Goodvalley Ukraine Achieves Better Results After Changing Tillage Practices

Andriy Patrylo, Chief Agronomist at Goodvalley Ukraine, has significantly revised the company's tillage approaches two years after taking office. Specifically, he convinced the owners to stop hiring outside contractors for primary tillage operations and instead execute these critical tasks internally using high-quality machinery. This was reported in detail by The Ukrainian Farmer magazine.

Previously in the autumn season, the agricultural enterprise limited its operations to shallow cultivation up to 20 cm deep, which was carried out by external service providers. However, according to the agronomist, local soil conditions required a completely different, deeper approach. The farm manages numerous low-lying fields with severe soil compaction, locally known as 'mokliaky' (wetlands), which cause excessive water accumulation in the soil profile.

The first decisive step was deep loosening down to 45 cm, carried out across an area of 2,000 hectares. According to Andriy Patrylo, the outcome was noticeable immediately as soil quality visibly improved. Following this operation, cultivation up to 25 cm deep was performed prior to soybean planting. This promoted better root system development, simultaneous seedling emergence, and enhanced moisture retention in the soil.

Today, the company maintains a unified approach to tillage across all cultivated areas, adjusting the depth and method depending on the specific crop requirements. For winter wheat and barley, loosening is conducted at a depth of up to 20 cm, while corn fields undergo deep loosening.

These agronomic adjustments allow the company to optimize field operations, improve soil structure, and ensure healthier crop development across all agricultural lands managed by Goodvalley Ukraine.