TRACTOR PERFORMANCE ON THE KOLKHOZ IMENI CHAPAEV

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000200070007-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 14, 2013
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: November 15, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/05/14 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000200070007-4
SECRET/SECURITY INFOR
.'LNITRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
INFORMATION REFORT
USSR
Tractor Performance on the
Kolkhoz imeni Chapaev
THIS DOCUMINT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFICTING TN, NATIONAL OlfSNSI
OF THE UNITED ITATES, WITNIN Yki MIANINS OP TITLI IA, BICTUONS 793
AND TEC. OP TNI U.N. CODE, Al AMENDID, ITS TRANSMISSION OR RIVE.
LOTION OF ITS CONTENT. TO OR IICIIPT NY AN UNACTNORIZSD SISSON IS
rnomiiiTge SY LAW, TNE 116PRO000TION OP 14111 FORM IS PRONIIITSD.
f5 Nov 1952
NO. OF PAGES 2
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
50X1
50X1
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION 50)(1
? Our kolkhoz used the old KhTZ (Kharkov Tractor Plant) wheel-type tractor dating
from 1934-35.
2. These tractors were utilized a maximum of approximately 1,000 hours per yew'.
When the work was heavy the tractors were used around the clock in two shiftd ith
break of one and one-half to two hours between shifts for maintenance and re-
fueling, There was no definite time for the shifts as this depended on the work
and the season.
4. All norms for work fulfillment by tractors were translated into terms of 'soft
plowing" for statistical convenience. This meant that a given number of ctares
of harrowing would be decreased by an established percentage to arrive at a
standard work unit, called "soft plowing." In terms of "soft plowing" each tractor
plowed 800 - 1,000 hectares a year. A tractor brigade consisting of four tractors
would plow more than 3,000 hectares a year. In the fall of the year, when the
amount of work was decreasing, a tractor brigade would cut down to three, two and
one tractors and do repairs on those that were inactive.
5. The following were approximate work norms per tractor per day:
Deep plowing (24-30cm) - 1.5 hectares
Autumn plowing (20-22cm) - 3.5 hectares
Shallow plowing of stubble (6-8cm) - 12 hectares
Cultivation (6-8cm) - 15 hectares
Sowing winter crops with a multi-seeder unit - 24 hectares
Harvesting with a combine - 10 hectares
Harvesting with a reaper-binder ("zhatka-samoskidka") - 12 hectares
Threshing, using tractor power - 15 tons
Harrowing for moisture control - 30 hectares
Sugar beet planting by a two-seeder unit - 12 hectares
Sugar beet planting by a three-seeder unit - 16 hectares
CLASSIFICATION
SECRET/SECURITY INFORMATION
DISTRIBUTION
EV
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/05/14 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000200070007-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/05/14 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000200070007-4
,91T...f/SEOUPITY ITTORMATICT 50X1
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6. During a work season (from April to November) a tractor used up to ten thousand kilograms
of kerosene. A tractor brigade used up 400-500 kilograms in each 24-hour period. There
were norus for kerosene consumption and any additional kerosene was paid for by the tractorist
out of his own pocket. He raid the dame Government price as the "Machine Tractor StatiOn" (MTS)
- one ruble per kilogram. Normally a tractor would consume 401cilograms for each three hectares
of "soft plowing." However, actual.consumption'was greater since the tractors were worn out.
To get around this, tractorista plowed shallower than the nerme established by agronomists, but
even by cutting corners in this fashion they occasionally had to4ay for over-norm kerosene
consumption. There were instances of work stoppage when the kerosene supply ran out.
7. Before World War II, MTS tractors had been used for road maintenance, but afte the War, this
was no longer possible since tractors spent so much time in the repair shop. Major vvaLl
maintenance was done by graders temporarily assigned to the MTS by the Regional Highway De-
partment ("Raionniy Dorozhniy Otdyel"). Labor was provided by the kolkhoz. 50X1
8. There was no effective factory guarantee for farm machinery. The following is a concrete
example: kolkhoz a sprayer from the Kirovograd AgrioUltural Madhinery
Plant for 6,800 rubles. This sprayer was ordered arbitrarily for the kolkhoz by the Regional
Agricultural Department and paid for by the kolkhoz through a transfer of funds et the bank.
The sprayer did not work and the kolkhoz was simply out the money. A complaint could have been
lodged against the factory but this would have had no effect.
9. Repair work on tractors was done at the MTS repair shop under the supervision of the MT'S
senior mechanic, the actual labor often being performed by the tractorists themselves. The
senior mechanic made out a statement ("Akt") for each'jOb of repair work done, showing the
date, type of work and identifying the machine repaired. A repair job often lasted but a
few days until a fresh breakdown took place. This was due to the lack of spare parts.
Crude makeshift parts would be substituted and naturally they did not last long.
10. Bearings and other parts far farm machinery were obtained from the Office of Tractor Supply
("Kontora Traktosnab") loca.ted in Kirovograd, which suppled. the Whole oblast. The MTS
made up a list of necessary parts and submitted an order ("zayavka") to the director of the
Office of Tractor Bupply. The latter distributed what parts he had available to the MTS
in his territory. Naturally mupply did not meet demand. Items hardest to obtain were
bearings, bulbs and spark-plugs; pistons and piston rods were easier to obtain. Payment was
made through a transfer of funds at the bank. Old bearings could be sent to the factory to
be renovated, but thin WRI1 prohibitively expensive. Old bearings were examined camfully
and those still usable were retained. The MIS senior mechanic regularly travelled around
neighboring towns to obtain parts wherever he could find them. Kolkhoz members themselves
often resorted to buying parts at great cost on the black market to keep tractors operating.
U. In general, it can_be mtated that a kolkhoz would be willing to pay an exorbitant price for
a tractor on the black market; I heard ,of such a tractor priced at 18 thousand rUhlem; this
was in order to operate the tractor independently of the MTS. Such a tractor would quickly
pay for itself in reduced payments in kind to the MTS. However, this would be poasible only
in the case of kolkhoace which were quite remote from administrative control or kOlhhoves
which had extenmive forest property. In the latter case, the tractor could be hidden in the
forest an4 ulted for illegal timber cutting and for cultivating small plots hidden Ix the
woodm.
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SECRET/SECURITY INFORMATION
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/05/14 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000200070007-4