Every effort is being made to save time and harvest the golden yield as efficiently as possible. Our correspondents were convinced of this on the field of the M. F. Shmyrev agro-complex of Vitebskaya Broiler Poultry Farm OJSC, located near the village of Ivankovo.
The director of the agro-complex, Aleksey Doylin, said that all 12 combine harvesters available to the farm are harvesting winter wheat on an area of 250 hectares. The manager said that, taking into account the adjustments made by the rainy weather, they are implementing an algorithm that allows them to catch up.
In particular, equipment is repaired on-site, combine harvesters are refuelled, and they are left in the field overnight under reliable guard.
The chief agronomist, Maria Krupenko, proudly reported that the yield this year is around 76 centners per hectare, which is approximately twice (!) as high as last year. Among the six varieties of winter wheat, two are domestic, the same number are German, one is Austrian, and one is Polish (with the charming name "Markiza").
A total of approximately 4220 hectares are to be harvested for grain. By the time of our arrival, less than 10 percent had been harvested.
In parallel, the land is being prepared for the future sowing of the 2026 winter crops.
Among the participants of the harvest is a family team: senior combine operator Andrey Prudnikov and his son, combine operator Alexander Ershov. The manager is confident that the experienced machine operator will be among the first to reach a thousand tonnes.
And 23-year-old Ilya Evdokimov is operating a combine harvester for the first time in this year's harvest. He proved himself excellently as a driver and tractor operator during the sowing campaign, which is why he was entrusted with piloting the "ship of the fields".
As we were talking to the harvest participants, a canteen on wheels arrived in the field. Buffet attendant Daria Pisareva was serving delicious borsch, dishing out millet porridge and pork cutlets. The apple compote also pleased the grain growers, who also received rations for the evening. And the machine operators saved time during their lunch break, so there was no time for a leisurely meal. They had a quick bite and then returned to the fight for the harvest, because they perfectly understand that all hope is on them and they will not let anyone down. They proudly showed the inscription on their branded T-shirt "Nobody but us!" – just like the paratroopers. They work on this principle. And they are also working for our security – food security.
The agricultural workers are being assisted by employees of the Surazh Forestry of Vitebsk District. For example, Andrey Artemenko, a driver of logging equipment, is involved in the current harvest as a tractor driver. Yuri Bekeshev, a forester, has also taken the wheel of a combine harvester. In total, six representatives from the forestry are helping the agricultural workers.
vitebsk-region.gov.by
