Agricultural organizations of the Vitebsk region have started harvesting rapeseed and grain
The established abnormal heat has introduced further adjustments to the work of agrarians. Vitebsk region has not seen anything like this in its history, when in mid-July mass harvesting of cruciferous and grain crops began in almost every field. Many farms in the Vitebsk region started harvesting not only rapeseed but also grain crops on July 14. The readiness of the districts for the harvesting campaign was discussed at a conference call at the regional executive committee.
– Agricultural organizations were not prepared for the grain to ripen so quickly, and in some places it burned. Previously, there were 10–14 days between fodder harvesting campaigns and the start of grain harvesting, which allowed time to prepare equipment. This year, everything has to be done in parallel. There is confusion in the farms: a machine operator is involved in fodder harvesting, but grain harvesting is already needed, and somewhere batteries and spare parts are needed, – Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Nikolai Sherstnev, informed about the situation in the region.
As of July 15, almost all regions of the oblast have started harvesting winter rapeseed, with 10% of the sown area harvested. Three days ago, about 6.5 thousand hectares of winter colza were harvested. This crop was the first to be harvested by combine. The yield was about 9 centners per hectare.
– The situation is changing dramatically in the districts. Farms understand that this is a low-cost and economically efficient crop that needs to be cultivated to generate initial funds. These funds can then be used to prepare equipment, pay for spare parts, purchase mineral fertilizers, glyphosate-containing preparations, and repair combine harvesters for grain harvesting, – noted the Chairman of the Committee for Agriculture and Food of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Sergey Egorov.
The situation is not the same in all districts. It is wetter in the western part of the region, where even winter rapeseed is not ready everywhere, but at the same time, in the central and eastern regions, almost everything is ripening at once: winter rapeseed, winter wheat, triticale, winter rye, barley. For example, in Beshenkovichi district, on July 14, the moisture content of rapeseed was 9-10%, and in Verkhnedvinsk district, it was 20-25% in different fields. Therefore, farm agronomists, specialists from agricultural departments, the regional agricultural committee, and control and seed inspectorates constantly monitor the fields and determine which areas will be harvested. Rapeseed acceptance has begun, and acceptance points are ready to receive the harvest.
"Simultaneously, grain harvesting is underway. Weather conditions have affected the speed of grain ripening. In some areas – sandy, clayey, on elevations – grain is scorching. To avoid losing the entire harvest, we are sending in the combines. The moisture content is different – 20% and higher, but it can be pressed and used for animal husbandry," said Sergey Egorov.
This year is unusual both for the republic as a whole and for the Vitebsk region. During the spring sowing, it rained heavily, which shifted the sowing dates. Then, without interruption, we moved on to fodder harvesting, which also took place in difficult weather conditions. The abnormal heat that has persisted for several weeks has affected both the quality and quantity of harvested fodder. Harvesting began in parallel.
The core team of machine operators is involved in both fodder harvesting and grain harvesting. The Chairman of the regional executive committee has signed an order to traditionally involve machine operators from industrial enterprises in Vitebsk and districts to assist in crop harvesting. 540 people will come to the aid of the farmers, including 180 combine operators. People are also involved in transportation, along with equipment and vehicles, to ensure timely delivery of grain from the combine to the acceptance points and the elevator.
– Approximately 1300 harvesters will be involved in the harvest, – said Mikhail Pridibaylo, Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Committee for Agriculture and Food. – As previous years have shown, some break down, so about a thousand units will be constantly in operation. As per the government's requirement, the readiness of the equipment should be 95% by July 20. As of July 15, this figure for the region was 78%, but Dokshitsky, Lepelsky, Orshansky, and Sharkovshchinsky districts are not even reaching it.
The main problem is that funds for spare parts were allocated late in the districts, Nikolai Sherstnev is convinced:
– If necessary, repair crews must be organized to work around the clock.
Farms in the Vitebsk region have been tasked with starting the harvest without waiting for full ripening, finding fields every day, harvesting individual plots to get everything done quickly, fulfill the state order, and provide grain processing enterprises with quality grain.
"SB".