Regional Agricultural Production: In the Vitebsk region, the readiness of the tractor fleet for sowing is 86%
At the same time, in some districts (Beshenkovichi, Verkhnedvinsk), this figure exceeds 90%. The pace of tractor preparation is lower than the regional average in Braslav, Chashniki, Liozno, Miory, and Gorodok districts.
— If on a similar date in 2022 the readiness of equipment was about 80%, then today it is 86%. This year, district executive committees are more actively allocating funds from local budgets to support agricultural producers, which yields such results. Therefore, the task set to repair at least 95% of energy-intensive tractors, including agricultural machinery involved in field work, will be accomplished. The staff are working and focused on successfully completing the sowing campaign within the established deadlines, — assured Sergey Egorov.
A total of at least 1070 units of energy-intensive tractors will be involved in the spring. High-performance equipment should be used only in integrated systems, which will make it possible to eliminate unjustified runs and transfers. A two-shift organization of their work will ensure high average daily productivity of soil cultivation and sowing units, stated the chairman of the committee.
During the preparatory period, special emphasis is placed on the accumulation of mineral fertilizers. A total of 22% of the technological requirement has been accumulated. First of all, those types are being acquired that are necessary for top dressing winter cereals and winter cruciferous crops. Currently, the areas of winter cereals and cruciferous crops are fully provided with nitrogen fertilizers, emphasized Sergey Egorov.
Another important concern for farmers is the seed fund. Vitebsk region farms are generally provided with their own seeds of spring cereals and leguminous crops, spring rapeseed, flax, potatoes, and perennial grasses for the planned sowing areas.
— One of the keys to a high yield is the availability, quality, and preparation of seeds. Therefore, this year the committee has tightened the requirements for sampling for their research. With the slightest non-compliance of at least one of the indicators (purity, germination, impurities, etc.), seeds are sent for reprocessing. As practice shows, about 30% of seeds fail due to purity. In other words, local specialists are not working hard enough in terms of the quality of seed cleaning, — noted Sergey Egorov.
In total, in 2023, the sown area of agricultural crops will be 768.1 thousand hectares, including grains and legumes — 350.4 thousand hectares. Cruciferous crops will occupy 89.4 thousand hectares, and flax will be allocated 11.5 thousand hectares. 83.1 thousand hectares are planned for silage corn. The areas for potatoes and vegetables will remain at the 2022 level (2 thousand hectares and 0.3 thousand hectares, respectively). Potato cultivation will be mainly carried out by specialized large-scale organizations. In addition, Dubrovensky and Tolochinsky districts will continue to grow sugar beets (a total of 600 hectares). KFH "Terra Gratia" in Senno district plans to sow 1.2 thousand hectares of soybeans and will remain the only farm in the Vitebsk region engaged in this crop.