The success of the agricultural production department, according to its head, Oleg Veselov, is based on three components: modern machinery, new technologies, and a strong team of professionals. We will share the stories of people who achieved outstanding results in agricultural production last year. These are the chief agronomist Yevhen Nikolenko, the driver Ivan Lubianyi, and the agricultural machinery operator Oleksandr Shokal, who were awarded the “NIBULON’s Pride” award at the end of last year for their contribution to the development of the company.
Yevhen Nikolenko, the chief agronomist at Khmilnyk branch, was acknowledged as the “Chief Agronomist with the Highest Performance”. Under his leadership, the Central cluster achieved the highest yield rates among other clusters.
Yevhen joined NIBULON relatively recently, in October 2023. Since the sowing campaign had already been completed by that time, at first Yevhen spent some time getting into the swing of things, inspecting the fields, getting to know the team, and analyzing the previous years’ indicators to organize future field work. Yevhen is convinced that high-yield indicators resulted from the joint effort of the entire team.
“A good harvest depends 70% on human effort and about 30% on weather conditions. Therefore, we must do the work as efficiently as possible to have a good harvest and minimize the impact of nature. I believe that coordinated and high-quality work is the key to results. And the results are very important to me. My motto is ‘Only forward, not a step back’. This applies to focusing on achieving the goal, implementing new technologies, and exploring new methods and opportunities.
A person needs to be motivated and unafraid of hard work. I am a man of the field. My biggest motivation comes from watching our seeds germinate, seeing the land being cultivated, observing how quickly plants grow, and witnessing the fruits of our labor,” Yevhen shared.
Recently, Yevhen was promoted to director of the Southern cluster. His new challenge is to improve the performance of the branches subordinate to him.
“The South has its characteristics; its weather conditions differ from those in the central regions. However, I am convinced that we will find solutions to any natural challenges, make the necessary adjustments, and achieve the planned indicators,” Yevhen said.
After the conversation with our colleague, there is no doubt that the Southern cluster will be successful.
Ivan Lubianyi, a driver, was acknowledged as the “Most Effective Driver of the Season in the Agricultural Sector”. During the season, Ivan not only ensured effective logistics but also showed true versatility in driving various vehicles. He operated a variety of vehicles, including Scania, GAZ, ZIL, and Hyundai, and refueled equipment at two branches. His efforts ensured the uninterrupted operation of the agricultural production department. Additionally, Ivan actively helped the specialists repair the vehicles, providing timely support to avoid downtime. His responsibility and willingness to take on additional duties significantly contributed to the stable operation of the entire enterprise throughout the season.
Ivan modestly says that he did nothing special – he performed his duties:
“I have been working for NIBULON for 17 years. I started with cars, and over time I switched to trucks. Of course, each vehicle has its characteristics, each vehicle requires a different approach, technical knowledge, and expertise in its operation. But for me, it does not matter what type of vehicle I drive. My job is to ensure that people get to work on time, the vehicle is refueled and in working order. What matters to me is whether I can cope with my duties and ensure that my work benefits both the people and the company.”
Oleksandr Shokal, an agricultural machinery operator, received the “Best Universal Agricultural Machinery Operator” award. In the 2024 season, Oleksandr performed an impressive amount of field operations, demonstrating his universal skills in operating various types of equipment and performing a wide range of technological operations. His flexibility and willingness to operate various machinery greatly contributed to the efficiency of our field operations.
Oleksandr joined our company in 2016. He recalls starting with standard MTZ tractors, but today he operates new modern equipment purchased from the German manufacturer CLAAS last year.
“Last year was very productive and successful. We started with early harvests at the southern branches and then returned to our cluster. We received new agricultural machinery. We have modern combine harvesters, tractors, and wide-cut seed drills. What can I say? It is a real pleasure to work now! When you have all the tools and conditions, the work brings joy! Currently, we are fertilizing the soil, but I am already looking forward to the warm weather when we can finally start field work!” Oleksandr shares his impressions of last season’s work.
The first article in this year’s “NIBULON’s Pride” series was dedicated to Natalia Voynotynska, the first female driver at NIBULON, who is changing not only our company but also the attitude toward the driving profession.
