Why do some farms achieve record harvests, milk yields, and weight gains, while others consistently lag behind? For what reason are law enforcement agencies involved in the problem of livestock mortality? Is it true that wages in rural areas are negligible and young people are not interested in the agro-industrial complex? Where can qualified personnel for animal husbandry be found?
In the project "From the Editor-in-Chief," we discuss the reorganization of agricultural enterprises, an anti-crisis roadmap for Vitebsk region farmers, the construction of palaces for cows, scandalous videos on social media and criticism on TikTok, as well as whether it is indeed time to write off agriculture in the northern region, with the First Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Sergey Levkovich.
Today, the information flow seamlessly accommodates battles for the harvest, honest and hardworking villagers, selfless heroes who work from dawn till dusk for years, fragrant loaves of bread, and premium-grade fresh milk. Alongside all this are high-profile criminal cases for negligence, mismanagement, livestock mortality, fair criticism from the President, and remarks from TikTok "experts" who, out of "goodness of heart" or for hype, are eager to film an "unfortunate cow in terrible conditions" at every opportunity. So, what is the actual situation in the agro-industrial complex of the Vitebsk region?
20 days make a difference, but not everything
– Historically, the Vitebsk region has the lowest population density in the country. Furthermore, the northern region of our country has some of the least fertile lands. The growing season is 20 days shorter than in the southern regions. These 20 days truly make a significant difference. And these are not just words, but average indicators proven by specialists, – states Sergey Levkovich, establishing the baseline that sets the working conditions for the entire industry in the region.
However, "weather dependency," while significant for farmers, is far from the most pressing issue. The problem of staffing the agricultural sector requires much more attention and effort.
– I cannot say that the staffing situation is critical; there are ways to solve this problem too. With the right approach, both urban populations and residents of district centers can work in rural areas. People need to be attracted to agriculture, but we must create conditions for them. Today is no longer the time when livestock breeders milked into barrels on the linear installations of old farms, and the main means of mechanization was a horse, – emphasizes Sergey Viktorovich. – A modern farmer must have days off and a decent salary. Yes, we cannot avoid mass seasonal work during the sowing or harvesting campaign. During this period, maximum concentration and dedication are required from everyone, primarily from machine operators. But even under these difficult conditions, the heads of agricultural organizations must take into account the wishes of the individual. This is already an industrial approach to labor organization: everyone has their own defined area, scope, and direction of work, this applies to the veterinarian, livestock specialist, and agronomist.
Loss of Losses?
Livestock preservation is one of the most sensitive issues for animal husbandry. And not only in the Vitebsk region. Reports of animal deaths, especially on a large scale, cause public outcry, indignation, and bewilderment. Why does this happen and who is to blame? Sergey Levkovich is confident that it is important to fight for the life of every calf and that it is necessary to reverse the situation where it is considered normal to conceal losses in the cattle population.
– It is not for nothing that the head of state keeps this issue under control. This is not just about love for animals. This is our economy, our well-being. The government is also concerned about this issue. It is obvious that the veterinary service requires special attention, not only in terms of preservation but also in other qualitative indicators of animal husbandry. Cattle are the future of agriculture. We do not have many highly specialized agricultural enterprises in our region that raise poultry or pigs. And more than 160 farms in the region are engaged in dairy cattle breeding. And they all differ in financial and economic indicators, which ultimately affect employee wages. No preservation – no income. That's the whole point, – noted the first deputy chairman, emphasizing that, unfortunately, some managers have had a practice of concealing animal deaths for years, and it has become a system. And now, including with the involvement of law enforcement agencies, this problem is being brought to light, although not everyone likes it.
– Nobody wants to make things worse. The faster we, the farmers, understand that livestock preservation needs to be addressed in a focused manner: a calf requires specific conditions, competent care, feeding, vaccination against diseases, and if necessary, treatment, the sooner we will overcome this difficult period, – noted Sergey Levkovich, adding that the foundation in this process is the people who look after the calves. He said that serious work is being done in this direction.
– We see every operator involved in raising young calves. We know their salary level and demand that these people be provided with a decent income. This is not easy work; each calf requires an individual approach. At the same time, physical capabilities, even with great desire, responsibility, and understanding of what needs to be done, are not limitless. In this regard, we monitor the workload for each person and the number of heads they can handle, – said the head of the agricultural sector of the Vitebsk region, emphasizing that the conditions for keeping calves are gradually improving. Reconstruction of old premises is underway, new dairy farms (MTK), prophylaxis centres are being built, and individual houses for young stock are being purchased. A decision of the regional executive committee has been made to purchase vaccines for cattle at the expense of budget funds, and work is underway to create animal vaccination teams at veterinary stations and our dairy plants. The use of vaccines and the consumption of veterinary drugs are monitored.
The recipe for achieving stable and break-even operation, Sergey Levkovich is convinced, does not require super-technologies or super-complex solutions. To achieve positive results in animal husbandry, it is necessary to ensure the productivity of the milking herd of at least 16 kg per cow, average daily weight gains of 700 g in each farm, increase discipline, and monitor the implementation of minimum technological requirements for keeping and feeding cattle.
Agrarian Action
A full-length film could be made about the current harvest in the Vitebsk region. About honest and selfless work, people who truly love their job and are focused on results, about mutual assistance and support, and the ability to find a way out of the most difficult situations. At the same time, special effects and the main plot twists are provided by the heavens.
– This year, we are facing extremely challenging conditions. The weather simply does not allow us to harvest the crops quickly and efficiently. The predominant soil type in the Vitebsk region is loamy, which retains moisture, causing machinery to literally get stuck. Due to waterlogged soils, combine harvesters may have to traverse the same field several times. It is only possible to return to problematic areas after several days of good weather. Tracked machinery has proven effective in these conditions, but it is not a panacea. This season, high-powered tractors are being used universally during the harvest to provide towing for grain harvesters if necessary. The inability of grain haulage vehicles to move across the fields is also a constraint. To unload the hoppers, tractors are brought to them, or the combine harvester drives to the truck. All of this, consequently, incurs costs: time, fuel, and human resources, – explains the expert, adding that during this difficult period, the agricultural workers are demonstrating themselves to be an excellent team that does not give up, regardless of the circumstances, and achieves results, with specialists seconded from other enterprises working with full dedication.
Everything is being done to gather every grain; it is a true battle for the harvest. The selfless work of the agrarians cannot go unmentioned; the main words of gratitude and deserved awards will be presented upon the conclusion of the campaign. The harvest is currently in its final stages. Almost 90% of the areas have been harvested.
Unity and mutual assistance during the harvest in the Vitebsk region are felt more than ever. Our agrarians are being assisted by colleagues from other regions of the country. To accelerate the pace of harvesting, an additional fifty units of machinery have been transferred from Minsk, Grodno, and Mogilev regions to supplement the nearly one thousand combine harvesters already in operation.
– The harvest yield is quite good. The threshed yield of winter rapeseed amounted to 92.4 thousand tons, and including spring rapeseed, the gross harvest of this crop reached 104 thousand tons. The fulfillment of the state order is in its final stage. The grain yield is almost 32 centners per hectare, which is 9 centners higher than last year's level, – noted Sergey Levkovich.
Anti-crisis plan
Sergey Levkovich notes that the Vitebsk region has many competent managers and promising agro-managers, with whom further development of the industry is planned. They are ambitious and want not just to work, but to achieve results. He is personally acquainted with almost all the heads of agricultural enterprises in the region and has an idea of the potential and prospects of the enterprises they lead. To prove his words, he shows a weighty folder – a kind of anti-crisis map of the agro-industrial complex of the northern region. Analytics are collected for each district and agricultural enterprise, where leaders or growth points (currently not necessarily financially successful enterprises) are marked in green. In the red zone are those with uncertain prospects, whose path to recovery is reorganization.
– The reformatting and reorganization of agricultural organizations are inevitable. I can say that changes await a number of farms. Mechanisms for the further existence of each such agricultural enterprise have already been developed. We prioritize options for joining stronger ones. But there is a very fine line here; such a process cannot happen spontaneously. We study everything in detail and thoroughly before reorganization, so as not to worsen the situation and not to lose a strong farm. We work on a targeted basis. We support integrating farms. First of all, by purchasing new agricultural machinery, building new livestock complexes, supporting the organization of sowing campaigns in spring and autumn, with fuel and mineral fertilizers, – explained Sergey Levkovich, adding that options are being studied for all such investment farms that are expedient to invest in. For each, they collect and analyze information on how many farms there are, how many complexes they plan to build, what productivity to achieve, based on existing competencies. Such an anti-crisis map is not a dogma – everything can change, and if an enterprise exits the red zone in the near future, then other development scenarios will be sought for it.
– It is important to understand that the reorganization of an agricultural enterprise is not its liquidation. The main goals are to preserve the team, scale and optimize production, and improve the financial well-being of both lagging and integrating farms. And in this matter, without support and renewal of the material and technical base, it is impossible to talk about the development and prospects of the agro-industrial complex of the northern region of the country, – emphasized the expert.
When the agro-industrial complex becomes a field for self-realization
The key role in the agricultural sector, Sergei Viktorovich is confident, is played directly by the head of the agricultural enterprise.
– He bears enormous responsibility, and very high demands are placed on him from all sides: from the staff to managers of various levels. Personally, for me, this category of agricultural workers is a priority. Therefore, a competent farm manager in the region will always be supported in all respects.
The First Deputy Chairman of the regional executive committee said that many local managers are accustomed to relying on personnel. They say that the processes on the farms are technologically established, they are ready to pay good wages, but there are no people – specialists. But then why did one manager find six veterinary doctors for his team at once, while another explains problems with milk yield and livestock preservation by the absence of a veterinarian, while over six years of his work he could not attract even one specialist and motivate them to stay at the enterprise?
Sergei Levkovich does not deny that the problem with specialists does exist. Competent zootechnicians, veterinarians, and agronomists are always needed.
– Fundamental tasks are set for the personnel provision of the industry. In the Vitebsk region, which has one of the best higher education institutions in the country – the Academy of Veterinary Medicine, it is simply unacceptable to justify oneself solely by the shortage of personnel. We have a large number of qualified specialists, – believes the First Deputy Chairman and says that certain progress in this direction has already been made.
– This issue needs to be addressed selectively. In each district, there are specialists with higher veterinary education who, for example, work in construction, housing and communal services, trade, and other industries. Even if two or three of them return to work in their specialty at an agricultural enterprise, it is already a good result. There are examples when specialists provide veterinary services under a contract. It is not uncommon today for people to come to the agricultural sector after working in trade or the social sphere. We will not force anyone to work; people need decent conditions: a clear work schedule, days off, and wages – and this is already the responsibility of the head of the agricultural enterprise, which, unfortunately, not everyone fully understands.
First and foremost, the composition and quality of a team depend on the leader themselves, on how well they managed to attract young people to the organisation, motivate them (and not just financially), and inspire them when necessary. The performance criteria for an agricultural manager are directly proportional to the number of targeted study placements issued by the farm and the retention of young specialists after their mandatory period of service.
– The main thing is that a budding farmer has the desire to work. It is no secret that the training level of graduates varies; they need to be taught many things, guided in certain areas, and invested in for their development and competencies. Sometimes, a paternalistic approach is enough. After all, besides working conditions and financial aspects, a crucial component is respectful treatment of specialists and all employees. Only then will agriculture become a sector for professional self-realisation, – summarises Sergey Viktorovich.
Building Palaces and Driving Wedges
A significant amount of work is required for the modernisation of livestock housing facilities. Currently, there is a large number of farms, often located at considerable distances from each other. The President also discusses outdated "N-shaped" buildings (cowsheds shaped like the letter "N") at meetings and practical seminars. At his initiative, modern and technologically advanced complexes have begun to be referred to as "palaces" in the press. This might give the impression that almost royal conditions are required for efficient animal husbandry.
– We have around 410 farms, and some of them simply need to be demolished. It is practically impossible to organise work there in accordance with modern requirements. Therefore, we are moving towards new forms of livestock housing organisation. We are building modern dairy complexes. We are commissioning new facilities. There is a specific list of agricultural organisations where this work is underway or planned. This year, approximately 14 dairy complexes are being constructed, creating the necessary conditions for animal housing, – explained the expert.
New complexes are not a panacea. The main thing is how effectively they operate and what specialists work there. The result depends on the individual, their qualifications, knowledge, and desire.
– Competency enhancement is already underway; training is conducted at leading agricultural organisations, not only within the region and the country but also abroad, – noted Sergey Levkovich.
«Real estate» for cattle is just one element of successful and economically viable animal husbandry. We should not forget about disease prevention and treatment. Here, by the way, the Vitebsk region is lucky: there is a serious scientific school at the Academy of Veterinary Medicine, and the production of its own veterinary drugs has been established at BelVitunipharm. But, as peasant wisdom has it, a cow's milk is on its tongue. The productivity of cows largely depends on their diet. Ensuring a complete and balanced diet with our own resources in the conditions of risky, and in the context of the northern region, extremely risky agriculture is a task that, while not star-studded, requires serious effort.
It is not possible to achieve a stable gross grain production volume of 1.1 million tons. Every year we face various cataclysms: either drought, or flooding, or frost damages the crops. And then, to harvest it all without losses, when it can rain for weeks, is quite a quest. In such conditions, it is difficult for farmers to work, but even here, a rational approach and competent analytics help to navigate and balance the sown area. Sergey Levkovich noted that the emphasis should be on winter cereals (mainly wheat) and corn. Not everyone in the Vitebsk region manages to "make friends" with spring cereals; much depends on the weather, so they try to replace them as much as possible with the queen of fields.
– I believe that the work we are currently doing will increase efficiency and yield positive results in agriculture. The Vitebsk region has huge reserves. The task of each of us is to conscientiously perform our work. Our people know what needs to be done. And to implement what is guaranteed to give results – that is my task, – summarizes the First Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee.
P.S.
It would seem that after such a programmatic analysis of the most painful points of the agro-industrial complex in the Vitebsk region, one could put a period. But surely there will be readers and subscribers who, in response to all this rhetoric, will begin to recall resonant videos about unfortunate cows on farms forgotten by everyone, about the dire situation of agricultural enterprise workers, unfair treatment and negligence of management. The audience loves such footage; they get a decent number of views. The authors of sensational stories pursue different goals: some need hype and activity in the comments, some want to take revenge on a former or current leader, for some it is a cry from the soul.
We also asked Sergey Levkovich whether such criticism on social media is impactful and how to respond to it.
– Criticism in the information space has always existed and will continue to exist. If the internet is used for manipulation and resolving personal issues, that's one thing. However, if the criticism is well-founded, identifies and highlights problems, then no matter how unpleasant it may be, it is beneficial. When it's to the point, it's very impactful. Our people are showing what is happening here. Certain facts cannot help but cause indignation. I try to get to the root of the problem: what we need to do to prevent this in the future.