INFORMATION ON SOVIET AGRICULTURE, ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION, AND FERTILIZERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A039400850001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 28, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: January 10, 1958
• Content Type: REPORT

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PRte ,b SS1NG COPY
INFORMATION REPORIT INFORMATION REPORT
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the EspionageIws, Title
18, U.S.C. Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibl d by law.
COUNTRY USSR
SUBJECT Information on Soviet Agriculture, DATE DISTR. 10 January 1958
Artificial Insemination, and
Fertilizers NO. PAGES 2
REQUIREMENT RD
NO.
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE &
DATE ACQ
SOURCE EVALUATIONS ARE DEFINITIVE. APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
The followin documents containing information on various aspects of Soviet''
agricultur
fattening. The shortage of butter, caused by transport difficulties and
the low butter-fat content of Soviet milk was not believed likely to improve
in the near future. During 1957, 21,000,000 hectares were under corn:
`niaizz cultivation, of which about 13,000,000 hectares were grown for
grain, principally in the Eastern Ukraine and Kuban areas, which were
considered to be the most favorable areas for corn cultivation. It was
considered doubtful whether the 1960 agricultural target could be achieved in
full, chiefly because of the lack of suitable farm buildings, the great
shortage of fertilizers, and the shortage of concentrates. Problems in
farm machinery lay principally in the shortage in some areas of auxiliary
farm machinery, the shortage of spare parts, and the lack of necessary
smaller-scale agricultural machines. In 1957, the cultivation of virgin lands
was extended by between 12,000,000 and 15,000,000 hectares. Scarcity of water
still remained a serious problem, although large ground-water.reserves
were recently discovered in Kazakh SSR. Experimentation was in progress
1. General notes on Nviet agriculture, a four-page document containing
had led to poor distribution and waste. Pork production had risen, buNp
extension of areas under cereal cultivation was expected to bring the
total 1957 cereal production, up to the 1956 figure. Although milk
output had risen sixty percent in two years, the lack of transport aif 1 roads
general information on Wiculture in, the USSB. While the 1957 c
yield was expected to be thirty percent loner than the 1956 yield,
IxJ
L
AI R
FBI
(Note: Washington distribution indicated by "X"; Field distribution by "#".)
AEC
I N FORMATION REPORT I N FORMATION REPORT
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in order to determine whether the pumping of the ground-water reserves,
which lay at a depth of 1,500 meters, would be economical. Further details on these
agricultural subjects can be found in the document.
2. Artificial insemination, a two-page document in which are described problems
in the practice of agricultural artificial insemination in the USSR.
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3. Fertilizera, a one-page document which describes the results of the fertilizer
shortage in the USSR, the production of nitrogenous fertilizers, and research
on the direct introduction of ammonia gas into the soil..
4. Apparent shortage of metal in the USSR, a one-page document in which are described
t rks of two Soviet agricultural delegates who, during their visit
made constant references to the shortage of m
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t
l
e
a
in the USSR. When
scussing barbed-wire fencing, automatic ?;.watering systems for cattle
, and bins
for grain storage, the Soviet dele
ate
i
g
s
n
each instance stated that it would
be impossible to obtain metal for such installations.
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U. S. S. R.
Econanic/l iculture
General Notes on Soviet i.griculture
1957 Harvest
1. The overall yield for cereals in 1957 is expected to be 30 lower
than in 1956 principally o~-ring to dry easterly winds which dried up the
corn immediately prior to ripening. On the other hand the ploughed area
has been extended and the overall figure is expected to be about the
some as last year.
2. Output of Milk
The output of milk has risen by 60;; in the last two years, but it
would seem that only large centres in the milk producing central areas are
properly supplied. This is principally due to lack of transport and
roads. At present largo quanitites of milk are wasted and/or fed to
stock. Although it was known that milk production was to be increased,
nobody seems to have thought of the distribution implications, neither
were preparations made- for processing the excess production.
3. Output of Meat
Although meat production has risen in the last two years, beef is
still in short supply almost everywhere except 110,~COW, and its quality
leaves much to be desired. The main rise has been in pork production,
as this was considered the quickest way to remedy a situation which was
threatening to become acute. The question of beef production has not
been solved and is not likely to be solved for some, time, principally due
to the shortage of a) beef breeds, b) good pastures, e) farm buildings
(yards) where cattle can be fattened during the winter.
in winter it was not so much the question of fattening the cattle as
of keeping them alive until the spring.
1+. Output of Butter
Butter is only obtainable in largo centres and at collective and state
farms. The output has risen slightly, but although there is plenty of milk,
transport difficulties intervene and also the butter-fat. content of the
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/riilk
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milk is much lower than that required for economical production. A
great deal of work is now being done in trying to increase the butter-fat
content by crossing with imported Jersey and Guernsey bulls, but this is
slow work, and the situation is not likely to improve in the near future.
5. Area under Maize
The area under maize cultivation is at the moment 21,000,000 hectares
of which about 13,000,000 is grown for corn and seed, the rest being cut
for silage before ripening. It has been decided to concentrate maize
growing for seed and corn in the Eastern UKRAINE and the KUBJ areas, as
it is considered to be the best area to produce results. It has been
tried elsewhere, but results have not been satisfactory. The UY AINEP is
from now or going to concentrate on the following crops:
Sugar beet,
Maize''
Tobacco,
Garden produce.
Sugar beet tops will be used for silage and so will the maize stalks,
although it is roalisou that the latter will not produce first-class
fodder, nevertheless it is "better than nothing". certain amount of
corn will also be grown, but this will be used mainly for producing meal
for cattle,
6. 196o Target
Although great progress has been made since the launching of the last
five-year plan, it is doubtful whether the 1960 target could be achieved in
full for the following main reasons:
a) lack of suitable buildings,
b) great shortage of fertilizers,
o) shortage of concentrates.
The lack of farm buildings is one of the greatest problems facing Soviet
agriculture. Without them it is quite ii.ipossible to keep the livestock
in any sort of condition during the winter, with the result that in autumn
many collective and state farms try to get rid of their cattle, especially
/young
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young stock. This is being discouraged by every possible mans, including
castigation in the press, but it is adiaitted that results are far from
encouraging.
The shortage of fertilisers has an adverse effect on husbandry in
general and crop and grass yields in particular with the result that not
enough silage and concentrates are available for feeding stock during the
long winter. By spring the cattle are so emaciated that it takes the
whole s xuor to bring than back into fair condition, with a consequent
drop in fertility and milk yield.
The shortage of concentrates is principally due to difficulties in
distribution owing to lack of roads and other transport facilities. The
concentrates mainly consist of seed cake (sunflower and cotton seed) grown
in the southern areas and corn :weal (mostly wheat). ai.lage is fed
extensively when available, but the quality is not always good and the
u.i.fficulty of keeping it frai freezing solid during the winter precludes
the use of open pits and surface storage.
7. Machinery
There is no shortage of tractors although a great number has been
sent to virgin land areas. On the other hand combine harvesters, binders
and other auxiliary machines are again in short supply in some areas. The
greatest problem at the rlaaent is the shortage of spares for current and
capital overhaul of existing machines, as the demand from virgin land
areas has absorbed most of the production. came areas, such as the Baltic
States and North-rest and Central Russia, also feel the lack of smaller
machinery as production has been concentrated on larger typos needed in the
virgin lands.
8, Virgin Lands
The virgin land area under plough is to be extended by a further
12 to 15 million hectares. Most of the land is very rough pasture which
dries up after about six weeks following the spring rains. This isi:.:ostly
grazed by sheep, which are moved to the hill pastures where grass beeaaes
scarce. Often the drying up of pastures is so sudden that a great ilk
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sheep
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sheep die for lack of water on their trek to the hills. This year has been
particularly disastrous in this respect.
A recent discovery of large underground reserves of water in the
1u.ZliiST.1Id virgin land area may solve the problem of irrigation, but the
engineering task involved is by no roans a light one. The water is located
at a depth of sonic 1,500 metres and powerful pumps will have to be installed
before it can be brought to the surface. Themal power stations have been
discarded as being uneconomic and a test is being made to use wind power for
this purpose. i. trial has been made with fair results in the $iI /t0I,INSK
Province where a 500 kiiJ. power station is no. operated by this means. It
is hoped that the trials will prove conclusive and that another much more
costly screme which entails the dxxiing and diversion of the IRTYai River
will not have to be adopted.
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U.S. S. R.
F;Dona:Uc/Agricu It ure
s'srtif icial Insemination
1* artificial insemination is not as widely practised in the U. S. U.S.S.R.
as it is in this country and results are far below those prevailing F
The average conception rate (first service) is between 30 - 4.0 5~ and
this is due to the follcuing main factors:
a) Lack of organ, sat ion.
b) Lack of transport and roads.
o) Lack of qualified insffj:in tors.
d) Lack of equipment for keeping the ser_zen.
e) Lack of suitable buildings.
3. It appears that results in laboratory and experimental station
conditions are quite satisfactory and the conception rate is even higher
than here, but the riaaent they are tried in field conditions, the
conception rate drops alarmingly.
if. Taking lack of organisation first, the artificial insemination stations
are situated in either stock breeding or milk producing areas, but as a
general rule they have not been established at strategic points with easy
access to the surrounding countryside. They have also to cover a very
large area with disastrous results, especially in bad weather when roads
are even verse than usual. The orders come either by post or telegram,
the telephone being used only on very rare occasions. This is due to
excessive red tape, the artificial insemination station not being willing
to take the risk of sending an inseminator out without "documentary evidence"
to the effect that his trip is really necessary.
5? The lack of transport and roads also plays a big part in the, general
failure of the service. Inscuina.tors are not as a general rule provided with
motor transport of one kind or another and have to rely on public transport,
which is seldom available to within a reasonable distance of the collective
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/or state
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or state farms. In spring and autumn roads are often so bad that it
sometimes takes the inseminator several days to reach his destination,
by which time the semen is usually no longer effective.
6. The difficulty of getting qualified inseminators is great, as few
people apply for the job in view of the difficult working conditions and
also because their proficiency is judged by results. There is a
predominance of ferule insu.iinators, but they do not stay for two reasons:
a)) the conditions of work are as described above, and
b) because of the attitude of the average collective farmer, who never
misses an opportunity of making rude remarks and jokes about the
whole process, especially if the inseminator is a girl.
7. Equipment for keeping the semen is sadly lacking, especially vacuum
containers for carrying the semen to the scene of operations. Dry ice
is also hard to get in many areas, ti;rith the result that the semen is kept
in ordinary refrigerators which greatly reduces its life.
8. The question of suitable buildings is most acute. It present most
artificial insemination stations are housed in old ramshackle buildings
without proper facilities for conducting their work in more or less
hygienic conditions. The bulls are penned and do not get enough exercise,
neither do they have any access to pasture. They are fed on hay, silage
and concentrates the: year round, with consequent overfattening and
reduction of virility.
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U S.
Ec onemic/,%gric ult ure
Fertilizers
it There is a tremendous shortage of fertilizers in the U. S.S.R. and
yields are consequently extremely low in oanparison with those of this
country.
2. The average yield of potatoes is in the region of 6 tons per
hectare ar3 of corn 2.tons per hectare.
3? The shortage of fertilizers also affects leys and pastures with the
consequent low yield of milk which averages about, or rather under,
1,000 litres per lactation.
4. The chemical industry is quite unable to cope with the demand
and has concentrated, or rather is about to concentrate, on production
of nitrogenous fertilizers which are considered to be the most likely
to give immediate results. These are produced in the form of nitrate
of aaionia powder, but the quantity is insufficient to supply even the
most pressing needs. Phosphates are produced in even smaller quantities
and the same applies to potash fertilizers.
5. Some research work has been carried out on introducing armonia
gas direct into the soil thus doing away with the lengthy process of
producing nitrate of ar.-r_ionia. The process has boon used at one or two
experimental stations and is reported to have given good results, but
this entails the use of a special machine, which is not in production.
Briefly, the arvaonia gas is reduced to a liquid state and pumped from
a cylinder through tynes straight into the soil to a depth of some
15 ems. The gas has no time to escape from that depth before being
absorbed by the grass roots.
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U. S. E.S.R.
Economic
Apparent Shortage of Metal in the U.S.S.R.
1. During their visit A. ll. SIROTIN, Chief Editor of the 25X1
Soviet daily agricultural newspaper SELSKOE KHOZYJ.ISTVO, and ^ Ca. DOLOTOV, 25X1
:ezaber of the Board of the some paper, r:iade constant references to the
shortage of metal in the U. S. S.R. and the following instances may well
illustrate the point.
2. When discussing fencing at one of the farms visited during the tour,
SIROTIN stated that no barbed wire fencing was used in the U. S. 3. R.
Lotor he was pressed to explain why this was so, to which he replied that
it was simply because riotal was not made available for this purpose.
Pressed further, he stated that metal of any kind was in short supply
as it was needed for other purposes.
(C.o oU barin
3. Automatic watering in byres and milking parloirs also attracted
SIROTIN's attention and he wistfully remarked that he wished they could
afford the same luxury in the U. S. S. R. Asked why such a simple thing
could not be arranged, he replied that again it was the question of
getting metal which was not made available.
4.. SIROTIN and DOLOTOV were both interested in bins for storing corn
at one of the farms. They took copious notes of dimensions but later
SIROTIN remarked that, of course, they would have to modify them as they
would have to be made of wood, since they could not hope to got the
necessary metal.
r, R F#
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