They are breaking records in yield, milk yield and weight gain. Whose merit is this, said the director of JSC "Gastellovskoye"

Topic news One of the leading agricultural enterprises of the MINSK region – OJSC Gastellovskoye – celebrates its 95th anniversary. From year to year, the enterprise, which is known for its achievements beyond the central region, breaks records for crop yields, MILK yields and weight gains. The credit for this is collective. A correspondent from "7 days" went to the agro-town of Senitsa to find out how the Gastellovites are going to celebrate the anniversary and what is the secret of their production success.
Under the Star of a Hero The enterprise traces its history back to 1930, when the "Red Specialist" farm was founded in the suburbs of the capital. After the war, it was renamed in honor of Hero of the Soviet Union pilot Nikolai Gastell. Even in those distant times, outstanding results in the development of agriculture were achieved here, deservedly receiving the Order of the Red Banner of Labor in 1967. OJSC Gastellovskoye maintains a high bar in its work to this day. Thus, last year the farm made a worthy contribution to the all-republican loaf: the grain yield reached over 100 centners per hectare. At the regional festival of grain growers "Dazhynki-2024" the workers of the enterprise repeatedly rose to the stage to receive well-deserved awards to loud applause. In total, over 13 thousand tons of grain were collected from the fields. The potato harvest was pleasing - over 522 tons, SUGAR beet - 20 thousand tons. Gastellovsky has a high livestock density - almost 150 heads per 100 hectares of agricultural land, and significant attention is paid to the forage base here. Thus, 19 thousand tons of haylage, 29 thousand tons of silage and almost 500 tons of hay were prepared. - We are quite pleased with the results of last year's harvest. But we are not going to stop there. This season we plan to increase the figures, - notes the DIRECTOR of JSC "Gastellovskoye" Stanislav Sokolovsky, who has been at the helm of the farm for more than 15 years. He clarifies that no one is chasing figures on the farm, the main thing is to do the work efficiently and with full responsibility: - To make sure that not a single grain is lost, all the feed is prepared, and the cattle is fed. The focus is on winter crops











The current snowless winter with alternating warm and frosty days does not prevent, as before, from relying on winter crops, for which 1,220 hectares of farmland have been allocated. Winter wheat alone occupies 720 hectares on the farm, another 400 are allocated for rapeseed and 100 for barley. Compared to spring crops, they suffer less from spring drought. And, as practice shows, the yield of winter crops is an order of magnitude higher. - In winter, agronomists inspect the fields: the lack of snow and sharp temperature changes have not yet affected the crops. True, the heavenly office usually has its own plans, but we are ready for them! - assures Alexander Khripach, Deputy Director of OAO Gastellovskoye. - Making forecasts in agriculture is a thankless task. I can say one thing for sure: in the fall we laid a good foundation for the required agrotechnical terms. While the fields of JSC Gastellovskoye were dusted with snow in February, work
was in full swing at the dairy complexes . The farm has two large livestock facilities - robotic MTK Kanyutichi and Skorinichi, as well as a dairy farm equipped with modern equipment for cleaning, cooling and storing milk. Milk yields here, as well as fattening, are in full order. The average daily milk yield per cow is 34 liters. In total, one Gastellovskoye cow produces almost 11.5 tons of milk per year. The "white gold" is sold as an extra grade. The farm receives almost a kilogram of cattle weight gain . Currently, JSC Gastellovskoye is preparing agricultural machinery for the start of the new agricultural season - sowing-2025. – We prepare seeds, update the machinery and tractor fleet. Thus, this year we have already submitted documents for the purchase of a high-power tractor with a capacity of over 250 horsepower worth 637 thousand rubles, – specifies the deputy director. – We are also preparing documents for the purchase of a self-propelled sprayer, which will appear in our machine yard just in time for the first shoots. Valuable personnel In the production of agricultural products, no matter how modern and high-powered the equipment is, no matter what surprises the weather brings, all responsibility lies with people. Therefore, the human factor cannot be discounted: strict compliance with all regulations, requirements of agricultural technologies and the basics of land use culture is important. At OAO Gastellovskoye they know a thing or two about this, because in a team of 223 people, each is an important link in the work process. Every year, young specialists come to work here, who occupy not only management positions, but also get jobs as machine operators, livestock breeders and power engineers. The well-known agricultural enterprise attracts personnel not only from all regions of Belarus, but also from neighboring countries. Care





about the working man in the farm in the first place. The workers of "Gastellovskoye" are provided with vouchers to sanatoriums, tickets to the theater and circus. In addition to the annual 13th salary, workers are paid bonuses for state and professional holidays. The working conditions at the enterprise are also beyond praise. In addition, they are thinking about providing workers with housing. For example, at the end of last year, an apartment building was built by the JSC and with financial support from the state. New residents are already receiving the keys to their apartments. By the way, after working in the farm for 10 years, housing can be bought.
Among the new residents is a young specialist Sergei Kapustin, who has been working at JSC "Gastellovskoye" for more than six months. He came to the agro-town of Senitsa with his fiancée. The couple soon got married.

- After receiving his diploma, he was assigned to one of the agricultural enterprises of the Volkovysk district as an engineer. The salary there did not suit him, so he decided to start looking for a higher-paying job. I contacted the management of Gastellovsky and, having received consent, was redeployed. I was very well received by the team. I work here as a garage manager, - the specialist says. - The company immediately provided us with a dormitory, and just recently they gave us the keys to an apartment. In addition, I received 210 rubles in financial assistance from the farm every month as a young specialist.
Sergey supervises 14 drivers, he is also responsible for 43 units of equipment - monitors their serviceability and condition. Before releasing a vehicle from the garage, he checks for insurance and technical inspection. Experienced drivers treat the young specialist with respect.

- Senior colleagues are always ready to help both in word and deed, - shares Sergey Kapustin. - It is pleasant to work with people who give you the opportunity to gain experience and delve into the profession. This motivates you to work even harder, and it cannot be done any other way in agriculture.
In March, the farm will celebrate the 95th anniversary of its foundation. According to the director of the agricultural enterprise, the team is preparing for this holiday with all its might.
“We will make a commemorative album for our employees, in which we will tell about the main achievements of the farm, our best workers,” Stanislav Sokolovsky shares his plans. 
“We will hold the ceremonial event in the Senitskaya school, where a museum has been created. There we will organize an exhibition about our workers - Heroes of Socialist Labor. Over almost a century, we have five of them. Many have been repeatedly awarded medals and orders for conscientious work and dedication.
OAO Gastellovskoye in figures
Area of ​​agricultural land - 3872 hectares
Total cattle population - 5777 heads
Dairy herd - 1755 heads
Density per 100 hectares - 150 heads
Average daily milk yield per cow - 30 liters
Extra milk grade - almost 100%

The farm relies onwinter crops , for which
1,220 hectares of agricultural land are allocated.
Thus, wheat occupies 720 hectares, rapeseed - 400,
barley - 100 hectares.

The average daily gain of cattle at Gastellovskoye is about a kilogram. Milk yield per cow is 34 liters per day.

At the end of 2024 , the farm built an apartment building for its employees. After 10 years of work at OJSC Gastellovskoye, housing can be bought out.
Vadim KONDRATYUK, photo by BELTA and from the company's archive