The results of a systemic analysis and a summary of best practices for effective planning and organization of labor in new social and labor relations are presented. The author assesses the current mechanism of basic and additional financial support for workers in rural areas, including young specialists. Negative factors contributing to the departure of young specialists from agricultural organizations are identified. Economic tools for increasing employment efficiency in agriculture are systematized, classified into mandatory (in accordance with labor legislation requirements) and voluntary (in accordance with the financial capabilities of the employer) components, and the conditions for their implementation in social and labor relations practices are substantiated. It is proposed that the legal status of young specialists be enshrined in contracts. To enhance the significance of these tools in achieving the priorities of economic and social efficiency in the HR policy of agricultural organizations, it is recommended to adhere to the principle of mutual benefit for both employer and employee when creating and providing a benefits package, ensuring that compensation is targeted to the needs of specific employee categories, and taking employee work conduct into account. The results of the study can be used to substantiate, develop, and improve local legal acts of agricultural enterprises in the areas of motivation, incentives, and remuneration, as well as the development of a corporate culture; and regulatory legal acts for attracting young people to the agricultural sector of the economy.

This study presents the results of comprehensive research on the species composition and pest damage caused by maize phytophages, as well as the evaluation of insecticidal measures in Belarusian agroecosystems during 2023–2025. The soil entomofauna was dominated by representatives of the family Elateridae (9 species), with the genera Agriotes, Athous, and Selatosomus having the greatest significance. Wireworm densities exceeded the economic threshold (16.0–24.3 individuals/m²), and plant damage in untreated plots reached 17.2–30.4 %. Seed treatment with insecticidal seed dressings reduced plant damage by 82.5–88.7 % and preserved up to 23.7 % of grain yield. The pest pressure of the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) was largely determined by weather conditions, with plant damage in certain years reaching 76.0 %. The highest biological efficacy (95.5–100.0 %) was demonstrated by insecticides combining lambda-cyhalothrin and chlorantraniliprole applied at a rate of 0.3 l/ha, preserving 12.3–14.9 % of grain yield. Other pests, including the cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera), cereal aphids (Aphididae), and the quarantine western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera), were also observed. Timely insecticide application combined with pheromone monitoring effectively regulated pest populations. Biological efficacy of the treatments reached 87.0 % against cotton bollworm and 83.2–96.0 % against aphids, with natural enemies playing a significant role in population regulation. It has been shown that the western corn rootworm has high dispersal potential, and the efficacy of insecticidal control against it was 80.0–99.9 %. The use of combined insecticides in conjunction with pest monitoring is a key component of integrated maize protection, ensuring high biological and economic efficacy under diverse agroclimatic conditions.

Multi-tiered onion (Allium proliferum Schrad.) belongs to promising perennial spice-aromatic, vegetable and medicinal crops and can be successfully cultivated in the soil and climatic conditions of the Republic of Belarus. The purpose of the study was to improve the methodology for assessing the breeding material of multi-tiered onions according to a set of basic economically useful, morphological, morphometric and phenological traits. The objects of the study were foreign varieties and newly registered varieties of the Belarusian State Agricultural Academy (multi-tiered onion varieties Uzgorak and Pachastunak) included in the State Register of Varieties of Agricultural Plants of the Republic of Belarus. The main directions in the breeding of multi-tiered onions are: increasing productivity; developing forms adapted to industrial cultivation technology, with vigorous regrowth after cutting, winter-hardy, resistant to pests and diseases, with a high content of useful substances valuable for the general chemical and biochemical composition; and breeding varieties with different periods of reaching commercial maturity, adapted to cultivation in different soil and climatic conditions. As a result of joint research by the Belarusian State Agricultural Academy and the State Inspection for Testing and Protection of Plant Varieties, the methodology for conducting DUS tests (distinctness, uniformity and stability) of multi-tiered onion varieties has been improved, which makes it possible to optimize the selection process of this crop and to carry out a more thorough assessment of variety identification during state variety testing and when determining varietal purity in industrial plantings. The national methodology for conducting DUS tests of multi-tiered onion varieties provides breeders with an opportunity to pay attention to the relevant characteristics and distinctive features of multi-tiered onions, which will contribute to the effective conduct of further breeding work to create forms and varieties with various economically valuable properties, and to identify various varieties.

Finding effective methods to raise salt tolerance of agricultural crops is critical for food security in arid regions. Salinity negatively affects wheat growth, reducing yield and productivity. This study aims to evaluate the impact of silica nanoparticles (Si NPs) on the growth and development of two wheat varieties from Balochistan (Azri and Shalkot) cultivated in saline soil. Seeds of Azri and Shalkot wheat varieties were collected and sown at the Balochistan Agricultural Research and Development Centre (BARDC), Quetta, under normal and saline conditions. The experiment consisted of three treatments: T1 (control) with only Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (NPK) fertilizer; T2 with Si NPs + NPK fertilizer; and T3, where seeds were primed in Si NPs before sowing. For priming, seeds in T3 were soaked separately in water and Si NPs for 24 hours before planting. Germination was monitored for 10 to 15 days, and various growth parameters were assessed at different growth stages, including plant maturity. The wheat variety Shalkot exhibited better growth than Azri under saline stress. Silicon supplementation substantially improved plant height, spike length, chlorophyll content, spike weight, productive stems per unit area, and dry mass weight. Among the treatments, Si NP supplementation (T2) enhanced all growth parameters, while the priming treatment (T3) yielded the best results. The application of silica nanoparticles effectively enhanced wheat growth even under salt stress. This study highlights the potential of Si NPs to mitigate salinity effects and improve wheat yield, making it a promising strategy for sustainable agriculture in salt-affected regions.

This study aimed to identify SNP markers associated with milk yield, fat content, and protein percentage in Holstein cattle through a comprehensive meta-analysis of Animal QTLdb (CattleQTLdb section) and GenBank. A systematic review of 47 independent studies published between 2015 and 2024, covering 23,456 animals, was conducted. In total, 892 unique SNP markers were identified, and pooled effect estimates were calculated for 723 of them using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity analysis, functional annotation, and prioritization of significant variants were performed. The analysis revealed 47 SNPs reaching genome-wide significance (p < 10^–6 ), with the strongest association observed for rs109421300 in the DGAT1 gene, which increased milk fat content by an average of 0.42 % (95 % CI: 0.38–0.46; p = 1.2 × 10 ^–8 ) but reduced yield by 153 kg. Consistent effects were also found for ABCG2, GHR, STAT5A, LEP, and SCD1 genes, with between-population variability ranging from 15 to 25 percent. Functional annotation showed that 67 % of significant SNPs were linked to lipid metabolism and lactation, and enrichment analysis revealed significant enrichment of the lipid biosynthesis category, containing 34 genes (FDR = 2.3 × 10 ^–12 ). Based on prioritization algorithms, a panel of 30 SNPs was proposed for commercial genotyping, compatible with Illumina BovineSNP50 technology, with a testing cost of $25–30 per animal. Modeling demonstrated that the application of this panel could improve the efficiency of genomic selection by 14.7 % (95 % CI: 12.1–17.3 %). These findings provide a solid foundation for enhancing genomic breeding programs in dairy cattle.

The study was conducted on 54 first-calf heifers, the daughters of bulls Imbir 23433, Tyson 1060, and Tonik 5155, from the Lenintsy Agricultural Production Cooperative Breeding Farm, Maysky District, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. The frequency of individual alleles was determined using the method of E. K. Merkuryeva (1977). The objective of the study was to compare the genetic polymorphism of the highest- and lowest-yielding daughters of bulls for the prolactin (PRL) and kappa-casein (CSN3) genes. A comparative assessment showed that heterozygous AB genotypes for the PRL gene are more common in the daughters of bulls Tyson 1060 (81.8 %) and Imbir 23433 (62.5 %). Among the daughters of Tonik 5155, the AA and AB genotypes were distributed 50 % each, and among all 54 daughters of the bulls, there was not a single individual with the BB genotype. On average, the proportion of heterozygous genotypes for the PRL gene was twice as high (66.7 %) as that of homozygous genotypes (33.3 %). Conversely, for the CSN3 gene, the greatest number of daughters (75 %) had the homozygous genotype aa and only 12 heads (25 %) had the heterozygous genotype ab. According to the results of studies on the PRL gene genotype, the proportion of heterozygous AB genotypes was twice as high as that of homozygous AA, the frequency of the A allele was 0.67, and the a allele was 0.88. The sample did not contain a single individual homozygous for either the BB or bb genotypes. A comparative evaluation of various selection options indicates that, at this stage, the use of these markers, unlike phenotype, does not allow for the selection of the best animals. At this stage, zootechnical methods remain the preferred approach for building a high-yielding herd.

The article presents the results of studies on the resolving power of the RAPD and Rep-PCR methods for revealing the genetic heterogeneity of gas- and aroma-forming lactic acid bacteria isolated from raw milk. The study of the typing ability of Rep-PCR in relation to leuconostocs showed that isolates obtained from different natural sources form different amplicon profiles when using primers BOXA1R, BOXA2R, ERIC2-1. The typing ability of Rep-PCR for diacetyl lactococci isolates was demonstrated only with primers BOXA2R and ERIC2-1. The RAPD-PCR method showed typing ability for leuconostocs using primers XD8, P15, P16, and RAPD-mes. The analysis of the fragment profiles of diacetyl lactococcal isolates obtained by RAPD-PCR with primers XD8 and P16 confirmed the ability of the method to detect heterogeneity within the biovariant of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis. The results of the research are used to isolate new strains and replenish the Republican collection of industrial strains of starter cultures and their bacteriophages of RUE “Institute of Meat and Dairy Industry”.