Vitebsk region needs to pay more attention to the cultivation of fodder crops - Nikolai Sherstnev

"The main result of the hard work of all rural workers is the guaranteed food security of the country, the basis for the sustainable development of the agricultural sector of the economy, and the improvement of people's well-being. We sincerely express respect, honor, and glory to the hard peasant labor. The state of affairs in the agriculture of the Vitebsk region, its success, depend on the production and sale of livestock products. A stable fodder base, an increase in the volume of haylage harvesting has become a strategic direction for the development of crop production this year. We are expanding the areas of perennial grasses, increasing the proportion of clover, and focusing on leguminous crops and technological cultivation of corn," the governor stated.

Summarizing the results of the farmers' work this year, Nikolai Sherstnev emphasized that an objective assessment of the work results of the Vitebsk region's rural workers can only be given taking into account the conditions in which these results were formed.

The governor recalled that the sowing campaign took place in extremely difficult weather conditions. In the second and third decades of April, the region received almost 2 monthly precipitation norms on average, and some districts received 3 and 4 norms. This slowed down the work. It was also difficult during the harvest. From mid-July to the third decade of August, it rained almost daily. "As a result, the region lost a significant part of the harvest, and the gross grain yield in all categories of farms amounted to only 880 thousand tons," the head of the region noted. "At the same time, the harvest of grain collected in the region allowed us to fulfill the state order and fully replenish the seed funds," said Nikolai Sherstnev.

The governor also reported that the region has already stored more than 25 centners of fodder units per conventional head of cattle, which is 20% higher than last year. And taking into account the harvesting of the remaining corn areas in the region

calculate to harvest 30 centners of fodder units. "The shortfall in grain is fully compensated, both in terms of fodder units and protein, by increasing the volume of grass forage harvesting," emphasized Nikolai Sherstnev. This direction should be developed in the coming years, he believes.

"We need to provide the livestock industry with its own cheap protein. To do this, we need to grow peas, lupins, and other legumes in pure form," said the governor. "Cheap domestic protein is the key to reducing costs for the final products, which are milk and meat."

Speaking about other agricultural crops, the chairman of the regional executive committee emphasized that in the last two years, there has been a positive trend in potato production in the region - the average yield in the past and current seasons is about 280 centners per hectare. In the current year, the region expects to harvest 35 thousand tons of flax straw (4 thousand tons more than in 2015).

In his speech, the governor also focused on such an important component of successful production as the technical equipment of agricultural organizations. "Our strategy is to switch to modern, high-performance equipment. For Vitebsk region, considering its natural, climatic, and soil conditions, timely and quality execution of work is crucial, more than for any other region. Especially since the region is moving towards the concentration and consolidation of production, the creation of integration structures and holdings. It is here that we will form everything new and advanced in agricultural production. This is the future," Nikolai Sherstnev is confident.

The head of the region expressed sincere gratitude to everyone who worked hard during the harvest. The best rural workers and managers were awarded prizes, cash bonuses, gifts, and diplomas. The winners of the regional competition for achieving high indicators in the harvest of grain and leguminous crops in 2016 among agricultural organizations are: SPC "Larinovka" of Orsha district - 1st place, branch "Goryany-Agro" of Polotsk district - 2nd place.место, ОАО \"Шайтерово\" Верхнедвинского района - 3-е место.

Алена Тихонова. Фото Александра ХИТРОВА. БЕЛТА.