In the Chelyabinsk region, the sowing season may start a week earlier

South Ural farmers are getting ready for sowing. Now their main task is the formation of material resources for seasonal work - the preparation of equipment, the purchase of seeds and fuels and lubricants. The Ministry of Agriculture of the Chelyabinsk Region ensures a good rate of payment of state support.
Preparation for the sowing campaign became the main topic of the conference call of the Minister of Agriculture of the Chelyabinsk Region Alexei Kobylin with the heads of the regional departments of agriculture.
According to Roshydrometcenter forecasts, for the entire field season from April to September, the temperature is expected to be within normal limits, precipitation is also within normal limits, slightly higher in June and August.
“Now in the northern part of the region the snow is melting very quickly, in the south it is more. However, the field season is expected to start a week earlier this year. The main task now is the formation of material resources for the sowing campaign in the optimal time,” said Alexei Kobylin.
State support is also aimed at these goals. According to Alexey Kobylin, since the beginning of the year, 86 applications from South Ural farmers for preferential investment loans totaling 850 million rubles have been approved. Of these, 77 applications - for the purchase of equipment, six - for the modernization of production facilities, three - for the purchase of breeding stock. About 200 applications for a total of 7.2 billion rubles were considered for preferential short loans. Until March 31, the regional Ministry of Agriculture is accepting documents for the payment of incentive subsidies for perennial plantations, and continues to accept applications for a subsidy to stimulate the production of vegetables and potatoes. Until April 7, documents are accepted for a stimulating subsidy for beef cattle breeding, until April 10 - for insurance in animal husbandry.
At the moment, the readiness of arable tractors is 87%, seeding machines - 86%. Taking into account the possibility of an earlier field season, the equipment should reach the line of readiness around April 10th. To date, 26.5 thousand tons of diesel fuel and 5.44 thousand tons of gasoline have been purchased - 68% of the need for the sowing campaign. Prices for fuel and lubricants are quite stable, lower than for the same period last year.
With an estimated need of 248.6 thousand tons, farms have 248.4 thousand tons of seeds of grain crops, almost 100%. Now the farms are buying the missing oilseeds, vegetables and potatoes.