Crops affected by drought are being surveyed in the Vitebsk region, a BELTA correspondent was informed at the Agriculture and Food Committee of the Regional Executive Committee.
The dry weather that has prevailed over the past few weeks has negatively affected the condition of the region's crops. Spring grains and rapeseed in the western districts of the region have suffered particularly. "For example, in some farms with clay soils in the Sharkovshchyna and Postavy districts, rapeseed has failed to germinate. Such areas had to be selectively re-sown with annual crops," the committee noted.
Crops are being surveyed in all districts of the region, and the area of affected plots is being clarified. The overall results of the survey will be known by July 1.
The Regional Agriculture and Food Department also noted that the main work of farmers is currently related to the harvesting of first-cut grasses. As of the morning of June 19, 164.2 thousand hectares of land have been mown in the region, or 63.2% of the plan. 144.3 thousand hectares have been harvested. 5.51 centners of feed units per conventional head of cattle have been harvested. The work is progressing most actively in the Vitebsk, Glubokoe, Dubrovno, Chashniki, and Sharkovshchyna districts, where almost 80% of the areas have already been harvested, and from some farms that have completed their work, equipment and personnel have been redeployed to assist neighboring agricultural enterprises. In the remaining regions, the equator has been crossed. Farmers of the Vitebsk region intend to complete this work within the next two weeks.