The director of JSC Podlesye-2003 explained how they learned to withstand bad weather and reap high harvests.

The team at Podlesye-2003, a joint-stock company, has learned to withstand adverse weather conditions and harvest high yields of grain, corn, and sugar beets, as well as produce thousands of tons of extra-grade milk annually. We learned how they do it on a trip to the Slutsk district.  Benefits for

Argarians 
: "Of course, 2025 will be remembered for a long time. On our farm and in Belarus as a whole, we were threatened by fluctuating weather conditions in the first half of the year—plus 8 in January and minus 8 in May, a rainy summer," says Dmitry Korolev, director of Podlesye-2003, calmly today. However, he was certainly worried in the spring. "But ultimately, both the country and our farm reaped an excellent harvest in the fall, and that's the most important thing! The country's modern agricultural sector has the strength to withstand adverse weather conditions!" First and foremost, this means adherence to agricultural practices and strict production discipline—from plowing, sowing, and crop care to harvesting . " 
Plus, of course, proper crop rotation in the fields and timely (and sufficient) application of fertilizers are essential," says the interviewee. He acknowledges, however, that Mother Nature has rewarded Podlesye-2003 with good soil: the soil fertility rating is 45. Experts believe this is a definite advantage for farmers.
The results, as they say in such cases, are evident. Podlesye-2003's grain yield this year is approximately 82 centners per hectare, rapeseed—45.1 centners per hectare, and silage corn—500 centners per hectare. The grain corn has also ripened excellently: it will yield 130-140 centners per hectare overall. In Podlesye, they also prepared 40,000 tons of haylage and 50,000 tons of silage—a total of 37 kcal units per head of grass forage.
We are talking in the director's car: Dmitry Sergeyevich is heading to the field where sugar beets are being harvested . The car stops at a stack. The white root crop has grown surprisingly well this year: large—as big as a newborn calf's head!
The stack gradually flows along the conveyor belt of a loading combine into the backs of dump trucks lined up in a row. As soon as we arrive, one of the trucks, filled to the brim with root crops, heads off toward the Slutsk Sugar Refinery. Upon arrival, we approach Nikolai Kononok, chief agronomist of Podlesye-2003 OJSC. "
The beets are excellent: the yield is over 800 c/ha!" the chief agronomist rejoices. "By the way, the sugar content of the root crops is also quite good – around 17%, which is even more than good! In total, the plant should be supplied with around 20,000 tons this year, which is significantly more than last year, although last year was also quite good. 
The chief agronomist, like the farm manager, is also quite pleased with the year's results. 
"Despite the spring frosts, we didn't have to replant anything," says Nikolai Kononok. "Wheat proved to be the most frost-resistant. It was virtually undamaged, but rapeseed and barley were slightly damaged by frost, but we saved the damaged areas by fertilizing them: the results are excellent. The rapeseed yield alone was 45.1 centners per hectare." 
While we're talking with the chief agronomist, Dmitry Korolev approaches and supports the specialist.
"Our entire crop production has been operating extremely profitably for the past three years, as has the farm itself," notes Dmitry Sergeyevich, clarifying that this year, Podlesye-2003 OJSC supplied 250 tons of oilseeds under a state order, and sold the remaining harvest to processing plants—with the condition that the rapeseed meal, an important protein raw material for cattle feed, would be returned .  "
Animal welfare. Livestock farming, both milk and meat production
, is also demonstrating steady growth in efficiency . Milk profitability, in particular, is around 45%. We then head off to inspect the fields where the land is being prepared for future crops—where the autumn plowing is underway. We drive past corn fields where the corn has grown taller than a man. Dmitry Korolev explains: "We'll soon be harvesting corn for grain—we're waiting for fine weather." Both corn and grain, with the exception of state orders for grain and rapeseed, as well as sugar beets, are processed through livestock farming. Our farms house 9,200 head of cattle.  The herd, let's say, is quite large, comparable to the population of a large town! And this is with a cattle density of 125 head per hectare! Farmers have to work hard to feed such an army of cattle . And, it must be said, livestock farming here is top-notch. Podlesye-2003 OJSC sells 60 tons of milk daily, with a marketability of over 90%. Almost all of this milk—91%—is extra-grade.  Driven by the goal of increasing the efficiency of livestock farming, Podlesye-2003 OJSC annually invests considerable effort and resources in the construction and renovation of dairy farms. Last year, three calf shelters were built here, each housing 250 calves. Specifically, two cattle housing buildings and a milking and dairy unit at the Shalovichi dairy farm were recently commissioned.  Reconstruction of the fattening bull building, as well as the construction of a dry-calf barn and a calf shelter, are ongoing. As a result, this dairy farm will soon be able to accommodate up to 1,500 head of dairy cattle!  Human resources are at their peak . The success of this agricultural year is the merit of the entire team, so I would like to express my gratitude to our people for a job well done. When spring comes





"During crop care and, of course, during harvesting, many are willing to work without regard for time. "During harvesting, for example, we don't leave the fields until the dew has fallen," says Dmitry Korolev. "
The combine harvesters sometimes continue harvesting until 9 p.m., sometimes until 1 a.m.! Now, when the main harvest has been gathered, the working day on the farm is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
Each worker at Podlesye-2003 is valued based on their contribution. The average salary for the first 10 months of this year at the company was 2,850,000 rubles. During harvesting and sowing, machine operators' salaries reach 6,000-8,000 rubles.
Tellingly, Podlesye-2003 doesn't have the same labor shortage as farms located near cities.
Recently, thanks to government support, people in villages have begun actively building houses, especially large families.
The company renovates vacated buildings and hands them over to young workers arriving in the village. The company also owns a four-story apartment building. This means there are options for young workers and specialists without housing. Recently, two veterinarians and two engineers arrived at Podlesye-2003. Naturally, they were immediately provided with housing. For now, it's rented. But soon, they'll be able to consider buying their own.

1. Podlesye-2003 OJSC sells 60 tons of milk daily, with a marketability of over 90%. Almost all of this—91%—is extra-grade.
2. To operate even more efficiently, Podlesye-2003 OJSC is constantly expanding its fleet of machinery and tractors. It recently purchased two new MAZ trucks, six MTZ tractors, and a self-propelled sprayer.

Tamara MARKINA, photo by Sergey SHELEG