The Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee held a serious discussion with district heads in Orsha about shortcomings in animal husbandry

Only by adhering to the technology of working with livestock, feed, and pastures can stable results be achieved in animal husbandry, and consequently, the economy of the regions can be developed. This was emphasized at the regional training seminar on feed harvesting by the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Nikolai Sherstnev. A serious discussion with the heads of districts about shortcomings and tasks for the near future took place in Orsha.

Utilize Every Hectare

The results of animal husbandry for five months were summarized by the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Agriculture and Food of the Regional Executive Committee, Vladimir Masherov. He noted that the gross production of animal husbandry products amounted to 104.7% compared to the same period last year. In May, this figure decreased by 2% compared to the figures for January-April.

– Shortcomings are obvious, – emphasized Vladimir Alexandrovich. – We worked poorly on cattle breeding and milk production. First of all, this is due to a shortage of concentrated feed. But by the end of the six months, considering that it is the pasture period, the results should be completely different.

Districts are also missing the main points in raising young animals. In May, average daily weight gains decreased by 29 g. As for milk production, only the Dubrovensky district worked without losses and external help.

Issues of product cultivation, animal identification, storage construction, and wage payments were raised.

The results of the sowing campaign and tasks for feed harvesting were announced by the Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Agriculture and Food of the Regional Executive Committee, Ivan Boris. He noted that only the Beshenkovichi, Verkhnedvinsk, Gluboksky, Dubrovensky, and Orshansky districts fulfilled the plan for sowing grain and leguminous crops. He also emphasized the sowing of perennial leguminous grasses on arable land and re-seeding. According to Ivan Boris, the completed 32% of the planned areas is an extremely low indicator.

– It is necessary to intensify the chemical weeding of all spring crops without exception, – emphasized Ivan Ivanovich. – Every hectare of land must be inspected. Therefore, the primary attention should be paid to crop care operations.

The Deputy Chairman of the committee added that it is necessary to harvest 260 thousand tons of first-cut hay, and many agricultural organizations have not yet started this work.

Nikolai Sherstnev expressed his conviction that technological management of all processes must be established.

– Order in the field and no milk – that’s one thing. We will figure out the reason. Without order, no arguments will help, – summarized the head of the region. Nikolai Nikolaevich demanded that the work of fodder harvesting teams be organized clearly and competently.

– It is necessary to assign a mower to one machine operator in each farm – he must work exclusively on mowing, – said Nikolai Sherstnev. – As for crop care operations: if we haven't fertilized or provided protection, why did we sow? Every hectare of land must work for the economy.

Into Practice!

Using the example of a 300-hectare tract of winter triticale at the agricultural production cooperative "SGTS "Zadneprovsky" of OJSC "Orshansky KHP", where a full range of crop care operations was carried out and the rolling technology was applied, the seminar participants discussed the basics of high-quality fodder harvesting. Nikolai Sherstnev set the task for the management of the agricultural enterprise to do everything possible to achieve 10 tons per hectare.

Ivan Fedorov, Chairman of the Committee for Agriculture and Food of the Regional Executive Committee, spoke about the advantages of rolling.

– This provides almost 100% germination, – emphasized the head of the committee. – There should be at least 700 productive stems per square meter, and a normal ear – not less than 1.5 grams. That's your yield.

Nikolai Sherstnev paid close attention to the sowing technology and all subsequent processes.

– There was a lot of moisture in the fields, but when they started to dry out, no one used rollers. Although they are owned by almost every farm, – he noted. – Just one technological element, and the benefit is obvious.

There is no doubt that today farmers face a serious task of maximizing the productivity of multi-pasture lands. And an important component of the technological chain is the right equipment. This means inexpensive and functional. Its attachments – mowers, rollers, rakes, balers – were presented right in the field. Seminar participants saw the advantages of the aggregates from the Kokhanovsky Excavator Plant and "Orshaagroprommash" in practice. Moreover, comments were provided by Yakov Yarotsky, Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Agricultural Machinery of BGSCA.

The fact that 400 silage trenches need to be built in the region this year, and only 60 have been started, was once again noted by Vladimir Masherov during his visit to OJSC "Agrokombinat "Yubileiny". It was on the example of this agricultural enterprise that the seminar participants familiarized themselves with the universal inexpensive silage trench project with vertical walls and the specifics of self-construction. Alexander Firsin, Director of "Yubileiny", spoke about the structure of the enterprise, the features of multi-component pastures and their maintenance.

Summing up the seminar, Nikolai Sherstnev emphasized that there is no time to hesitate, and the demand for results will be high.

Olga LEBEDEVA, photos by the author. "Vitebskiye vesti".