Lazarevsky farmers race to plant crops after delayed spring start

Farmers in Lazarevsky District have kicked off their spring planting, though this year’s work started later than usual. A drawn-out and unpredictable spring delayed the season’s beginning. Despite the setback, fields are now being sown with key crops, including potatoes and fodder grasses.

The first to finish planting early grains was Vector LLC, which sowed 54 hectares of barley and 99 hectares of oats. Poletnoye LLC followed by completing 200 hectares of oats. These early efforts mark the start of a busy season for local growers.

Potatoes, often called the 'second bread,' will cover 1,285 hectares across the district. Roman Rudolfovich Maksyutin’s farm has already planted 65 of its planned 90 hectares, using mulching to warm the soil and speed up germination. If the weather stays favourable, Nina Tereshchenko, head of the district’s agricultural department, expects a harvest similar to last year’s 18,000 tons. For livestock feed, 217 hectares of first-cycle annual grasses have been planted to secure a steady supply of green fodder. Collective farms will manage 16,571 hectares this year, while private farmers will work 5,728 hectares. Together, they bring the district’s total sowing area for 2024 to 23,316 hectares.

The delayed start has not slowed progress, as fields are now being planted with essential crops. With potatoes, grains, and fodder grasses going into the ground, the district aims for another productive year. The success of the harvest will depend largely on stable weather in the coming months.