Fodder harvesting, grain harvesting, livestock fattening. Bartosh set tasks for the Vitebsk region.

The harvesting of grain and leguminous crops, fodder procurement, construction of new dairy farms, and cattle fattening – these and other issues were discussed on August 19 at a working meeting in the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee. The meeting was held under the leadership of the Minister of Agriculture and Food, Sergei Bartosh, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.

The head of the relevant department instructed the northern region to improve certain indicators. "First of all, (the Vitebsk region. – BELTA note) needs to step up fodder procurement, grass harvesting, and timely corn harvesting, because, as specialists from the committee pointed out, 60% of the corn will be harvested after the optimal deadlines, which means a loss of quality and nutritional value, leading not only to poor results in animal husbandry but also to livestock mortality, which is receiving significant attention in the republic," emphasized Sergei Bartosh.

He inquired about the construction of dairy farms in the Vitebsk region, with plans to erect 10 such facilities next year. "It is necessary to study the concentration of livestock production, the rearing of heifers, and cattle fattening. And what the head of state has paid attention to – to transfer from those who cannot raise to those who can," the minister recalled. According to him, the Vitebsk region needs to work closely on this issue.

Among the ways to solve the problem, Sergei Bartosh mentioned the concentration of livestock in those farms that can raise this livestock and achieve good results. "And the next stage – after the raised heifer is returned to the farms that produce milk. This way, there will be an outcome – obtaining a larger number of calves and better results in milk production," he added. "When constructing facilities, it is necessary to consider the provision of human resources. The larger the complex, the fewer people are required. And people who want to work and are capable should be given the opportunity to earn a decent salary."

According to the Committee for Agriculture and Food of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, 201 thousand hectares of grain and leguminous crops have been harvested in the region, which constitutes 76% of the harvesting area. 491 thousand tonnes have been threshed with an average yield of 24.5 centners per hectare. Compared to last year, the yield was significantly lower (on the same date last year, it was 31.6 centners per hectare); the indicator was affected by severe drought.

Sowing of winter rapeseed continues at a good pace. To date, 44.9 thousand hectares have been sown against a target of 60 thousand hectares, and farmers plan to complete the entire plan within a couple of days. After this work is finished, they will proceed to sowing winter cereals.

Regarding fodder, 109 thousand hectares have been harvested in the second cutting. 9.51 centners of fodder units per conventional head have been procured. The gap with last year's level, which is currently 4.96, is gradually narrowing. 108 fodder harvesting teams have been established and are operating in the region.

belta.by