in 1999 the gross grain yield was about 1452,9 thousand tons, sugar beets – 1002,900 tons, sunflower seeds – 166,200 tons, potatoes – 279,900 tons. the oblast also produced 120,500 tons of meat, 645,900 tons of milk and 423,200,00 eggs. at the beginning of 1999 there were 1,311 registered farms in the region.