A modern center for equipment repair and maintenance has opened at "MazolovaGaz"
Care and Control
Viktor Shebalov, Head of the Department of Livestock Production and Industrial Construction of the Committee for Agriculture and Food of the Regional Executive Committee, analyzed the state of affairs in all areas of the industry. In particular, milk production amounted to 97.5% compared to the same period last year (in June, there was a positive trend – 100.7%). The average yield per cow was 1936 liters (68% of the milk is supplied to processing enterprises with the "extra" grade).
While "Mazolovo-Gaz" (Vitebsk district), "Virovlyansky" (Gorodok district), "Larinovka" (Orsha district), and "Vesna-Energo" (Polotsk district) achieved 4200 liters and above, "Stepanovichi" (Gorodok district) and "Pridvinsky" (Shumilino district) produced less than 1000 liters. 18 districts are showing negative results, although their potential allows for increased volumes.
First of all, attention should be paid to the proper milking of newly calved cows, ensuring they receive concentrates with a protein content of at least 16%. Also unsatisfactory are the milk quality, average daily weight gain of cattle, the indicator for unproductive loss of heifers, and the pace of trench construction for silage, about 40% of which is stored in mounds that do not ensure proper quality. District authorities are obliged to take control of all shortcomings.
There are Reserves
Economists calculated that over six months, losses in agricultural organizations of the Vitebsk region amounted to 45.9 million rubles, or 51.3% of the wage fund. By the way, this amount would have been enough to provide farms with fuel for work in July, August, and September.
According to Natalia Balitskaya, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Agriculture and Food of the Regional Executive Committee, losses from the sale of livestock with low weight conditions amounted to 28.3 million rubles, and from the sale of low-quality milk – 12.6 million rubles. With milk commerciality at 90% (currently this indicator is 87.8%), the region would have additionally received 4.8 million rubles. As of July 17, overdue wage arrears amounted to 1.4 million rubles. However, the following figures are already inspiring optimism: since the beginning of the year, the number of unprofitable agricultural enterprises has decreased by almost 15%.
Harvesters to the Fields
Mikhail Pridibaylo, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Agriculture and Food of the Regional Executive Committee, reported on the preparation of equipment for the upcoming harvest. The readiness of harvesters is 59.4%; 556 units need to be repaired in the shortest possible time, which will require 4.1 million rubles.
The readiness of equipment in Dubrovensky and Gluboksky districts, where spare parts were considered in advance, is not in question. During the harvest, engineering services need to pay special attention to the daily maintenance of harvesters. Mikhail Pridibaylo gave several examples where machine operators make changes to the design. Such alleged improvements often lead to significant grain losses.
Summing up the meeting, Nikolai Sherstnev, Chairperson of the Regional Executive Committee, emphasized the need to organize work so that everyone can be proud of the order in the fields, farms, and machine yards.
The structure of sowing areas for the upcoming season is currently being formed, allowing for the selection of a good predecessor for grain crops. This autumn, it is planned to expand the sowing of hybrid rye to 20 thousand hectares. Last year, it yielded 40 centners per hectare (ordinary rye – 20–22 centners per hectare). Today, 5 thousand hectares are occupied by hybrid rye, and yields of up to 100 centners per hectare are predicted in some areas. It is important that this crop has export potential: it is in demand in Russia.
An Example to Follow
The participants of the meeting visited the facilities of agricultural production cooperative "MazolovoGaz" of unitary enterprise "Vitebskoblgaz", where they familiarized themselves with advanced agricultural production technologies. On this day, a solemn opening of a modern center for technical diagnostics, maintenance, repair, and storage of equipment took place here. Congratulating the employees of the enterprise, Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Viktor Askerko said:
– The construction of such a complex is evidence of care for people, primarily for the machine operator. We would very much like there to be more such examples.
Viktor Askerko noted that systematic work is being carried out in the Vitebsk region to improve agricultural production. In particular, this year almost 1.5 thousand units of equipment have been purchased for farms. The participants of the meeting also visited Kopys in the Orsha district, where they learned about the transformations of the urban-type settlement.
Sergey LYASHUK, photo by the author. "Vitebskiye vesti".