From history to the present

Plant breeding station Velhartice

Founded in 1957, the activity of potato breeding was moved from the plant breeding station Borek u Nepomuku in 1958-1960. Plant breeding station Borek u Nepomuku was established in 1952 by Mr. Václav Zimmermann, an experienced potato breeder. The goal of this station was potato breeding for the area of Pilsen region. Despite difficult conditions, Mr. Zimmermann created very good basis of potato breeding in western Bohemia in very short period of time. Within few years he realized the location of the breeding station was improper regarding the production of healthy seeds. For this reason he organized experiments with potatoes in the foothills of the Šumava Mountains in an effort to find more suitable area for the location of the plant breeding station. According to the climatic and operation conditions the area around Velhartice was detected as the most suitable.

Translocation of the plant breeding station

Public authorities and Breeding and Seed Corporation decided to move the plant breeding station to Velhartice. The area around Velhartice was really specific regarding the agriculture. High number of small land owners (craftsmen) was farming here. These craftsmen farmed about 2, 1 hectares of land which they gained by subdivision of land belonging to the Velhartice castle. In 1958 collectivization took place here and the land was taken over by the plant breeding station. At the beginning, the station farmed 250 hectares of agricultural land, after 1959 it farmed 350 hectares. In 1962 the area was extended up to 460 hectares including the neighbouring farm in Tajanov.

New history

Since its establishment the plant breeding station had been owned by Breeding and Seed Corporation Lužany until the end of year 1976. Thanks to the good management of the plant breeding station and Breeding and Seed Corporation a number of functional buildings were constructed. During this process, former stables and barns were adapted into potato stores and new buildings, for example hothouses, new potato store, administration building, lab, etc. were constructed. Since 1977 the plant breeding station Velhartice has been delimited (as well as other plant breeding stations in the Czech Republic) into newly established Research and Breeding Institute of Potatoes in Havlíčkův Brod.

Privatization of the plant breeding station

After 1989 the Research and Breeding Institute of Potatoes was divided into two parts - Research Institute of Potatoes and Breeding Institute of Potatoes in Havlíčkův Brod. Most of the plant breeding stations belonging to the Breeding Institute of Potatoes were privatized into corporations in 1992 and later they were inserted into the second part of coupon privatization. This way Vesa Velhartice Inc. was founded as well. The capital of Vesa Velhartice Inc. is 26.120.000 CZK. The corporation farms approximately 390 hectares of agricultural land rented from private owners and the Czech government. At the present time, 36 people are employed by the corporation in the field of potato breeding, livestock production, refectory, work rooms and sales. Annually, the corporation invests significant sums into the development of potato breeding, equipment for agricultural production and purchase of the farmland. Despite worse soil and climate conditions Vesa Velhartice belongs among the leading agricultural companies in Klatovy district.
The first head of the plant breeding station in Velhartice was Mr. Jaroslav Herma (1957-58), his successor, Ing. Rudolf Findejs, Csc., was managing the breeding station from 1959 to 1984 and he had the merit of the development and success of the station. From 1985 it was Ing. Petr Ruda who held the office of the head of breeding station and later on he became a director of Vesa Velhartice Inc. He was working at this position until 1994. Since 1995 Ing. Viktor Kopačka has been holding the office of the director.

Potato breeding and seed production

Since the establishment of the breeding station a number of potato breeders have been working here. These breeders significantly contributed to the development of this activity at the station. The plant breeding station would not gain the success without their conscientious and creative work. Thirty one original Czech potato varieties have been bred at the plant breeding station since its establishment (11 varieties were bred until year 2000). The quality of these varieties is confirmed by the interest of the Czech and foreign growers. The production of new varieties is followed by quality maintenance breeding. Today, only absolutely healthy plants cultivated in the technical isolate (no pests can reach the plants) are used as a basis of the maintenance breeding. Subsequently, the tubers gained this way are multiplied in isolated area (isolated far from other seeds) and sequentially entered into reproduction cycle as super elite (SE). Regarding the occurrence of virus diseases, the area of Velhartice belongs among the healthiest areas in the Czech Republic. Seedlings produced here are multiplied by contract partners. The increasing interest in growing the varieties produced by VESA in the Czech Republic and abroad causes the enlarging of multiplying area of these varieties. Foreign trade is very important for VESA and the management of the company intent to develop it successfully in the future. Comparing to other plant breeding stations in the Czech Republic VESA is the biggest exporter to the foreign countries. The dimension of exported seedlings from 2008 harvest increased more than four times comparing to the year 2006.

VESA Česká Bělá

Potato breeding

The plant breeding activity at the station was tending to maintenance breeding of potatoes from its beginning (in 1947), however other crops were bred here as well. Regarding the potato breeding, at first the maintenance breeding and new breeding of Keřkov varieties and potato crosses was planted out here.
Finally, the new breeding was transferred back to Keřkov and only maintenance breeding was performed in Česká Bělá. Secondly, the experiment with the potato crosses of Keřkov varieties was planted out here from 1951 to 1961 and later on, from 1962 to 1992 the inter-station tests (testing of perspective crosses from all potato breeding stations in Czechoslovakia) took place here.
More than 60 varieties have been bred within the maintenance breeding program in Česká Bělá until now. For this purpose the traditional clone breeding including the incorporation of ELISA test to check the health condition has been used here. The area of land used for maintenance breeding in Česká Bělá was about 35 hectares at the beginning of 1950s, 28-42 hectares in 1970s (including the tests of inter-station crosses) and it spread to 71.4 hectares in 2000.

Other crops

Except from potatoes some other crops were bred at the breeding station. Since 1950, the new breeding of winter rye has taken place here and temporarily Yellow oats was new bred here as well. In 1955 maintenance breeding of Fiber flax was moved from Keřkov station to Česká Bělá station where the new breeding of Fiber flax was initiated. In 1961 the breeding of caraway (Carum carvi) was moved here, as well. Breeding station Česká Bělá became an important breeder of flax and caraway.
Among other crops that were bred in Čeká Bělá it is possible to mention maintenance breeding of tetraploid rye variety Beskyd (1990-1998) and new breeding of White poppy (since 1987) and Blue poppy (since 1993). In 1998 the breeding of these crops was finished.

Equipment of the station

At first, the plant breeding station Česká Bělá (its offices, premises and stores) was located in the facility of PhMr. J. Sajfert. Later on, in 1961-1962 new facility was built in Česká Bělá. This brand new facility ensured the needs of potato breeding, breeding of other crops cultivated here and the needs of livestock production, as well. New building, which included offices, breeder's premises, premises for potato analysis, potato store with capacity of 800 tons, etc., was constructed. The new cow-shed for 100 dairy cows with farrowing house and calf nursery was built as well.
At first, the potato store was divided into two parts: cubicle for storing of bigger amounts of seeds and bin part for storing of basic breeding material. Subsequently, the cubicle part of the potato store was rebuilt for the storing in box pallets. In 1992-1994 the reconstruction and modernization of the potato store was done. The storing capacity of the store house was increased to 1200 tons and the potato store was equipped by modern devices and automatization. The line for final processing of potatoes was built here. Except from the maximal possible care for considerate manipulation with tubers, the care for working environment of employees is also at the high end (e.g. the air-conditioned and sound damping cabin above the sorting table). Sorted potatoes are stored in box pallets, bulk bags, or bags of the capacity from 5 kg to 50 kg. There is also the possibility of tuber treatment. The ventilation of the potato store is operated by computer.

Present time

In spring 2004 the plant breeding station was bought by VESA Velhartice a.s. from the company Sativa Keřkov a.s. At that time the station Česká Bělá was in very poor condition. Activities like breeding of other crops, livestock production including breeding herd of cattle and service work rooms were abandoned. Two thirds of the land, used in the past, was missing and no investments into technical equipment had been done for many years. Only the potato store was almost unaffected. The breeding station initiated its activities with minimal number of employees and insufficient machine equipment (in 1977 eighty seven employees worked at the station, however in 2004 only 4 employees + seasonal workers farming 124 hectares of rented land). By the purchase of the station in Česká Bělá VESA Velhartice gained another center for maintenance breeding and testing of new potato crosses. VESA Velhartice with its quality varieties gets right into to the center of potato breeding and production.
The activities of the station Česká Bělá were extending in 2005 -2009. Nowadays, the station is an independent legal subject with the official name Vesa Česká Bělá a.s. and it is a subsidiary of Vesa Velhartice. The company farms 1100 hectares of agricultural land consisting of almost 1000 hectares of arable land. Potatoes are grown on the area of 65 - 85 hectares. The company specializes in growing of other crops as well, for example cereals, rape and corn. The livestock production also belongs among significant activities of the company because it operates high-density cow-shed with 320 dairy cows and is an important producer of beef meat as well.