Preparation for spring field work were discussed March 16 at the meeting, which was held by acting Governor of the Voronezh region Alexander Gusev. As told in his speech, the acting head of the Department of agrarian policy of the region Alexander Kvasov, this year the sowing area will amount to 2,633 million hectares, slightly more than last year. Spring crops will be sown on the area of 1,934 million hectares (153 thousand hectares more than last year).

"As for the winter crops, they were sown in the region on the area of 740 thousand hectares. Their condition on 95% of the acreage rated as good and satisfactory. However, the presence of an ice crust on the fields makes scientists fears about the death of plants – according to preliminary estimates, about 15%", — stated in the message.

So now, according to Kvasov, farmers need to plan their feeding and to develop further the cultivation technology for high quality grain.

The area of grain crops in the region this year will increase by 30 thousand hectares — up to 1,516 thousand hectares due to the growth of the crop areas of leguminous and grain maize. The acreage of sugar beet is planned at the level of the previous year and will amount to 136 thousand hectares. In the oilseeds group, priority will be given to soy and flax. It is also planned to develop organic farming.

Preferential crediting of agricultural producers of the region told at the meeting the Deputy head of the Department of agrarian policy of the region – head of Department of state support for agriculture Svetlana Petrova. According to her, this year the plan of concessional lending of the Voronezh region has a cap on the subsidy to short-term credit in the amount of 17.7 billion rubles. Funds will receive 325 borrowers. Only, according to the regional government, on spring field work in 2018 will be sent to working capital 1.7 times more than in 2017.

Photo: parlament.biz