OREANDA-NEWS. December 12, 2014. Cherkizovo Group (LSE:CHE; MOEX:GCHE), the largest meat and fodder manufacturer in Russia, has finalized the results of the 2014 harvest campaign.

More than 242,000 tonnes of grain were harvested (gross harvest), or nearly 40% more than the result in 2013, which was about 175,000 tonnes (gross harvest). The standard weight of the grain harvest was 229,000 tonnes. About 60,000 ha were worked in Voronezh, Lipetsk, and Orel Regions during the agricultural campaign.

Along with an increase in the gross crop harvest, Cherkizovo Group also showed significant improvement in yields. For example, the gross yield of winter wheat increased by 23% from 51 centners/ha in 2013 to 62 centners/ha in 2014. This was facilitated by well-timed investments in a high-tech equipment fleet, strict adherence to the method of sowing winter wheat and the widespread use of new agronomic practices for growing crops.

The Group's experts also noted a record yield of grains and legumes in individual regions in 2014. Winter wheat yields in Voronezh Region reached a record high of 66 centners/ha versus the planned value of 50 centners/ha; pea yields in Orel Region were 46 centners/ha versus the planned value of 30 centners/ha.