In pictures: Agricultural Kazakhstan

Life is basic for rural communities like Prirechnoye in Kazakhstans northern steppe.

It is never easy for farmers here, with winter temperatures falling as low as -40C.

The farm's pedigree Kazakh Whitehead beef cattle are happy to stay in the fresh air as long as the frost is not too severe.

Shelter is available for when the winter weather bites too harshly.

A Soviet-era poster still hanging in the vehicle depot extols the virtues of careful driving.

Much of the farm's machinery lies idle for the winter months.

The repair shop remains busy getting ready for the new season.

Prirechnoye's managers say they are able to feed the 300,000 residents of the city of Semipalatinsk with staple vegetables such as carrots.

The farm also has horses, which are reared both for recreation and for meat in Kazakhstan.

Most are currently grazing out in the steppe.

Mechanised transport is not universal here, and some of the animals are employed around the farm.

The soil is not good enough to grow wheat, but oats and barley for animal feed are stored in this silo.