Seven districts of the Vitebsk region have started sowing winter grain crops

August 19, Vitebsk / Sergei Kochetov - BELTA/. Farms in seven districts of the Vitebsk region have started sowing winter grain crops, a BELTA correspondent was informed at the regional executive committee's agriculture and food department. In 2011, it is planned to increase the grain acreage in the region to 500 thousand hectares, of which about 250 thousand hectares are allocated for winter crops. Sowing of winter wheat has begun in Beshenkovichi, Dubrovno, Lepel, Miory, Polotsk, Tolochin and Rossony districts. The work is being carried out on lands fully prepared in terms of agrotechnology, specialists noted. Mass sowing of winter grains in the region is expected to begin next week. As of August 19, soil plowing for winter grains in the region covered an area of over 67.3 thousand hectares, or 27% of the planned amount. Glyphosate has been applied to an area of about 130.6 thousand hectares, which is 65.3% of the target. Winter rapeseed has been sown on 77.3 thousand hectares (90%), with farms in 9 districts already completing this work. In addition, farms continue to harvest spring rapeseed, which has been mowed on an area of over 17 thousand hectares, or 60%. More than 15.4 thousand tons of oilseeds have been threshed with an average yield of 9.1 centners per hectare. -0-