Farmers in the Brest region of Belarus have started planting potatoes, despite forecasts of coming frosts. According to Dmitry Gorodetsky, First Deputy Chairman of the Brest Regional Executive Committee, as of the morning of April 18, 38% of spring crops had already been sown in the region. Early spring crops and flax are fully planted, and sugar beet sowing is expected to be completed in the coming days — three districts have already finished. Vegetable sowing has also passed the halfway mark. Additionally, corn sowing is underway in all 16 districts of the region, with plans to allocate about 255,000 hectares for corn, of which roughly 65,000 hectares will be for grain. Sowing of corn for grain is expected to be completed by May 9, and for silage — by May 20.
However, cold weather is on the way. According to the Belarusian Hydrometeorological Center, from April 20 to 22, frosts are expected due to an influx of cold air from the northwestern part of European Russia. On the night before Radunitsa, temperatures may drop as low as -4°C, with daytime highs of only +6…+12°C (locally up to +15°C). Despite the chilly forecast, agricultural work continues as farmers race to take advantage of the current planting window before the cold air settles in.
