Activity of the Tambov Agricultural Society in the field of rationalization of agricultural production (1902–1914)

The history of creation and activity of the Tambov Agricultural Society in 1902–1914 are analyzed. The reasons for the establishment of the organization, the administrative structure and the financial situation of the Society are described, the role of individual figures in its work at different stages of its development is demonstrated. The relevance of the study is determined by the necessity of filling the historiographical gap in the study of agricultural cooperation in the prerevolutionary period. The novelty of the work is determined by the complex nature of the Society activities in the sphere of Tambov crop cultivation and animal husbandry. It is demonstrated that the development of the system of social cooperation of Tambov landlords was caused by the desire to rationalize individual estates. The efforts of members of the Tambov Agricultural Society concerning the organization of agricultural exhibitions in 1904 and 1912 are described, the results of exhibition activities are summarized and the importance of creating a permanent exhibition infrastructure for the work of a public organization is evaluated. The reasons for publishing its own agricultural journal (Agricultural Life) are indicated, the number of copies of the publication and its accessibility for Tambov owners are assessed. A description is given of the efforts of the members of the Society to create the Tambov stud book, analyzes the circumstances of its creation and the conditions for the inclusion of livestock in the register are analyzed, the role of the stud book in the development of Tambov animal husbandry in the early twentieth century is indicated. The high importance of cooperative associations for the development of agricultural production, the introduction of advanced principles of agronomy in the local practice of agricultural production is shown. It is demonstrated that, based on the best practices of agricultural activity, Tambov social activists have proposed a number of initiatives that contribute to the revival of certain branches of agriculture of the region.

Tambov Agricultural Society, Tambov Governorate, landlords, rationalization, public associations