Abstract. One of the most important stages of the technological process of extraction of target components from the seeds of the agricultural oil crops by the extraction method is extraction which lasts for the longest time, and therefore it actually determines, on the whole, the speed and economic efficiency of the entire process. The aim of the work was to study the extraction kinetics canola (rapeseed) (oilcake and whole grain) to determine the optimal technological parameters (kind of the extragent, hydromodule, value of the function) of the process carried out in a microwave field. As a result of the investigations of the concentration of the obtained oil, it was found that, in contrast to alcohol, the solvent hexane ensures a higher intensity of the process, a greater diffusion and solubility coefficient. However, the experimental research of the intensity of action of the solvents under the impact of the microwave field, and without it (at the temperature conditions of boiling solvents), showed that intensified action of ethyl alcohol (ethanol) during the extraction in a microwave field is 1.5 times more intensive than the action of hexane. The conducted investigations indicate that, in case oil is extracted from canola (rapeseed) under microwave field conditions, preference should be given to a polar, nontoxic and more safe (in contrast to hexane) solvent -ethyl alcohol (ethanol).

The article describes the analysis of results from field tests on ploughing units based on a modular draft device (MDD). This device is named MDD-100 and consists of an energy module and a technological module. The energy module is a universal tractor with a rated draft resistance of 16 kN. The technological module is an additional axle, equipped with an active wheel drive, a threepoint hitch linkage, and a saddle-type semi-trailer. During the working process, the draft resistance of the energy and the technological modules of the MDD-100 add up. As a result, the draft resistance of the latter may reach 26 kN, and more. This allows the MDD-100 to be classified as a draft device in traction class 3 and be used with agricultural machines with a large working width. The MDD-100 was tested with a five-bottom mounted plough with a working width of 1.75 m and a draft resistance of 24-28 kN. The best option for driving the MDD-100 with a plough was its movement with the right-side wheels in the furrow. The draft resistance of the plough would decrease by 12.0%, if the option of the MDD-100 outside the furrow is used. This ensured a 12.8% reduction in the skidding of the MDD-100 wheels and a 13.1% decrease of fuel consumption for the ploughing unit. Compared to a 4WD tractor, the use of a modular draft device with a 6WD wheel arrangement offered a greater stability of the ploughing depth.

The purpose of this study is to reveal the methodological aspects of teaching the disciplines that are basic in the system of training an engineer for modern agricultural production, in particular during the lecture sessions. The paper presents the basic requirements for the modern teacher who teaches special disciplines, training an engineer in the field of agricultural mechanisation. Emphasis is placed on theoretical aspects, as well on the results of the acquisition and generalisation of practical experience in pedagogy in order to raise the efficiency of mastering the material by the students during the lectures. Attention is centred on the topical problem how to develop the professional activity of the teacher. Analysis is made of all the stages of consecutive development of the pedagogical activity: highly professional understanding of the subject, pedagogical professionalism, and pedagogical innovation in training the future engineers in the field of agricultural mechanisation. The results of the study will allow a conclusion that the effect of the lecture on technical disciplines depends on the logical lines selected by the teacher (inductive, deductive, traditions; during the transfer of power; from the basic part; during the technological or physiological process). The pedagogical skills of a teacher at a higher agricultural educational institution are based not only on a high professional level, but also on his overall culture. Pedagogical activity must be learned, one must purposefully acquire the positive teaching experience, constantly replenish the stock of knowledge with contemporary psychological and pedagogical ideas.

At the beginning of 2020, due to the rapid and global spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, educational institutions were forced to immediately switch to a purely distance learning form, which has had an ambiguous effect on all the structural elements of the education system. In addition to high-quality fundamental training and mastering the theoretical foundations of engineering calculations, it is no less important for engineering graduates to acquire sustainable skills and abilities to carry out practical activities -experimenting, researching, testing, modeling, etc. Most of the above-mentioned skills in the conditions of regular, full-time education were obtained in the form of scientific circles, laboratory works, practical classes, training and production practices, and the like. With the pandemic and total distance learning, against the background of established communication channels like systems:

The engineer of modern agricultural production is obliged to improve himself, that is, to have persistent skills in creative professional self-training. The investigations were conducted within two Engineering faculties of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, as well as the Engineering Faculty of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies. Achievement of the goals in the educational and cognitive activities of the future engineers depends on how fully the conditions of modern agricultural production, as well as the objective pedagogical conditions that determine the difficulty of the objects of study are considered. One of the main tasks of the formation of the readiness of the future agricultural engineers for professional activities and self-development in the process of teaching general engineering disciplines is the use of methods to enhance educational and professional activities. An efficient mechanism for the improvement of the educational process is the close cooperation of universities with the agricultural employers, and their involvement in the formation and implementation of the programmes, specialties and specialisations, coordination with them of educational and professional standards of modern engineering training. From the surveys the most significant skills to achieve the goals of independent educational and scientific activity of the future engineers were identified -this is the ability to find, analyse and interpret information in the process of educational and scientific activity, and-a skill to pursue a healthy way of life, to work efficiently, to spend one's free time in a rational manner.

Biodiesel is increasingly used as an additive to fossil diesel fuel. For summer periods it is compulsorily in Latvia to use diesel fuel with 4.5-7 % biodiesel fuel mix. Some technical disadvantages of biodiesel/fossil diesel blends are mentioned by many researchers, for example, reduced energy density, and degradation of fuel under storage for prolonged periods. Therefore, one of the solutions might be blending of different biofuels instead of biodiesel. Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) is one of the most promising next generation biofuels in the near future. An unmodified passenger car Opel Insignia 2.0 CDTi (manufactured in 2011) with a four-cylinder diesel engine (power 96 kW) has been investigated. Chassis dynamometer Mustang MD-1750, AVL KMA MOBILE fuel consumption meter, and AVL SESAM FTIR multi-component exhaust gas measurement system were used during the experiments. Running the car with diesel fuel mixed with 7 % of biodiesel, it developed 2.1 % less maximum power and 1.3 % less maximum torque compared with fossil diesel, and about 2.3 % less power and 1.5 % less torque compared to diesel fuel blended with 7 % HVO fuel. Diesel fuel l/7 % biodiesel blend fuel consumption is in average 3.1 % higher compared to pure fossil diesel, and in average 3.0 % higher in comparison with diesel fuel mixed with 7 % HVO fuel. Blend of 7 % HVO with fossil diesel fuel compared to diesel fuel mix with 7 % of biodiesel approximately by 4 % decreases the amount of NO x , by 3 % CO 2 , and about 3.5 times unburnt hydrocarbon content in exhaust gases, but CO increases by approximately 90 %.

Slaked lime finds wide application in agriculture. For convenient use lime is often packed in plastic bags. The common equipment for these purposes has a number of disadvantages. The article presents the design of an experimental machine for packing slaked lime in polyethylene containers, which ensures high efficiency and has a wide range and accuracy of packing by weight. As a result of experiments, regression dependence was obtained and an assessment was made of the rotational frequency impact of the machine working body, depending on the design parameters of the mechanism. It has been established that the dominant factor affecting the efficiency value is the rotation frequency of the working body n and the lowest factor of impact is the machine outlet pipe diameter.

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