Experimental training farm

Tyumen State Agricultural Academy has its own experimental training farm which was founded in 1959. It is situated not far from the students’ campus. Our experimental training farm is considered to be one of the largest and well-known farms in this area.

This enterprise is very rich. The total sown area is 4000 hectares. Major part of the sown area is under grain and fodder crops. The selection department grows new varieties of grain crops and potatoes for Tyumen region.

At present, there are two main branches of agriculture: crop growing and animal breeding. Nowadays crop growing is a highly developed branch of agriculture. Not only different grain crops but also various vegetables are grown by the farmers on the experimental training farm. They are wheat, barley, oats, beets, carrots, cabbages, onions and many others.

Animal breeding is considered to be one of the most important branches of modern agriculture. The farmers raise cows for meat and milk and pigs for meat. There are 2000 heads of cattle (650 cows) on the experimental training farm. Their milk productivity is the highest in the region.

While being on the experimental training farm, the students assimilate the experience of breeding of pedigree cattle and swine. They are to master the fundamentals of modern selection work in animal breeding. There are many different farm buildings on the farm: cowsheds, pigsties, barns and others.

Our experimental training farm has many modern types of agricultural machines: tractors, bulldozers, combines “New Holland”, “Kirovetz”, reapers, binders, mowers and threshers.

Our students have practical work on the experimental training farm. They take part in preparing soil in spring, in sowing, harvesting and repairing agricultural machines.

From year to year, the farm gets higher yields of crops and animal husbandry products. It gets real income. Our experimental training farm is a large profitable enterprise.

 

1. Memorize the following words and expressions:

1) experimental training farm – учебно-опытное хозяйство

2) the students’ campus – студенческий городок

3) well-known – хорошо известный

4) enterprise – предприятие, ферма, хозяйство

5) wheat – пшеница

6) barley – ячмень

7) oats – овес

8) beet – свекла

9) carrot – морковь

10) cabbage – капуста

11) onion – лук

12) animal breeding = animal husbandry – животноводство

13) to assimilate the experience – осваивать опыт

14) pedigree cattle – племенной крупнорогатый скот

15) swine – свинья

16) to master – овладевать

17) cowshed – коровник

18) pigsty – свинарник

19) reaper – жатвенная машина

20) binder – сноповязалка

21) mower – косилка

22) thresher – молотилка

23) to repair – ремонтировать

24) profitable – рентабельный

25) income – доход

 

2. Answer the following questions:

1) Has our Academy an experimental training farm?

2) Where is our experimental training farm situated?

3) What is the total sown area?

4) What does the selection department grow?

5) What are two main branches of agriculture?

6) What crops and vegetables are grown by the farmers?

7) What farm animals do the farmers raise?

8) How many heads of cattle are there on the farm?

9) What is their milk productivity?

10) The students assimilate the experience of breeding of pedigree cattle and swine, don’t they?

11) What farm buildings are there on the farm?

12) What agricultural machines has our experimental training farm?

13) Have our students practical work on the experimental training farm?

14) What kind of work do the students do on the farm?

15) Is our experimental training farm a large profitable enterprise? Why?

 

3. Complete the following sentences:

1) It is situated ….

2) The selection department grows new varieties of ….

3) While being on the experimental training farm, the students ….

4) From year to year, the farm gets higher ….

5) They take part in preparing soil ….

6) Animal breeding is considered to be ….

7) Tyumen State Agricultural Academy has its ….