The article suggests approaches to the assessment of innovative activity of agricultural enterprises. It is established that in order to determine the real level of innovative activity of agricultural enterprises, it is advisable to apply a methodological approach of rating assessment, taking into account the profitability of each type of crop and livestock production and the volume of its implementation. Thanks to the rating, a more complete picture opens up on the assessment and forecast of determining the degree of economic development and innovative potential of agricultural enterprises. It is proved that the level of state support most affects innovative activity in agriculture. The conducted multifactorial analysis of economic indicators confirms that without expanded reproduction it is impossible to create an accumulation fund, a reserve fund and, as a result, the implementation of innovative activities. At least one third of the profit of an agricultural enterprise must be directed to the accumulation fund. It is determined that agricultural enterprises create demand for scientific achievements, and research and development organizations form the supply. At the same time, most scientific proposals cannot always find the end user, and therefore there is no connection between scientific and development institutions, educational institutions and agricultural enterprises.