The main topic of the regional seminar, held in our district, was the high-quality and timely procurement of fodder.
The main topic of the regional seminar, held in our district, was the high-quality and timely procurement of fodder. A number of other relevant issues were also addressed. The event was led by Eduard Demyanov, Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, and Sergey Dogel, Chairman of the Committee for Agriculture and Food of the Regional Executive Committee. Heads of district agricultural departments from all districts and their deputies for animal husbandry, crop production, and mechanization participated.
At the end of May, the leadership of the regional agricultural committee conducted an aerial survey of all districts of the region by plane. Fields were inspected from above, many of which presented a mixed impression: directly from the roads and access paths, the eye was pleased by the beautiful landscape with uniformly emerging crops, but in the middle, in the indentations, the situation was different. Many fields are overgrown with vines, alder, and hazel. During the plenary session, photographs taken from the aircraft and reports reflecting instances of mismanagement were presented to the attendees.
The most pressing task in grain and vegetable fields is plant protection. Pests, diseases, and weeds.
Inter-species weed infestation of grain crops is observed, with excessive rye and triticale growing in wheat fields. Sometimes it reaches up to 20 percent, which sharply reduces the marketable quality and, consequently, the price of grain. Sergey Yakowchik, Director of the Vitebsk Zonal Institute of Agriculture of the National Academy of Sciences, expressed the following opinion:
- Firstly, it is necessary to establish systematic work on updating the seed fund, updating varieties annually by purchasing only high-quality seeds. Secondly, to approach the selection of predecessors and the regulation of crop rotation with all seriousness. For example, sowing winter wheat after rye is absolutely impossible; despite our best efforts to adjust the equipment, a small amount of grain remains in the soil after the harvesters. It will sprout in the autumn of the same year, adding to the wheat crop.
After the completion of the sowing campaign, the agrarians received a certain operational pause, during which they had the opportunity to better prepare for mowing. During this time, villagers needed to rest after the strenuous spring work, stock up on fuel, lubricants, and spare parts, and repair equipment. Unfortunately, not all districts have fully coped with the tasks set.
Farms in the region have 620 forage harvesters, of which 538 are in good working order and ready for field deployment. The rest need to be put into operation for mowing as soon as possible. Even considering that several dozen units of various fodder harvesting equipment will be delivered to farms in the coming days, the workload per unit will still remain high.
Another issue is that farms do not always have sufficient funds to purchase the necessary spare parts in a timely manner, and they are expensive. It is even more problematic to create a stock of components in warehouses in order to immediately replace a broken part rather than search for it. Mechanics and engineers have to work on the go.
Attention was drawn to aspects such as occupational safety. Within this framework, a requirement was issued that all K-700 tractors to be used for compacting silage and haylage must be equipped with a safety frame. All participants in the green harvest must undergo safety training. This particularly applies to employees of urban organizations and enterprises that are involved in farms during fodder harvesting operations.
The economic aspect of the activity is no less important. According to expert forecasts, prices for meat and dairy products will decrease in global markets in the near future. Therefore, it is very important for Belarusian producers to minimize costs at all stages of production. Thus, before implementing any technical innovations, applying preservatives, or expensive imported plant protection products, their economic feasibility should be thoroughly checked and re-checked.
After the plenary session, the seminar continued in the field of the agricultural branch "Zaazerye" of JSC "Lepel Dairy and Canning Plant". First, in the field near Stary Lepel, Tamara Fralenka, Deputy Director of the Vitebsk Regional Inspectorate for Seed Production, Quarantine and Plant Protection, explained the need for using fungicides to combat plant diseases in grain crops. Non-use or untimely application of plant protection products can reduce crop yield by 10-20 percent. The application of fungicides against powdery mildew in grain crops is currently relevant, and it is necessary to hurry with this.
The next point of the visit was a field near Yurkovshchina. Several diverse units of fodder harvesting machinery were lined up there: a baler, followed by new models presented by the limited liability company "Biokom Tekhnologiya" from Grodno. The "Tornado" unit, manufactured in Belarus, is primarily made from imported components. The trailed fodder harvesting machinery is aggregated with MTZ-1523 and MTZ-2022 tractors, picks up mown grass mass, which can be wilted or fresh. The grass is then chopped and pressed into bales, wrapped in polyethylene stretch film. If necessary, the mass can be treated with a preservative. The production rate of such a unit is up to 60 bales per hour, with each bale weighing 720-780 kilograms. Thus, up to 350 tons of fodder can be harvested during an eight-hour working day. The "McHale" unit, imported from Ireland, has approximately the same production parameters. The price of each such unit is around one billion rubles.
Approximately the same unit of the "Krone" brand has been operating in "Zaazerye" for the third year. The branch director, Alexander Bykov, said that it was purchased at that time for 230 million rubles. The machinery works flawlessly.
Nearby, representatives of the "Gomselmash" production association presented their machinery – fodder harvesting combines and mowers.
Glybotsk Agroservice offered refurbished units. The enterprise purchases machinery from farms that have reached the end of their service life, carries out major repairs, and puts them back on sale. Refurbished machinery costs three times less than new.
Finally, the seminar participants visited the machine yard of SVF "Zaazerye". New asphalt surfacing, painted walls, replaced windows – the list is far from complete. Although the work is not yet finished, its results are evident.
Vasil MATYRKA.
In the photos: in the field near Stary Lepel; a representative of "Gomselmash" talks about the advantages of their mowers.
Photos by the author.
