services of the regions where the hog complexes are located. The status means the complexes of holding are absolutely protected from infectious decease breach.
Besides according to the results of 2014 Holding took the 15th line in the list of the largest-scale hog producers as per accounts of the National Union of hog breeders o f Russia by coming up the two lines compared to 2013. And in February 2015 our group of companies entered the list of strategic organizations of Russia applied by the Decision of the Government commission of Russia.
- Talina is one of the largest-scale agricultural holdings of the Russian Federation. Do you plan to increase the land bank?
We continue developing all the current areas of holding activity, we have the range of projects. However this year we do not plan to increase the land bank. On the current stage we develop brood hold production and meat processing areas of activity.
- Then maybe you will share with us plans on the cattle-breeding development?
To date we have two the most significant investment projects. Thus we plan building the pig-farm for one hundred thousand animal units “Mordovian breeding center”. The first line is already operating which is especially actual considering the market fluctuations, including the limited offers number of brood animals on the Russian market.
The second project is about the modernization of the meat processing capacities in Mordovia. The main production base is in the same region in Atyashevo. Two others are located in Saransk and Torbeyevo. In Atyashevo in 2013 there was started the reequipping and put into operation the new primary processing shop with the modern equipment. In 2014 we started building of the new production Torbeyevo.
Interviewed by Daria Letyuk
