The 'sweet' culture arrives at the receiving point directly from farms of several districts. As reported by the district executive committee's agriculture and nutrition department, in our district only the rural (farm) enterprise 'AgraAvtaNova' grows sugar beet. This year they have planted an area of 400 hectares, half of which has already been harvested.

• The sugar beet yield this season is 500 centners per hectare, which is significantly higher than last year's figure of about 400 c/ha. This summer's weather contributed to good growth of the root crops: they like loose soil. Moreover, we maintained agronomic practices, timely applying necessary micronutrients and amino acids. Hence the good result. By the way, the sugar content of this year's beet is 16.5-16.7 percent, which is above the baseline level.

Currently, deliveries of sugar beet are also being made by agricultural enterprises of Kirov district. Next in line are receptions of root crops from farms of Ragachyov, Zhlobin, Pukhovich, and Chervyen districts. Soon, beet is also expected to arrive from Bobruysk district, which had not cultivated this crop for several years but resumed its cultivation this summer.

Mikhail Berazovsky, head of the beet receiving point, says the season started on September 10. Currently, about 1,200 tons of root crops are delivered daily from the fields. Early produce is immediately sent for processing to the Slutsk sugar-refining plant, so far 8,400 tons have been directed there, while late produce is placed in storage. This year it is planned to store 120,000 tons in piles. Overall, the reception of sweet produce continues almost until snowfall.

Last autumn, the beet receiving point received a new pile-stacking complex for sugar beet, developed by the pilot plant of the Scientific and Practical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. Thanks to it, 50,000 tons were already stacked last season. Soon it will begin operation to create all conditions for quality storage of beet.

Ina Zaskevich