Balkan velayat, where the harvesting operations started on June 13, has already harvested more than 33,500 tons of wheat on over a third of the total farmland planted to the crop. With the total area under wheat in the region reaching 57,000 hectares, this year local grain producers are aiming to achieve a production target of 120,000 tons. In the height of the season, 152 combine harvesters are working in the fields. Operating in two shifts, each harvester covers up to 26 hectares of area a day. 3,500 tons of wheat are reaped daily. A greater proportion of wheat has been grown in the irrigated area near the Karakum River. As in previous years, farmers in Serdar etrap remain pace-setters, having already harvested 16,000 tons of wheat. Bereket etrap, which boasts second-largest areas under wheat in the region, is consequently second best in terms of quantity of wheat harvested (12, 700 tons). In addition, smaller wheat growing areas are located in Etrek and Esenguly etraps (3,000 hectares each), and in Magtymguly etrap (3,700 hectares). The season’s top-performing farmers have already emerged. In Balkan velayat, like in the other regions, there is a control center that oversees the harvesting operations and has to deal with a wide range of issues. In particular, it is responsible for monitoring control of grain quality; finding efficient ways to boost farm machinery performance, choosing the quickest and most convenient routes to relocate farm machinery from harvested fields to new farmlands and not to slow down the harvest process; keeping agri-machinery well supplied with fuel; drawing up a perfectly accurate schedule for vehicles transporting grain to elevators. Every work-specific aspect matters and should be taken into account. Harvesting operations require close teamwork and how successful they are depends on effective collaboration among those involved. Behind good news received from the fields, and dull statistics there is a great deal of effort put in by thousands of farmers, combine operators, service technicians, and drivers. This year’s harvest campaign and its outcomes will be an important step towards achieving the objectives set in the 2018-2024 Socio-Economic Development Program”.