Nikolai Sherstnev recommended that agricultural enterprises in the Vitebsk region improve farming practices
The key to the effective development of the Vitebsk region's agricultural sector, when using the equipment available to agricultural enterprises, should be an increase in the general culture of farming and strict adherence to soil cultivation technology.
This opinion was expressed by Nikolai Sherstnev, the chairman of the regional executive committee, during a regional seminar-meeting with the participation of scientists, specialists, and agricultural workers.
Despite the fact that the quality of fields in the region has significantly improved, there are still plenty of technological shortcomings. Due to a weak material base, agricultural enterprises in the region primarily operate using simplified crop cultivation technologies, but this does not negate the quality requirements.
— I will never agree with the opinion that Vitebsk fields are worse today than in other regions. Each of them needs to be worked on: selecting its own technology and set of machinery. Every year, we must become better, stronger, and achieve higher yields,– Nikolai Nikolaevich stated his position and gave the floor to the specialists.
Sergey Nebyshynets, Head of the Department of the Scientific and Practical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus for Agriculture, spoke in detail about the specifics of soil cultivation depending on the climate of our region, its type and composition. He substantiated the use of non-inversion tillage technology as an alternative to the plow on certain types of soils, as well as the need for stubble plowing and deep cultivation in the conditions of Vitebsk region, where high density is the predominant soil factor. He recommended carrying it out during autumn field cultivation, but no more often than once every 4 years. The replacement for mechanical methods is biological soil loosening agents. Special varieties of cruciferous plants (radish, mustard), narrow-leaved lupine, and one- and two-year clover have a developed root system capable of reducing soil density. However, to achieve the optimal effect, mineral fertilizers should be used when sowing them.
Among the most common technological errors in growing winter crops, the specialist cited the absence of a mandatory window – a minimum of 14 days from primary tillage to sowing. For this reason, crop yields can decrease by 2-5 centners, and in the case of winter rapeseed, normal overwintering of crops does not occur at all.
Nikolay Sherstnev drew the attention of the seminar participants to this point:
— This year, the areas occupied by winter and spring rapeseed have decreased in the republic, with Vitebsk region accounting for about 40% (80 thousand hectares). Therefore, we must strictly adhere to the technology, carry out all necessary treatments to grow and obtain a good harvest. Most likely, there will be a shortage of seeds of this crop in the country in the autumn, which means we will have the opportunity to earn well, but for this, the yield should not be 8-9 c/ha; hybrids can yield at least 40 c/ha, this is the result we should strive for.
During the seminar, Nikolai Nikolaevich also reminded about the rational use of mineral fertilizers, the cost of which is increasing every year. With the current approach, they mainly support the agro-background of the fields, and the plants do not receive the necessary micro- and macronutrients in sufficient quantities. For example, phosphorus application is best done during sowing, which requires new agricultural machinery, and the soil cultivation technology itself must also change.
However, it is possible and necessary to work effectively with existing machinery and agricultural equipment today. Recommendations for their rational use were presented at the seminar by the Director of the State Educational Institution of Additional Adult Education "Center for Professional Development of Managers and Specialists of the Committee for Agriculture and Food of the Mogilev Regional Executive Committee" Yakov Yarotsky. He conducted a detailed analysis of the design features and methods of using the equipment demonstrated during the seminar-meeting, and spoke about its optimal settings. Participants of the seminar observed the operation of agricultural machinery in the conditions of the northern region on the experimental field of the Vitebsk Broiler Poultry Farm, the agricultural land of which, as Nikolai Sherstnev reported, should become a kind of testing ground for testing the equipment.
— When talking about agricultural machinery and technologies, one should not forget about promising crops. It is necessary to produce cheap vegetable protein, but today there is no rapeseed, no lupine in the Vitebsk region, oil radish is practically not used, and the opportunity for early harvesting of perennial grasses is missed. Among other promising areas is the cultivation of hybrid varieties of winter rye, which can yield up to 100 c/ha. The only peculiarity is that seeds will have to be purchased annually, the sowing rate is only 50 kg per 1 ha, and one grain can produce up to 40 stems, — the head of the region identified the resources with which the agrarians of the Vitebsk region can improve their work.
The Chairman of the regional executive committee, summing up the results of the event, also noted that, of course, the lack of financial resources will not allow a transition to new methods and the use of advanced technology as quickly as desired, but this does not give grounds to justify mismanagement due to financial difficulties. Therefore, specialists from the economic service were also invited to participate in the seminar, who are expected to optimize the quality control system for the work of machine operators, as well as improve the forms of material incentives.
Natalia Kamlyova, "Vitebskiye Vesti"