Six times entered on the Republican Board of Honor! Chairman of the SPK "Svityazyanka-2003" spoke about the harvest prospects

Topic news How SPK Svityazyanka-2003 fulfills government orders and what attracts young specialists.
The agricultural cooperative is known for having been included on the Republican Honor Board six times. And this year, despite difficult weather conditions, it has once again entered the battle for high indicators. We tell you how the company's management assesses the prospects for the 2025 harvest and what helps farmers look to the future with optimism.
Last year's results
We talk with the chairman of SPK Svityazyanka-2003 Alexander Metelitsa in the field. There is simply no time to sit in the office. The first grass cutting is underway.
- If we sum up the results of last year, we can say that the tasks that were set for the farm and the team have been completed, all the planned activities have been carried out, - the interviewee emphasizes.
Thus, the gross production of grain in weight after processing in 2025 exceeded 15.7 thousand tons, with an average yield of 72.3 c/ha. SUGAR beet was received more than 30.5 thousand tons, or 764 c/ha. Oilseed rape - 2983 tons, with an average yield of 49.7 c/ha.
- All state orders were fulfilled, - notes Alexander Metelitsa. - Our farm also provided itself with herbaceous feed for the full need. Gross MILK production last year amounted to 23,539 tons, and the average milk yield per cow reached 12,059 kg. In addition, the average daily gain in growing and fattening cattle was recorded at 878 grams.
Plans for the new harvest
No one hides the fact that the spring of 2025 turned out to be difficult in terms of weather conditions. How did natural anomalies affect crops?
- Winter crops emerged from winter in good condition, but the cold spring and spring frosts affected the further development of plants, - says the chairman of the SPK "Svityazyanka-2003". - This mainly affected winter wheat and barley, as well as winter rapeseed. Therefore, we carried out additional fertilizing and treatment with amino acids to relieve stress in the plants. Otherwise, sowing on the farm was quick and on time.
As for plans, Alexander Metelitsa remains cautiously optimistic:
- We plan to get a good harvest for grain and rapeseed, but given the weather conditions, it will be lower than last year. For sugar beet, development is normal so far - if it rains, the harvest should be good. Corn is developing poorly so far, it was also hit by frosts, but with the onset of warm weather, it will make up for lost time.
As emphasized in the SPK "Svityazyanka-2003", today rapeseed in the structure of crop rotation of the farm is 600 hectares. Such an area has been cultivated for three years in a row and completely provides the own shop for processing oilseed crops with raw materials. By the way, the stake on rapeseed is made, including for sale on the market, where the demand and price for rapeseed oil are consistently high.
Meanwhile, work in the field is in full swing.
- Expectations from the first mowing were higher -reality has made adjustments, - notes Alexander Metelitsa. - The productivity of grasses was also affected by spring frosts, which slowed down their growth. Now it has started to rain, it has warmed up a bit. We harvest the grasses of the first cut and immediately feed them in order to get subsequent full cuts.
The HEAD of the SPK "Svityazyanka-2003" shares his plans for livestock farming for this year: to get about 24,274 tons of milk, increase the milk yield per cow to 12,272 kg, and the average daily gain to 888 grams.
To achieve the set goals, as in previous years, the farm is updating and purchasing agricultural machinery. Thus, in 2025, they purchased two domestic grain harvesters, an MTZ-1523 tractor, a PTS-12U trailer, a MAZ truck, and a forage harvester.
 
In addition, in September it is planned to complete the construction of two cowsheds for 400 heads and a milking and dairy block at the dairy farm "Miratici". - The livestock is gradually growing, - the chairman of the cooperative notes. - In recent years, there was no longer enough space for cattle, and we decided to expand. Investments are justified - the livestock industry brings in about 80% of revenue. In fact, we live on the sale of milk and MEAT.

Focus on attracting young people
In the SPK "Svityazyanka-2003" they do not limit themselves to the construction of production facilities. In May 2025, the farm commissioned a 12-apartment residential building in the village of Raitsa, which will provide housing, including for young professionals. The situation with young people is difficult, but controllable. Today, the local school has more than 110 students, and the kindergarten has 36 children, which means that the cooperative is growing with families and future employees. 
New personnel are systematically recruited. Young people are provided not only with comfortable housing, but also with the opportunity to earn a decent income by rural standards. Thus, based on the results of last year, the average salary of a young specialist was 1,715.78 rubles, and for three months of 2025 it was already 1,818.95 rubles.

The collective agreement of the SPK "Svityazyanka-2003" provides for special payments for this category of workers. Those who, having received higher or secondary specialized education, came to work at the enterprise, are provided with financial assistance in the amount of three tariff salaries, but not less than ten basic units, or 420 rubles. Young specialists with vocational education who came to work at the farm are paid financial assistance in the amount of up to ten basic units.
The emphasis is also on target students. Students receiving higher or secondary specialized education on a target referral from the cooperative receive an additional payment of five basic units, or 210 rubles. At the same time, SPK Svityazyanka-2003 is interested in its students not just attending lectures, but also getting high grades. Thus, upon providing a report card for the semester with an average score of 8 or higher, an additional five basic units are paid. If the score for the semester is higher than 7, two basic units are added to the additional payment.
Those who successfully study on the referral or application of the production cooperative or under contracts concluded with SPK Svityazyanka-2003 are guaranteed employment after receiving their first higher education. And this is the minimum guarantee, the farm notes. Young workers who return to work after serving in the armed forces are paid five basic units at a time. 
Financial assistance for any occasion
The SPK "Svityazyanka-2003" provides a wide range of financial assistance and rewards for its employees. They are paid from the company's own funds. 
Thus, those who have worked in the enterprise for at least three years can count on financial assistance (in the form of a valuable gift or cash payment) in connection with their anniversary. It is a multiple of each decade lived. For example, three basic units are due for 30 years, seven basic units for 70 years. Valuable gifts are also presented or cash payments are received for the anniversary dates of the enterprise itself. In this case, honored workers and order holders receive five basic units, all other employees and pensioners - three. 
Those who have reached the established retirement age are entitled to a payment of ten basic units. And those who have worked for at least one year and are entering into their first marriage - twenty basic units, at the birth of a child - five. 
- There is a financial incentive for those who have shown exemplary results in work. For example, a one-time payment to employees listed on the Honor Board is twelve basic units, - emphasizes Alexander Metelitsa. - We also pay three basic units on Defender of the Fatherland Day and International Women's Day, Mother's and Father's Day. 
The collective labor agreement of SPK "Svityazyanka-2003" stipulates a number of additional social benefits. In addition to subsidized meals, financial assistance is provided for the difference between the subsidized and full cost of lunches and dinners. 
Material assistance is paid to mothers, fathers and guardians (if they do not violate labor discipline) in the amount of 50% of the cost of children's stay in preschool institutions. Free transportation of children from remote settlements to kindergartens and schools is organized by the cooperative's motor transport. But the parents of children in need of treatment are given free vouchers to sanatorium institutions, and the costs of medical care are reimbursed. All children of workers are provided vouchers to HEALTH camps at the expense of the farm.
By decision of the board, SPK "Svityazyanka-2003" provides material assistance in kind and cash to cooperative workers for holidays and significant events (for example, for New Year and Agricultural Workers' Day). Quarterly bonuses are paid for meeting production targets and forhealthy lifestyle of the employee. The second, by the way, is seven basic units, or 294 rubles.
Also, in the SPK "Svityazyanka-2003" a vacation with pay is provided for for valid reasons of a personal or family nature. Upon marriage or for the mother and father upon marriage of children - for three days. Upon the birth of a child - for a day. On the first day of the school year, parents whose children go to grades 1-4 are given a day off, half a working day with pay. 

Additional payments stimulate work
- Monthly additional payments are also made at the main place of work of young specialists in proportion to the time worked, provided that they perform the minimum labor participation and do not violate labor discipline, - notes Alexander Metelitsa. 
Thus, young workers who arrived after finishing school or serving in the armed forces are paid an additional 0.46 of the basic rate for two years. The same additional payment for five years from the SPK "Svityazyanka-2003" is due to young specialists with higher and secondary specialized education who arrived to work on assignment, but decided to continue working in the farm and signed employment contracts for a period of at least five years. 
Are there any "lifting" payments?
- Of course. Young specialists with higher and secondary specialized education who arrived to us on assignment and signed a contract for subsequent work in the SPK for at least five years are given a loan in the amount of 200 basic units, - says Alexander Metelitsa. - This money can be used for the construction or purchase of housing, for the purchase of durable goods or essential items, as well as for paid training and other purposes. The list is quite long. A surety agreement serves as collateral.
Assistance in the development of subsidiary farms
The SPK "Svityazyanka-2003" provides serious assistance in the management and development of subsidiary farms. Workers who keep livestock are allocated plots for harvesting fodder free of charge. Hay and straw can also be purchased at the price set at the time of sale. Young cattle can also be sold to those who wish. In addition, free veterinary care is provided for the prevention of diseases and treatment of sick animals that are owned by villagers. 
- Young specialists who have developed a minimum of labor participation and have not violated labor discipline are allocated a tenth of a hectare for their own farm, - emphasizes the chairman of the production cooperative. - All cooperative workers are provided with free transport once a year to deliver fuel to their home: briquettes or firewood. 

• In 2024 , SPK Svityazyanka-2003 fulfilled all state orders.
• This year, the farm acquired two domestic grain harvesters, an MTZ-1523 tractor, a PTS-12U trailer, a MAZ vehicle, and a forage harvester.
• Due to the cold spring of 2025, the farm carried out additional fertilizing and amino acid treatments to relieve stress in the plants.
• In the SPK "Svityazyanka-2003" quarterly bonuses are provided for the employee's achievement of production targets and for a healthy lifestyle.

Alexey GORBUNOV, photo BELTA