The Anniversary Year in the Mirror of Scientometrics: An Analysis of Publication Activity of the Journal Agrarian Science in the First Half of 2026

Abstract

Relevance . In 2026, the scientific-theoretical and production journal Agrarian Science, published since 1956, celebrates its 70th anniversary. In the context of this milestone, bibliometric indicators of the journal attract legitimate scholarly interest, as they serve as a universally recognized instrument for assessing the quality of scientific communication and the degree of recognition within the professional community. Scientometric analysis enables an objective evaluation of the journal’s developmental dynamics and provides a basis for formulating strategies for its further advancement. Methods. The object of the study is the publication activity of the journal Agrarian Science during the first half of 2026. The subject of the study is a dataset of metadata from scientific publications, comprising 101 works. The analysis employed problem-thematic and systemic approaches. Author contribution was calculated using a fractional counting method (1 article = 1 unit of scientific output). To quantify the differentiation of organizations by normalized share of publication activity, the coefficient of variation (CV) was applied. Results. It was established that during the reporting period, 72% of the published works were research articles, with a predominance of the section “Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine” (43 papers). The average number of co-authors per publication was 3.62. A total of 409 authors from 93 organizations representing 31 constituent entities of the Russian Federation and 9 foreign countries contributed to the published materials. Authors affiliated with educational institutions predominate (51.6%). The qualification structure is characterized by a high proportion of researchers holding academic degrees (78%). The primary source of funding was authors’ own initiative funds (40 publications), with substantial contributions from state assignments (38) and grant support (23). The average length of the bibliographic apparatus reached 31.1 references per article, indicating an expansion of the information base and an increase in the quality of published materials. The obtained data confirm the sustainable development of the journal and its integration into both the national and international scientific landscape.