in 1999, the gross grain yield was about 446,000 tons, sugar beets – 664,000 tons, sunflower seeds – 27,700 tons, potatoes – 343,600 tons. the region also produced 108,700 tons of meat, 517,800 tons of milk and 295,300,000 eggs. at the beginning of 1999, there were 781 registered farms in the oblast.