The typical landscape of the region's vastness is fields sown with agricultural crops. Arable land occupies half of the entire territory, and in the structure of farmland its share is close to 60%. But in some areas the share of arable land varies significantly.
The most plowed up northern and northwestern part of the region, which has the most favorable soil and climatic conditions for agriculture. There, the share of arable land reaches 70% of the total area. In the east of the region, arable land is much less, and in such areas as Dombarovsky, Novoorsky, Yasnensky, arable land occupies no more than 1/3 of the territory. The main type of farmland here is pasture.
In 2009, the entire sown area in all categories of farms amounted to 4126.4 thousand hectares, including grain and leguminous crops - 3070.7 thousand hectares, fodder crops - 566.6 thousand hectares, technical - 436.3 hectares, potatoes and vegetables and melons - 52.8 thousand hectares.
On average, 2/3 of all sown areas are sown cereals, and among them, of course, the "queen of the fields" of our region - wheat. Due to the lack of snow and low winter temperatures, mainly spring wheat (sown in spring) is grown. Besides wheat, barley, rye, oats and cereal crops - millet and buckwheat - are also grown from cereals.
The geography of grain production in the region is shown by the map in Figure 17. The length of the base of the figures on the map reflects the size of the sown areas of grain crops in the districts, and their height - the yield.
Cereals are grown everywhere, but three regions in the east are especially distinguished by the volume of harvest: Adamovsky, Kvarkensky and Svetlinsky, as well as Pervomaisky and Novosergievsky districts.
On average, 1.2-1.4 tons of grain are produced per one inhabitant of the region. This is a very high figure. This amount is quite enough to provide not only the population with bread, but also the needs of animal husbandry in concentrated feed and all other economic needs of the region, as well as export grain outside its borders.
However, the yield of grain crops is low and fluctuates greatly depending on the natural conditions and the quality of agricultural work. On average in the region for the period 1996-2000. it amounted to 8.4 c / ha. This yield is not enough to achieve sustainable profitability and competitiveness of the region's grain production. How to solve this problem?
Geographers and ecologists consider it necessary to reduce the area under grain crops where their cultivation gives the worst results and is obviously unprofitable, and to turn this arable land into pastures. This does not require significant costs and will increase the profitability of agriculture, increase livestock production and thus improve the structure of the population's nutrition.
Reduction of arable land will also provide an opportunity to restore and preserve the almost lost natural steppe landscapes with animals and plants inhabiting them, to expand the area of the Orenburg Steppe Reserve. Indeed, living in the steppe zone, most of the inhabitants, most likely, have never seen a real steppe. Imagine that there would be no forest left in the forest zone! The experience of the past also speaks of the rationality of the reduction of arable land and the development of animal husbandry: the peoples who inhabited this territory in ancient times were engaged in animal husbandry. For many millennia, the nature of the steppe has adapted and learned to coexist with pasture animal husbandry.
Industrial crops occupy a small part of the cultivated area - on average about 5%, and they are represented almost exclusively by sunflower. It is an oilseed crop, but it can also be used as a forage crop. Sunflower crops are widespread in the west and in the central part of the region, the southern and especially eastern regions are less favorable for its growth.
Potatoes and vegetables - melons and gourds in recent years, they are produced almost exclusively on personal and garden plots. Therefore, the areas of their cultivation do not depend on natural conditions and are located around settlements, especially around large cities. The few remaining large vegetable farms are also located in suburban areas. The only exceptions are, perhaps, melons and gourds: watermelons and melons - a delicacy so beloved by the Orenburg dwellers of late summer and early autumn. These crops loving a hot dry climate are grown in the south, mainly in the Sol-Iletsk and Akbulak regions.
Approximately ¼ part of all sown area in the region is occupied forage crops... These are annual and perennial grasses, corn for green mass and some other agricultural crops used for livestock feed. This part of crop production forms the basis for the development of animal husbandry.
Table 24 - Production of crop products (in farms of all categories) (according to statistical data of statistical compilations for the Orenburg region).
|
Indicators |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2009 r. by 2008 (%), (+), (-). |
|
Sown area total, thousand ha |
||||
|
Cereals and legumes |
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|
Sowing area, thousand hectares |
||||
|
Gross harvest, thousand tons |
||||
|
Productivity, c / ha |
-0,5 |
|||
Corn for grain |
||||
|
Sowing area, thousand hectares |
||||
|
Gross harvest, thousand tons |
||||
|
Productivity, c / ha |
-3,4 |
|||
Sunflower |
||||
|
Sowing area, thousand hectares |
||||
|
Gross harvest, thousand tons |
||||
|
Productivity, c / ha |
-1,5 |
|||
Potato |
||||
|
Sowing area, thousand hectares |
||||
|
Gross harvest, thousand tons |
||||
|
Productivity, c / ha |
-13 |
|||
Vegetables |
||||
|
Sowing area, thousand hectares |
||||
|
Gross harvest, thousand tons |
||||
|
Productivity, c / ha |
-32 |
|||
Table 25 - Yield of agricultural crops (in farms of all categories; centners per hectare of harvested area) (according to statistical data of statistical collections for the Orenburg region).
|
Agricultural crops |
|||||
|
Cereals (in weight after processing) |
|||||
|
Sugar beet (factory) |
|||||
|
Sunflower |
|||||
|
Potato |
|||||
|
Vegetables |
| Agriculture of the Orenburg region |
The basis of agricultural production in the Orenburg region is agriculture. Cereals account for 70% of the sown area. They determine the direction and specialization of not only crop production, but also the entire agriculture of the region. In the structure of sown areas, wheat accounts for the largest share (about half). At the same time, winter wheat is cultivated in the fields of the north-west of the region, and spring wheat is cultivated almost everywhere.
Millet occupies a prominent place in cereal crops. In terms of the size of the sown area and its gross harvest, the region occupies one of the leading places in Russia. In recent years, there has been an increase in the area occupied by buckwheat.
Industrial crops occupy 5% of the total sown area of the region and are mainly represented by sunflower. Of other oilseeds, flax and mustard are cultivated in the region, but their crops are small. Sugar beet accounts for less than 1%.
Taking these conditions into account, varietal zoning of the most important agricultural crops has developed in the region.
Winter rye. The Bezenchukskaya yellow-grain plant is widely cultivated. In the farms of the northern zone, good yields are also provided by "Saratov-1". In the eastern zone, due to severe frosts and insufficient snow cover, winter crops often freeze out, so most farms do not sow winter rye here.
Spring wheat. In the northern zone, the mid-season "Saratov-29" and "Kharkiv-46" are zoned. In the western zone, albidum-43 and Saratov-210 are sown from early ripening zones, and Kharkiv-46 from mid-ripening ones. In the central zone, albidum-43 is mainly cultivated from early ripening zones, and Saratovskaya-29 is cultivated in the mid-ripening zones. In the southern regions, Saratovskaya-210 is cultivated from early-ripening regions, and Melanopus-69 from mid-ripening regions. In the eastern zone, they were zoned from the early ripening "albidum-43", from the mid-ripening - "Saratov-29", "Kharkiv-46".
Oats. In the northern, western, central and southern zones, the "victory" variety is zoned. In the eastern zone, besides the "victory", the "golden rain" is being cultivated.
Barley.Kinelsky-5, Pallidum-45 and Precocius-143 are cultivated in all zones.
Corn. For harvesting for grain, early ripening "Chkalovskaya zheltozernaya" and "Kichkasskaya local" are recommended for all zones. In addition, in the northern and central zones a hybrid "Bukovynska-2" has been zoned. For harvesting in milky-wax ripeness for silage in all zones, the mid-season "local Grushevskaya" and the hybrid "VIR-42" are cultivated.
Millet. For all zones, "Orenburgskoye-42" and "Saratovskoye-853" are zoned. In the central, southern and eastern zones, the local variety "Orenburg red" (lump) is also cultivated.
Peas. The varieties “capital” and “victoria mandorfskaya” prevail.
Wheat occupies the main place in the fields of the Orenburg region; it accounts for more than 50 percent of all crops. And this, of course, is not accidental. Wheat is the most valuable food crop in the region. Orenburg wheat has exceptionally high nutritional, gustatory and baking qualities, which have long received well-deserved recognition. Durum wheat is especially famous, which provides high-quality grain for the production of higher grades of flour. In terms of nutritional and baking qualities, Orenburg durum wheat has no rivals either in our country or abroad. It contains 20 - 24 percent of protein, while it is in Krasnodar, Kuibyshev and Volgograd - 16 - 17 percent. An even greater difference in protein content is found when comparing Orenburg durum wheat with foreign ones. Thus, wheat in England contains only 11.5 percent of protein, Portugal - 11.8, Argentina - 12, Denmark - 12.8, Spain - 13, France - 13.5, Sweden - 14.5, USA - 17 percent.
In the region, there are significant crops of millet, which gives good yields. Millet from Orenburg millet is distinguished by its high nutritional and taste qualities. The old saying - "a spoonful of Orenburg millet is a pot of porridge" - emphasizes its merits.
The introduction of corn allows collective and state farms to more successfully solve the fodder problem.
Harvesting work is usually completed before the onset of the autumn rains. This greatly reduces grain losses. At the beginning of the harvest, the bread is usually harvested in a separate way, if the height of the stalks and the purity of the bread allow. In the midst of harvesting, direct combining is also used.
Following the mowing and threshing, straw is removed from the field, then plowing of the fall plowing begins.
Winter crops are usually sown in pairs in the second half of August. In the spring, winter crops are fertilized and harrowed. In a number of farms, airplanes are used for feeding.
- 1. LLC "ORENCHEM-AGRO" Orenburg region, Orenburg
- 2. FL "AGROMASH" OJSC PO "STRELA" Orenburg region
- 3. LLC "ABDULINSKY KHP" Orenburg region
- 4. LLC "BELOUSOVSKOE" Orenburg region
- 5. KFH "KIPREY" Orenburg region
- 6. LLC "AGROFIRM" KRASNOKHOLMSKAYA "Orenburg region, Orenburg
- 7. LLC "RASSVET" Orenburg region
- 8. LLC "SARAKTASHKHLEBOPRODUKT" Orenburg region
- 9. JSC SHARLYK "AGROSNAB" Orenburg region
- 10. LLC "ASOL" Orenburg region
- 11. LLC "TERRA" Orenburg region
- 12. LLC "IVANOVSKOE" Orenburg region
- 13. JSC "NEW PUT" Orenburg region
- 14. Farm "ZARECHNOE" Orenburg region
- 15. KFH "RADUGA" Orenburg region
- 16. LLC "GOLDEN NIVA" Orenburg region
- 17. SCC "KOLKHOZ POBEDA" Orenburg region
- 18. KFH BIRANOV "BYURA" Orenburg region
- 19. LLC "NPO" YUZHNY URAL "Orenburg region
- 20. KFH PILYUGIN IVAN IVANOVICH Orenburg region
- 21.SKhK AGRICULTURAL (KOLKHOZ) TOBOLSKY Orenburg region
- 22. LLC "START" Orenburg region
- 23. SCC "PRIURALSKY" Orenburg region
- 24. LLC "MTS - AGRO" Orenburg region
- 25. SKHK "RASSVET" Orenburg region
- 26.SKhK KOLKHOZ NAMED AFTER KIROV Orenburg region
- 27. KFH "STEPNE ZORI" Orenburg region
- 28. LLC "NURZHAN" Orenburg region
- 29. CJSC "ORENBURG SEEDS" Orenburg region, Orenburg
- thirty. LLC "SOVHOZ" SADOVOD "Orenburg region, Orsk
- 31. NIZHNESAKMAR COUNTRY STANICH SOCIETY Orenburg region, Orenburg
- 32. LLC "AGROFIRM" VOZROZHDENIE "Orenburg region, Orenburg
- 33. LLC "KFH" KOLOS "Orenburg region, Orsk
- 34. KFH A. A. BEKENOVA Orenburg region, Orenburg
- 35. LLC "NIVA 2002" Orenburg region, Orenburg
- 36. LLC "AGRICULTURAL AGROFIRM" PODSPORIE "Orenburg region, Orenburg
- 37. KFH IMANALIEVA Z S Orenburg region, Orenburg
- 38. LLC "AGROFIRMA" TOKSKAYA "Orenburg region, Orenburg
- 39. LLC "TUKAY" Orenburg region, Orsk
- 40. LLC "ORSKGAZSTROY II" Orenburg region, Orsk
In 2016, in the Orenburg region, the gross grain harvest amounted to 3.3 million tons.
This fully provided the area:
- seeds, taking into account inter-farm exchange in the amount of 336 thousand tons;
- fodder, taking into account on-farm redistribution - 364.3 thousand tons;
- for sale to workers and payment in kind - 192 thousand tons.
In addition, 1133.2 thousand marketable grain is provided for sale, including wheat - 750 thousand tons.
One of the significant components in the 2016 harvest was winter crops, their share in the 2016 harvest amounted to 1 million 64.1 thousand tons, or 32% of the total gross harvest.
Annually, the yield of winter grain crops consistently exceeds the yield of spring crops, therefore, winter crops are an insurance crop. According to experts, the optimal ratio of spring and winter wedges for our region is 30 to 70 percent.
Productivity of winter, spring grain and leguminous crops, kg / ha
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
| Winter crops | 18,0 | 6,6 | 16,2 | 11,1 | 11,6 | 16,4 | 11,3 | 21,8 |
| Spring cereals | 10,3 | 4,2 | 11,6 | 7,5 | 8,9 | 8,2 | 9,9 | 10,2 |
In accordance with the state program "Development of agriculture and regulation of markets for agricultural products, raw materials and food in the Orenburg region" for 2013–2020, the sowing area of winter crops must be increased to 800 thousand hectares by 2020. In 2016, winter crops were sown on an area of 701 thousand hectares.
The state of the plant growing industry in the region in the last five years, despite abnormal weather conditions and the invasion of pests, is characterized by a gradual stabilization of production. The sown area is increased annually, a variety change is carried out, varietal renewal and the technologies of growing grain crops are being improved. In the region, energy and moisture-saving technologies are being used more and more, which allow to reduce the production cost.
Since 2013, alternative drought-resistant crops, such as chickpea, sorghum, winter camelina, flax, safflower, and mustard, have been introduced into the crop rotation in the region's farms. In 2013, 147.2 thousand hectares were sown, in 2016 the area of crops was 185.6 thousand hectares.
The expansion of the sowing of these crops has not only a positive effect on soil fertility, the phytosanitary state of agricultural crops in crop rotations, their productivity, but also makes it possible to improve the financial and economic state of farms, given the high selling prices.
The efficiency of irrigation in the Orenburg region is quite high. Irrigated lands make it possible to obtain crop yields 2-3 times higher than on rainfed lands, and in dry times 4-5 times higher, they guarantee a harvest regardless of weather conditions.
A7 Agro LLC works effectively in this direction. In 2016, the enterprise put into operation an irrigation system on an area of 240 hectares in the Ilek district. In 2017, the commissioning of an irrigated area of 1400 hectares is expected.
The chemicalization of agriculture is the most important factor in the development and intensification of agricultural production. This year, the region's farms purchased 24,061 tons of mineral fertilizers, which is 1.8 times more than in 2015.
As part of the work on import substitution of vegetables in the Orenburg region, projects for the construction and modernization of greenhouse complexes are being implemented.The main goal is to occupy a niche in the market of greenhouse vegetables in the region, displacing imported products from the market with domestic organic vegetables, to meet the needs of the regional market for vegetable products, to provide access to new geographic markets, and to create new jobs.
The investment project of LLC SCHP "Ekoferma" "Kushkulskie greenhouses" provides for the modernization (reconstruction) of the existing greenhouse complex with a total area of 6.75 hectares. The first stage of modernization of the greenhouse complex was completed in 2016 and amounted to 3.7 hectares, the second stage is planned for 2017 - 3.05 hectares. As a result of the modernization of greenhouses, the annual volume of vegetables will increase by 30%.
At the expense of the producers' own funds, a greenhouse complex with an area of 1 hectare was built in the Novoorsk district of the individual entrepreneur (head of the farm) A.G. Devdariani. Produced in 2016 249 tons of cucumbers and 208 tons of tomatoes;
Flowers of Orenburzhya LLC (Orenburgsky district) has started the implementation of the project “Production of greenhouse vegetables”. As a result, by 2020 it is planned to increase the area of greenhouses to 3.5 hectares. In 2016, 1.2 hectares of protected soil were commissioned. The company is engaged in the production of vegetables, flowers and seedlings in greenhouses. Currently, 160 tons of cucumbers have been harvested.
For the year-round supply of vegetables to the residents of the Eastern Orenburg region, a project is being implemented to build greenhouses with a total area of 1.2 hectares of Yasny Karat LLC (Yasny). In 2016, 70.1 tons of cucumbers were harvested from 0.1 hectares.
The Orenburg region ranks first in terms of sowing of melons and gourds in the Russian Federation. Over the past 20 years, the area of marketable melon in the region has increased more than 10 times. In 2016, in the Orenburg region, the area under food melons and gourds amounted to 55.2 thousand hectares, which is 1 thousand hectares higher than the level of 2015.
Traditionally, the first place in the production of melons and gourds in the region is occupied by the Sol-Iletsk district - 91% of all areas of melons and gourds are located here. Melons and gourds are also grown in Akbulaksky, Belyaevsky, Dombarovsky, Ileksky, Tashlinsky districts.
In 2016, 726.7 thousand tons of watermelon were harvested from an area of 49.3 thousand hectares with an average yield of 14.7 tons per hectare.
