Among the most productive farms in the region is SPC "Algovskoe".

The weather this year at the beginning of the harvest has put the grain growers in extreme conditions. Most of the lands in the northern region are related to risky farming, so every centner of grain is achieved with great effort. Without well-established technology, high yields can only be dreamed of. This is what the workers of the agricultural production cooperative "Algovskoye" are confident about, which has not lost its leading positions for many years. The farm's specialists are annual expected guests at the regional "Dazhynki" (harvest festival).

How the Algov grain growers are holding up under professional exams this year is told by the chief agronomist Denis Beresnev.

— Rains have not only slowed down the pace but also increased the costs of processing grain to optimal condition at the grain drying complex, — notes Denis Olegovich. — Last year, the harvest was delivered with 12-13% moisture content (with a base of 14.5%), while up to 750 tons of grain were sent to the granaries daily. Now, we thresh a maximum of 450 tons per day, averaging 5 percent of the plan. To make the work go smoother, special equipment is on duty in the fields. Tractor drivers provide backup for crews that get stuck on fields washed out by rains. The other day, the combines were "re-shod" with wide-profile lug tires. But even with all the measures taken, there are still patches that have to be bypassed, waiting for the sun to dry the ground. The equipment is conveniently grouped by crops and varieties. The main thing is not speed, but the quality of harvesting; not even a small part of the harvest can be left in the field.

Triticale yields the highest result (60 centners per hectare), winter wheat yields 45 centners per hectare, and the average yield of cereals for the farm is 49.

Laying the foundation for a reliable feed base, the enterprise has allocated 200 hectares of sown area to spring rapeseed this year.

— This crop is capricious and expensive, — assures the chief agronomist, — it requires specific natural conditions and strict adherence to the cultivation technology elements. This year, a high-yielding hybrid was sown. There were difficulties. Despite the unprecedented invasion of cabbage moths and other pests,

the harvest was saved by applying various groups of pesticides. Given the deficit (in many regions, the crop endured the winter with difficulty, with significant crop losses), the price of rapeseed seed should increase significantly. Therefore, we hope that even with a yield of 20 centners per hectare, all expenses and troubles with the remainder will pay off.

To date, no less than the harvest results, the agronomic service is also concerned about the fate of the vegetable harvest, as SVK "Algovskoye" is one of the base farms that provides the city's institutions with vitamin reserves. Excessive humidity may not have the best effect on the storage quality of cabbage, which is still in its growing season. To minimize the risk as much as possible, the harvest must be gathered in the shortest possible time.

An important condition of the technological regulations is the use of high-quality seeds. SVK "Algovskoye" has the status of an elite farm and practices growing varieties on its fields that are most adapted to the natural and climatic conditions of the region and yield good results. For example, the winter wheat varieties "Syuyta", triticale "Prometheus" and "Dynamo" showed high productivity, which Algovskoye specialists offer to farms to purchase for high yields.

However, as Denis Olegovich emphasized, high-quality seeds do not relieve farmers from timely crop care measures, as there are no trifles in agricultural technology.

…We drive up to the Starina tract, where Denis Beresnev's colleague, the leading agronomist of the Babinichi department, Sergey Zhavoronkov, is working. He also knows his job, having dedicated 34 years to the profession. He introduces us to the combine operators. All 6 crews have temporarily left the controls of their field machines to have lunch. The menu includes cold soup and potato pancakes.

Judging by how quickly the plates are emptied and sincere words of gratitude are heard addressed to the server Mariyam Sufarovna, the men are satisfied with the field food.

— We order ready-made lunches from the grain processing plant, — says Irina Polyakova, deputy chairman for ideological work, who also came to support the working spirit of the grain growers. — Only 20 percent of their cost is deducted from the machine operators. In addition, each

receives a dry ration for the evening, which must include meat. The crews are led by Sergey Voronov, Alexander Komarovsky, Dmitry Zaitsev, Alexey and Konstantin Myasoyedov, Andrey Naskov.

All combine operators are local, many have become not only leaders of professional competitions, but also heroes of newspaper publications.

— It's hard to single someone out, — notes Irina Polyakova. — And by the results of work they are almost at the same level. Many grain growers are already in the second and third generations, and some even work shoulder to shoulder with their parents. For example, as an assistant combine operator at the harvest, Denis Olegovich's son Artem is employed, the father and son Myasoyedov led the crews. Each is worthy of the most sincere praise, because, most importantly, they are reliable and love their job!

Andrey ZAKHAROV, "Vitbichi".