Hands-On Ukrainian Agronomy

Despite pandemic and war, ecological farming methods are gaining traction in Ukraine

In the last quarter-century, Ukrainian farmers have adopted global farming methodologies, striving to integrate top-tier practices. A prime example is the Kinsey/Albrecht system, known for its focus on soil enhancement. This approach is credited with boosting crop yields, diminishing disease and pest prevalence, bolstering plant resilience against environmental stressors, and ultimately producing higher-quality harvests.

The collaboration with Neal Kinsey, author with Charles Walters of Hands-On Agronomy , began in 2018. The translation the Neal’s book into Ukrainian marked a pivotal moment, fostering widespread interest in the Kinsey/Albrecht technology within Ukraine. The subsequent 2019 conference on regenerative farming attracted numerous local farmers, reflecting the relevance of ecological farming in Ukraine.

Despite its recent introduction to the majority of Ukrainian farmers, many are actively experimenting with ecological and regenerative techniques. The onset of COVID-19 posed new challenges, but online events hosted by TraveliteAgro helped Ukrainian farmers continue to connect with global consultants in the Kinsey/Albrecht system from Europe, Canada and New Zealand.

Plans for an international tour were disrupted by the pandemic and the war, but a group of 20 Ukrainian farmers eventually visited Kinsey/Albrecht system practitioners in Europe and the USA, under the auspices of the Ukrainian Agricultural Ministry and USAID’s agricultural attaché. In June 2021, five Ukrainian farms began conducting soil testing and the implementation of Neal Kinsey’s online recommendations. Kinsey’s subsequent visit to Ukraine to observe these farms underscored the growing significance of this methodology in the region. These pioneering farms continue to use the system, navigating potential challenges and adapting the technology to the local climate. The Albrecht/Kinsey method of soil balancing underlines the importance of each element, moving beyond the conventional focus on nitrogen.

Neal Kinsey (third from left) visiting Ukraine June 2021. The farmer, second from right, was growing over 35,000 acres of corn for grain and has fields of wheat that produce over 250 bushels per acre.

However, the current situation in Ukraine breeds skepticism among farmers regarding the cost-effectiveness of the recommendations, despite observable yield improvements. Challenges such as moisture scarcity and land ownership issues, compounded by the ongoing conflict and economic uncertainties, have further complicated the implementation of these recommendations. Victor Filatov, a landowner, and Viktor Rybalko, a farmer specializing in potato production, have both observed significant improvements in soil fertility through the Kinsey/Albrecht system. Despite the war’s devastating impact on their operations, they maintain a forward-thinking approach to land management, understanding the necessity of extraordinary measures during these times.

In response to the Russian invasion in February 2022, the World to Rebuild Rural Ukraine (WRRU) initiative was launched to provide critical support to small family farms across Ukraine. This charitable program focuses on aiding those whose homes and farm facilities have been damaged by the conflict. Neal Kinsey has been a leading advocate and an honorable ambassador for WRRU. His early support and ongoing commitment to the program underscore its vital role in helping rebuild and sustain the livelihoods of small-scale farmers. WRRU is actively restoring damaged farms and seeking to foster agricultural revival in Ukraine.