Tetyushsky District: Preserve crops and conduct forage harvesting

      As of today, the main task of the agrarians in the Tetyushi district of Tatarstan is the care of crops and the preparation of feed. We discussed this with the head of the Department of Agriculture and Food of the district, Ramis Garipov. – Ramis Akhmetovich, please tell us about the current situation in crop production in the district. – It is critically important to carry out protective measures now: over 183 thousand hectares of crops need to be treated in a single calculation across the district. Currently, protective measures have been carried out on an area of 31,297 hectares, which is 17 percent of the plan. Of these, 15,412 hectares have been treated against weeds, 6,540 hectares against pests, and 9,345 hectares against diseases. – What are the rates of conducting protective measures? – The rates of protective measures need to be increased, as there is a vigorous development of weeds in the fields. It is important not to miss the optimal timing for herbicide treatments on spring crops, combining them with foliar fertilization. – What phase of development are the main crops in? – Winter grain crops are currently in the tillering phase – the tubing of the second internode. The spring grain crops are at the seedling stage – two to three leaves. With the onset of hot weather, flea beetles and cereal flies will begin to harm the young seedlings. It is necessary to monitor the development of pests and conduct insecticide treatments in a timely manner. – How are things with sugar beets? – The phase of plant development varies among farms due to different sowing dates. It is now necessary to carry out herbicide treatment against dicotyledonous weeds. – Let's move on to the questions of feed preparation. – The organization of feed preparation will affect the productivity of animals and the production of high-margin milk. This year we need to prepare 68,400 tons of silage, 59,195 tons of haylage, and 7,183 tons of hay. The planned need is 40 quintals of feed units per one conditional head. – What is the availability of feed and what should be paid attention to during preparation? – We have 25.85 quintals of feed units per one conditional head left, which allows us to focus on quality rather than quantity when preparing new feeds. Perennial grasses are in the phase of beginning budding. Each farm needs to conduct daily monitoring of grass development and the content of dry matter in the green mass. For mowing, the dry matter should be at least 30 percent – this guarantees high quality hay and haylage. – What are the features of preparing feed crops? – Leguminous feed crops reach maximum nutritional value at the beginning of budding: protein content is 24 percent, exchange energy is 11.5 megajoules. After budding, feed grasses lose their nutritional value: protein content decreases to 16 percent, exchange energy to 9 megajoules. Without additional concentrates, it is possible to produce only 15 kilograms of milk per cow. Therefore, the organization and adherence to the timing of feed preparation will determine the productivity of animal husbandry. – What equipment will be used and what deadlines are set? – For feed preparation, 15 forage harvesters, 16 self-propelled mowers, 33 mounted mowers, and 41 balers will be used. The first mowing of perennial grasses should be completed by June 15. – What should be paid attention to when preparing equipment and organizing work? – Special attention should be paid to the condition of the shredding devices of the forage harvesters, periodically sharpening the knives – this reduces fuel consumption by 20 percent, reduces engine load by up to 25 percent, and increases productivity. It is also important to comply with labor protection and fire safety rules: organize medical examinations, briefings, provide workers with special clothing and personal protective equipment. All self-propelled agricultural machines must be equipped with two functioning fire extinguishers and spark arresters. The timeliness and quality of all measures depend not only on the harvest but also on the economic stability of the farms in the district. – Thank you for the conversation. To maintain livestock year-round, it is necessary to prepare: silage – 68,400 tons; haylage – 59,195 tons; hay – 7,183 tons. The need is calculated based on 40 quintals of feed units of coarse and succulent feeds per one conditional head.