The development of soil salinization processes in the steppe zone is a serious threat to food security in the country. This phenomenon has become one of the main environmental and socio-economic problems worldwide, and it is expected to worsen due to predicted climate changes. The territory of the Orenburg region is almost entirely located in the zone of fertile chernozems. The paper studies the effect of simulated soil salinization on the agronomic properties and biological activity of southern chernozems in the Orenburg region. The field experiment (2019–2022) was conducted on spring durum wheat variety “Orenburgskaya 10” during the periods of active vegetation of plants. Salt solutions were prepared by mixing salt with deionized water at NaCl (sodium chloride) concentrations of 1.1 and 11.7 g/l. The enzymatic activity indices of the chernozems demonstrated different sensitivity to the modeled salt stress and form the following series in terms of resistance to the introduction of toxic salt: urease> catalase> protease> polyphenol oxidase> peroxidase. During the course of the study, a decrease in organic matter and ammonium form of nitrogen in the soil was observed. Increasing the concentration of sodium chloride solution to 1,1 and 11,7 g/l promoted the development of peptization processes and a decrease in the aggregate composition of steppe chernozems. The presented results of the effect of salinization on the agronomic and biological properties of soils made it possible to assess the resistance of steppe chernozems to this type of degradation. 

The results of revealing the peculiarities of sweet cherry fruit quality formation of different varieties depending on the weather conditions of the growing year in the southern region of Russia are presented. The study was conducted in the Prikubanskaya horticultural zone of the Krasnodar Territory, characterized by hot and dry summer, abnormally high air temperatures during the period of fruit bud differentiation, mild and low-snow winter with sharp changes in positive and subzero temperatures. The objects of the study were 11 sweet cherry varieties of domestic and foreign selection: Alaya, Dar izobiliya, Sashenka, Chernye glaza, Kavkazskaya, Aelita, Yantarnaya, Krupnoprodnaya, Prestizhnaya, Sputnik, Francis. The purpose of the study was to determine the peculiarities of generation and dynamics of weight, biochemical indices of fruits depending on the genotype of the variety and conditions of the year. The obtained data confirm that a number of factors have a significant effect on the fruit size and weight, and the accumulation of biochemical substances is determined by the characteristics of the variety and differs from year to year within the limits determined by the genotype. Aclose correlation between weight, fruit size and biochemical composition with meteorological indicators: precipitation, average annual and average air temperatures during the period of fruit formation was found. It was found that fruit weight was more influenced (R2 = 0.74) by the average annual air temperature: the higher it was, the larger the fruit size, and vice versa. Significant correlation dependence (R2 = 0.95) was revealed between the amount of precipitation in May and vitamin C accumulation in fruits, i.e. the greater the amount of precipitation, the lower the vitamin C content. A close relationship (R2 = 0.91) was found between the content of anthocyanins and the average monthly air temperature in May, which indicates that the higher the temperature, the less these substances accumulate in fruits. According to the results of the study, several varieties with high fruit quality (weight over 9.0 g, tasting score 4.5–4.7 points) and the best content of various biochemical substances were selected for the creation of new varieties with high flavor and fruit quality. These varieties are Alaya, Kavkazskaya, Krupnoplodnaya, Prestizhnaya and Chernye glaza. 

Barley is a multi-use crop whose grain can be used for a variety of purposes. Barley yields vary greatly across cultivation zones, so ecological variety trials are conducted to identify the response of the varieties to different soil and climatic conditions. New, more modern and high-yielding variety provides yield growth, crop resistance to stress factors, contributes to more efficient use of natural and anthropogenic resources. Creation and wide distribution of new adaptive varieties in production is a promising and environmentally friendly way of agricultural development. The purpose of the research is to identify the most ecologically plastic and adaptive varieties and lines of winter barley in the south of Rostov region in the course of a competitive variety trial. Studies to assess plasticity and adaptability were conducted in 2021–2023 on the territory of the Rostov region. 22 samples, varieties and promising lines of winter barley of the Agricultural Research Center "Donskoy" selection, were studied. Adaptability was assessed by the following parameters: coefficient of environmental variation, stress tolerance, homeostaticity, variety level and stability, stability factor and breeding value. Varieties characterized by high ecological plasticity and stability have been identified. The varieties Step and Marusya have been considered stable and are recommended to be used in the breeding process as sources of high stress tolerance, genotype value, and low variability of yield. Stable yield of these varieties is ensured due to the complex of its different components. Parallelum 2048 and Parallelum 2051 lines have shown themselves as plastic, subject to yield changes under the influence of external environment. In this regard, it is recommended to use intensive cultivation technology to maximize the yield of these lines 

The efficiency of application of potato tuber dressing agents of the Gala variety in the Kirov region was studied. One of the reasons of potato yield reduction is diseases, pests and weeds. At that, only diseases can take away about 20% of the yield. Among the most harmful potato diseases are late blight, rhizoctoniose, early blight, anthracnose, fusarium, phoma disease, potato scab and other diseases. The experiments were conducted during 2021– 2023. The object of research were potato diseases: anthracnose, rhizoctoniose, potato scab on potato and mordant fungicides (Emesto Silver, SC; Celest Top, SC; Fludimax, SC). Disease incidence was recorded according to the generally accepted methodology. At the beginning of vegetation, the biological efficiency of the application of preparations was from medium to high and amounted to 34.5–96.3%. The highest efficacy was observed for the combined twoand three-component formulations of Emesto Silver and Celest Top (88 and 96%, respectively). Two preparations with the lowest lesions by the end of the growing season for potato scab – Emesto Silver and Celest Top (13 and 19%) – stood out. The highest yield increase was obtained with two-component preparation Emesto Silver (8.3 t/ha) and three-component preparation Celest Top (9.8 c/ha). It is recommended to use multicomponent preparations with high biological efficiency, such as Celest Top, which provided maximum yield increase in the studies, to obtain high and stable potato yields and maximum protection against diseases (anthracnose, potato scab). 

Animal husbandry is a priority industry of the agro-industrial complex of the Novosibirsk region, the main directions of which are meat and dairy cattle breeding, sheep breeding, pig breeding and poultry farming. The study analyzes the state of the livestock industry. Priority directions of livestock breeding development are connected with deepening of zonal specialization, introduction of modern innovative technologies on the basis of maximum use of genetic potential of animals through improvement of selection and breeding work, strengthening of fodder and material and technical base, full and balanced feeding, renovation, reconstruction and modernization of livestock buildings. The main directions of improvement of safety guarantees of raw material zones are presented at the expense of a complex of measures to prevent the entry of poor-quality and dangerous products into food markets, as well as to create veterinary safe raw material zones. The main provisions analyzed in the study: distribution of agricultural commodity producers by specializations of the livestock industry; the number of agricultural organizations of various forms of ownership engaged in beef cattle breeding; the number of livestock of farm animals and poultry in agricultural enterprises (farms) of the region by years. Information is given about the conducted anti-epizootic measures for 2023 and the first half of 2024. In order to ensure sustainable veterinary well-being of animal husbandry it is necessary to develop and introduce into veterinary practice modern methods of diagnostics, treatment and prophylaxis in the field of infectious and non-communicable diseases of animals; to solve the problem of mass gastrointestinal diseases of young animals, as well as the prevention of infertility of the breeding stock of farm animals; in the field of veterinary sanitation, hygiene and ecology to develop a system and technologies of veterinary-sanitary and zootechnical service of animal husbandry in farms of all forms of ownership taking into account regional peculiarities; to improve the methods of assessment of veterinary-sanitary condition of fodder and food of animal origin and products imported from other regions. 

The purpose of the research is to study the milk productivity of cattle and milk quality depending on the grass of pasture lands in the summer period of rearing. The study was conducted on the pastures of different altitudinal zonality within the territory of the Central Pre-Caucasian region. The object of study was the cows of the Brown Swiss breed. Two groups of full-aged cows with 20 cows in each group were formed: the 1st experimental group – pasture location altitude 1100 m above sea level, the 2nd experimental group – altitude 2400 m above sea level. In both groups, the highest daily milk yields were recorded in the middle of the grazing period, when animals grazed on more nutritious grasses. The cows of the 2nd group in contrast to the representatives of the 1st group in the analyzed period were distinguished by the highest milk yield – 19.4 and 17.7 kg of milk, respectively (p > 0.95). Intergroup differences by the end of the study were 2.2 kg in favor of the individuals maintained at 2400 m above sea level (p > 0.99). By the middle of the grazing period, the advantage of cows from the higher altitude zone in milk fat and protein concentration was 0.07 (p > 0.95) and 0.05% (p > 0.95), respectively, which is probably due to the more nutritious composition of grasses on the pastures located in the alpine and subalpine belt. Qualitative indicators of milk of the cows of both groups changed in accordance with the period of keeping on pasture – by the middle increased and gradually decreased by the end of the study, which is due to a decrease in the nutritional content of vegetation eaten by the animals. The use of free range-mountain system of keeping dairy cattle in the pasture period in the conditions of the Central Pre-Caucasian region provides an increase in productivity, improvement of qualitative characteristics of dairy raw materials and its compliance with the requirements of environmental safety. Mountainous areas with natural forage lands are a significant resource for increasing the efficiency of cattle breeding, ensuring the production of high-quality products with the lowest labor and material costs. 

The results of research on the development of an effective method of species identification of Clostridium sporogenes, Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium sordellii based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR), as well as the possibility of its practical use for the diagnosis of clostridiosis in cattle are presented. A total of 90 samples of biological material collected from diseased animals in the farms of the Novosibirsk region in 2023 were studied by bacteriological and biochemical methods. PCR was performed with real-time detection. The obtained results were confirmed by sequencing of PCR fragments of 16S rRNA gene. As a result of bacteriological studies, culture-morphological and biochemical properties, 44 isolates of clostridia belonging to nine species were identified. Three primer and probe pairs were selected for the amplification of the gene fragments gerKA C. sporogenes, plc C. perfringens, and NanS C. sordellii. As a result of experimental studies, the working concentrations of primers and probes, providing the necessary sensitivity of the method, were determined and the conditions of PCR were optimized. Specificity of the selected oligonucleotides was tested using the strains of other species clostridia and bacteria of other species. The sensitivity of PCR was at least 102 CFU/ml for pure bacterial cultures and at least 105 CFU/ml for suspensions from biomaterial samples. Compared to direct examination of the biomaterial samples in mixed cultures of bacteria isolated from the same samples on nutrient media, the number of positive results was higher (53 and 37%, respectively). The developed method allows for shorter and more effective diagnostics of bovine clostridiosis. Sensitivity of the developed method is higher when examining the bacterial cultures isolated on nutrient media than when directly examining biomaterial samples. Subsequent more detailed study of molecular genetic characterization of the identified clostridium isolates for the presence of toxin genes will help to determine their potential toxigenicity and role in disease development. 

The application of innovative technology in the control of milk productivity of cows on the example of the Kholmogor breed is considered. The purpose of the research is to evaluate the quality of milk by mass fraction of fat and protein at application of the improved technology of control milking automation of the Kholmogor cows. The used methods of milk sampling and equipment for its analysis are certified according to ICAR (International Committee for Animal Recording) international standards. Average milk samples taken disproportionately from all milking portions during the day (control milking) were found to affect the mass fraction of fat and protein by overestimating or underestimating the true results. Analysis of the samples from each milking session (three samples – at threefold milking, two – at twofold milking) was carried out using the electronic database of quantitative and qualitative indicators of milk, which is being created for the transition to the international ICAR standards of the Arkhangelsk region. The studies have shown that improved sampling technology and innovations in determining indicator values increase the accuracy, reliability of data and prediction of cow milk productivity. The availability to the customer of an electronic database of results makes the work operational. The use of innovative technologies has great potential to improve productivity, increase resource efficiency and improve milk quality, thereby ensuring food security and contributing to agricultural sustainability. 

Traditional methods of sheep selection using different types of genetic markers make it possible to more accurately identify the genotypes of animals that have a high potential for the development of phenotypic traits. Their implementation will increase the progress of transformation of sheep herds and breeds and will allow the desired results to be achieved more quickly. The literature describes quite well the polymorphism of the GDF9/G1, CAST, KRT1.2, KAP1.3 genes in different breeds of sheep, but there is extremely insufficient information on their relationship with economically valuable traits and wool quality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations of the genotypes with the live weight of sheep, wool clip, and the quality of wool fibers. The object of the study is fine-wool sheep of the Khangil type of the Zabaikalskaya breed and half-coarse-wooled sheep of the Zugalai type of the Aginskaya breed of the Transbaikal region. PCR-RFLP analysis was carried out according to the described and tested methods. The quality of wool was determined using an OFDA 2000 optical analyzer. It was found that in the rams of the Zabaikalskaya breed with the homozygous CASTMM genotype, the live weight was 20.2 kg higher compared with heterozygotes of this gene. Rams of this breed with the KRT1.2MM genotype have a higher wool clip compared to KRT1.2MN by 1.2 kg. Rams of the Aginskaya breed with the CASTMN and KAP1.3YY genotypes had a longer spine by 2.7 cm and 1.8 cm than the animals with the CASTMM and KAP1.3XY genotypes, respectively. In ewes of this breed, on the contrary, animals with the CASTMM genotype had a longer spine by 2.7 cm, compared to the CASTMN genotype. Zabaikalskaya breed ewes with homozygous genotypes CASTMM and KRT1.2MM are distinguished by a greater fiber inclination angle (crimp) of 9.9 and 12.50 on 1 mm compared to heterozygous genotypes of these genes. Research to identify the associative relationship between genotypes and phenotypic traits of sheep should be continued by increasing the sample size. 

Modern information systems process huge amounts of data, which have a complex structure and require high performance. To work effectively with such data, special software tools called database management systems (DBMS) are used. DBMS are a set of programs and language tools necessary for creating, processing and maintaining databases. Effective data management in a database plays a key role in ensuring its reliability and performance. Microsoft Access is a fully functional relational database system designed to run on the Windows operating system. Access allows you to create complex databases, define the structure of tables and establish relationships between them. It has a powerful system of inqueries, reports and forms of varying complexity. The purpose of the study is to develop a database of machines and implements for basic tillage, reflecting the parameters and characteristics of objects, agrotechnical and energy performance indicators for validating the digital twin of the tillage unit. The components of an augmented database are the tables, forms, reports, queries, macros and modules combined in a single MS Access file. The results of the conducted digital experiment are validated through field tests. The database is cumulative and is designed to store the information entered by the user. Using MS Access, an automated reference and information database of machines and aggregates for basic tillage has been created. The database has a structure that allows you to quickly search, add and edit data. The developed database of energy indicators and parameters of machines and implements for basic tillage allows you to store a large amount of information that is necessary for work in the agricultural sector. 

Analysis of the agricultural research directions related to the prevailing modern paradigm and the fourth agricultural revolution is presented. The next stage in the development of digitalization of agriculture is smart farming, which involves the use of various technological innovations, including machine learning, computer vision, remote sensing, geo-information modeling, and the Internet of Things. The peculiarities of using digital technologies and methods of artificial intelligence on farming systems blocks are considered, which are expedient to apply in planning scientific research and analyzing the obtained results. Formation of crop rotations is carried out by modeling their productivity using various artificial intelligence approaches based on time series of crop yields and remote sensing data. Selection of the main tillage system is possible with the help of predictive models of cultivated crop yields and other basic parameters of its efficiency with the help of machine learning. The development of recommendations on timing, doses and methods of fertilizer application is carried out with the help of artificial intelligence-based models. Synchronization of fertilizer application with soil properties, weather conditions and cultivated crops is regulated through various digital management approaches. Protection of crops from pests is realized in the system of forecasting their development on the basis of weather data, control actions and other types of data. Predictive models of crop yields in agricultural research should solve the problems of crop simulation and control actions under office-compiled conditions. Based on the results of virtual models, programs and field study plans are developed to validate these models. Selection and support of agro-technologies are implemented in the system of registration and analysis of the interaction of a wide range of conditions and factors by means of proximal and remote sensing (monitoring) with subsequent modeling of the processes and objects for the creation of a decision support system in the form of DFMS (digital farming management system). In order to scale and adapt the innovations, it is advisable to utilize the capabilities of citizen science and Web-based networking platforms. 

Research works were conducted in the Mountain-Shirvan and Shirvan-Salyan economic districts used as winter and summer pastures for the development of cattle breeding in Azerbaijan in 2012– 2022 for taxonomic study of helminth fauna of small ruminants and identification of the invasive species. The helminth fauna of small ruminants was investigated, and the intensity and extensiveness of infestation were determined. 32 species of nematodes, four species of trematodes and eight species of cestodes were detected in sheep in the Mountain-Shirvan economic region, 23 species of nematodes, four species of trematodes and six species of cestodes were detected in goats. 35 species of nematodes, four species of trematodes and five species of cestodes were found in sheep in the Shirvan-Salyan economic region, 19 species of nematodes, two species of trematodes and five species of cestodes were found in goats. Nematodes belonging to 15 genera were found in sheep in both economic regions – Chabertia, Bunostomum, Oesophagostomum, Trichostrongylus, Ostertagia, Marshallagia, Cooperia, Haemonchus, Nematodirus, Trichocephalus, Protostrongylus, Dictyocaulus, Muellerius, Cystocaulus, Gongylonema. In goats, no species belonging to the genera Muellerius and Gongylonema were found, and nematodes belonging to 13 genera were found. In the Mountain-Shirvan economic region, the sheep trematode fauna included four species belonging to three genera: Fasciola hepatica, F. gigantica, Paramphistomum cervi, Dicrocoelium lanceatum. In the economic region of Shirvan-Salyan, 4 species of trematodes were found in sheep and 2 species in goats. The fauna of cestodes in small ruminants differed in economic regions. In the Mountain-Shirvan region, 8 species were identified in sheep (Moniezia expansa, M. benedeni, M. autumnalia, Avitellina centripunctata, Thysaniezia giardi, Cysticercus ovis, Echinococcus granulosus, Coenurus cerebralis), and in goats – 6 species (Moniezia expansa, M. benedeni, M. autumnalia, Avitellina centripunctata, Th. giardi, E. granulosus). In the economic region of Shirvan-Salyan, 5 species were found in sheep and goats (Moniezia expansa, M. benedeni, Avitellina centripunctata, Thysaniezia giardi, Echinococcus granulosus). The helminth fauna of sheep in the Mountain-Shirvan economic region amounted to 44 species, and that of goats – 33 species. In the Shirvan-Salyan economic region, 44 species of helminths were found in sheep, and 26 species in goats. Analysis of the results of 10-year studies shows that for the last 5 years the helminth fauna of small ruminants in this area has become more diverse, the intensity and extensiveness of infestation have increased, and associative infestation with helminths belonging to different classes is observed.