A seminar-meeting on the preparation of agricultural machinery for the 2022 spring field work was held in the Verkhnedvinsk district

Opening the seminar, Nikolay Sherstnev noted that the main fieldwork is completed – it is high time to put the equipment into storage and prepare it for the upcoming season. Unlike in previous years, the approaches to this process are radically changing this time. Specifically, the work on preparing the equipment will be systematized and centralized. Explaining the task set, the head of the region revealed its underlying reasons. Weak agricultural organizations, mostly integrated into agricultural holdings, do not have the capacity to service equipment independently. They lack personnel for this – often there is no turner, mechanic, or blacksmith, and there are insufficient financial resources and material base capabilities to handle not only repairs but even the storage of equipment. At the same time, there are 17 agroservices in the region that have the necessary base, specialists, equipment, and other resources to successfully solve these problems. Their functionality has been lost for an obvious reason: at one time, "chronic" non-payments from agricultural organizations undermined the economy of agroservices and reduced them to the level of ordinary farms. It is time to restore the power of specialized organizations, entrust the care of equipment to professionals, and concentrate the necessary finances and means of production with them.

It is possible to implement this project by "attaching" service departments to the system of agro-associations. To discuss ways to solve the problem and see in practice the work of the district agroservice, which is part of the Verkhnedvinsk agro-association, is the goal of the seminar.

Analyzing the tasks facing the region's engineering service for preparing equipment for spring field work, the Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Committee for Agriculture and Food, Mikhail Pridibaylo, reported on the current state of the machine and tractor fleet of the Vitebsk region. He drew attention to the process of its renewal: there are a total of 6278 tractors, including 1171 high-power ones. Over the last five-year period, 3878 units of agricultural machinery have been acquired. Considering the average service life of a tractor is 10 years, this is an insufficient indicator. In total, only 3.3% has been updated over the five-year period, and about half of the machine and tractor fleet has been in operation for more than 10 years.

It is clear that constant maintenance of equipment is required, and considerable effort must be made to ensure its readiness. As noted, almost everything needs repair. This means that the very systemic and professional work that is being aimed at farmers today is necessary.

Mikhail Pridibaylo presented a scheme for the distribution of agro-services in the Vitebsk region by existing raw material zones, noting the great potential of these specialized organizations in working with equipment of any complexity. For example, the potential of the Verkhnedvinsk district agro-service allows for repair work worth more than 1.5 million rubles. In total, such organizations are already capable of mastering over 20 million rubles today – practically half of the funds planned for these purposes in the region. It is important to fully utilize the available resources of service departments by including them in agro-associations. The legal framework for such actions has been created in the state. The speaker commented on the issue of providing the agricultural sector with machine operator personnel. Annually, about 700 people are attracted from outside for seasonal work. At the same time, about five hundred young people are obtaining licenses, and another part is undergoing advanced training courses. These people need to be worked with, doing everything possible to attract them to the farms.

Dwelling on the trends in the placement and repair of equipment, Mikhail Petrovich noted that farmers are unreasonably delaying the start of these works, and they need to be started immediately. The deadlines for the readiness of equipment for field work have been named: sowing – by March 1, fodder harvesting – by May 1, grain harvesting – by June 1, flax harvesting – by July 1, and potato harvesting – by September 1. Deviating from this schedule means jeopardizing the efforts of all sectors of agricultural production.

Continuing the topic, Nikolai Korotkevich, Head of the Sector for Supervision of the Technical Condition of Machinery and Equipment of the Committee for Agriculture and Food of the Regional Executive Committee, drew attention to the specifics of placing agricultural machinery in long-term storage. A set of measures for carrying out these works has been developed in the region, which provides for the schedules for placing all types of equipment – the responsible process is carried out in accordance with it. Today, Vitebsk region leads the republic in placing equipment in long-term storage – it should be completed by November 15. However, it is important not to miss a single unit of expensive machinery, especially energy-intensive ones, and to comply with all requirements for both long-term and temporary storage. The specialist motivated the managers to take part in the review competition for placing equipment, drawing attention to the significant prize fund. For example, OJSC "Shaiterovo" of Verkhnedvinsk district received a prize for winning the competition among agricultural organizations of the region and used it to equip facilities with video surveillance.

During their visit to OJSC "Shaiterovo", seminar participants became convinced of the competent approach to working with machinery. As noted by the director of the agricultural enterprise, Mikhail Gumnenkov, this was facilitated by overcoming the age-old sluggishness in organizing its maintenance and repair. Having turned the situation around and starting work immediately after the field work, the villagers managed to equip solid workshops with the necessary base, put the machinery into storage in a thrifty manner, conduct tenders in advance for the purchase of necessary components and spare parts, and productively resolve other issues. As a result, well-maintained machinery allows the enterprise to achieve 50-centner grain yields and lead the region in the production of rapeseed and other fodder crops.

The seminar also discussed issues of compliance with technologies in agricultural production and methods for increasing soil fertility. The director of KUP "Vitebskaya OPISKH", Vasily Leontiev, in particular, emphasized the importance of liming land. He noted that in the Vitebsk region there are 350 thousand hectares of acidic soils, which leads to crop yield shortfalls of 120 thousand tons of fodder units for fodder crops alone. The specialist reported on the fulfillment of the soil liming plan and the reserves for carrying out the work. Nikolay Sherstnev noted in this regard that efforts and funds should be invested in lands that will bring real returns. And in general, the result must be calculated in advance in any endeavor.

Emphasizing the importance of a responsible approach to equipment preparation, Nikolay Sherstnev demanded the development of a clear action program aimed at its systematization and specialization. It is necessary to define the area of responsibility of service departments, consider which types of equipment specific agro-service companies can specialize in, how their work will be structured, and how production processes will be monitored. Agro-service companies should also provide practical assistance to agricultural organizations in carrying out agricultural campaigns. Their activities should include services such as organic matter removal, soil liming, crop treatment with mineral fertilizers, fodder harvesting, and others. For this purpose, appropriate mechanical detachments and units should be created.

Seminar participants studied the work in this direction of Verkhnedvinsk Rayagroservice, part of the OJSC "Verkhnedvinsk Dairy and Cheese Factory" association. The director of the agro-association, Vasily Gubanov, and the head of Rayagroservice, Sergey Skovorodko, spoke about the organization of maintenance and repair of agricultural machinery at the association's repair base, and the achievements of the RAS mechanical detachments, which provide significant assistance to the agricultural sector in carrying out agricultural work. There was an opportunity to familiarize oneself with the work of the diagnostic service station; the tire installation and repair unit, the capital repair of the "Dvina" SEU with modernization of the suspension, transmission, and installation of a diesel engine; the engine and high-power tractor repair and maintenance workshops; the milking machine service department, and other production units. New and repaired equipment from agro-service enterprises was demonstrated. Summing up the seminar, Nikolay Sherstnev noted that the issue of organizing equipment maintenance and reviving the agro-service system will be submitted to a meeting of the regional executive committee. A clear system of actions needs to be developed; equipment needs an owner, and the owner must maintain order.

"Vitebskiye Vesti"