Agro Complex

Well...it was back to work today. We began the morning having group discussion about our projects with our group leaders. Following our meetings, we listened to a lecture on the Russian economy.

We ate a quick lunch then boarded a bus to visit a local agricultural business. Krasnodar has many crops that are similar to Kansas. Boys and girls - Can you guess what one or two of these crops are??? (Hint: One of them is our state flower!!!) Your right!! There are sunflowers, wheat, corn, soybeans, and more harvested around Krasnodar. I've actually thought I was in Kansas a few times when I have seen the crops beside the road. :)

When we arrived at the complex, we were taken through a sugar factory. This company not only harvests crops, they also raise cows, pigs, and makes sugar and flour. We saw the entire process that sugar cane or sugar beets go through to become the sugar that you eat on your cereal. It was really cool to see the big containers filled with sugar syrup then sugar crystals. The picture to the left is of a worker checking the sugar crystals to see that they are forming correctly. Finally we were taken to a service center. At this center, machines that are used to harvest the crops are fixed. The first machine I saw was a John Deere tractor! WOW!!! Am I in Kansas??? ;) Russian farmers use the same machines as farmers in Kansas. The next time you are riding in the car with your parents, look for the different machines out in the fields!