OREANDA-NEWS. May 24, 2011. In full conformity with the production plan, ASTARTA has completed its spring sowing campaign. In the current production season, the following plantings were made: sugar beet on 43 thousand hectares, soybean on 34 thousand hectares, corn on 33 thousand hectares, spring barley on 13 thousand hectares, sunflower on 13 thousand hectares. About 25 thousand hectares were planted with forage crops. In addition, more than 45 thousand hectares were planted with winter wheat, barley, rye and other winter crops. About 10 thousand hectares are fallows lands which will be planted in the current year with winter crops. Compared to previous year, the arable area has increased by 25% to 215 thousand hectares.

An important role in optimizing of the timing of the sowing campaign played the supply of ASTARTA farms with modern agricultural machinery, park of which has been substantially updated and expanded, as well as intensive trainings of machine operators and other professionals took place.

Spring crops are fertilized within required norms, feeding of winter crops and sugar beets has been  conducted, scheduled works are carried out on processing of agricultural crop by special protectors. Spring and winter crops are in good condition and the subsidiaries of the Group will soon begin the preparation of the machinery for harvesting of early grains.