[en] Production of rho⁰ and ω-mesons in the inclusive and half-inclusiv nteractions at 40 GeV/c is investigated. Experimental data (about 11000 inelasti nteractions) have been obtained using a two-meter propane bubble chamber. The study of rho⁰ meson production, based on an analysis of the spectrum of effective masses of (π⁺π^-) mesonic pairs (M(π⁺π^-)) has revealed that a significant fraction of pions may be produced by resonances. Taking into consideration the effect of ω meson production on the M(π⁺π^-) spectrum the cross section for rho⁰ and ω meson production have been determined. Based upon the spectra of the effective masses M(π⁺π^-π⁰) an attempt has been made to evaluate meson production. The cross section for ω meson production has turned out to be equal to 10+-3 mb. It has been found that at p=40 GeV/c the cross sections for rho⁰ and ω meson production in inelastic π^-p interactions are about the same. Here the rho⁰ meson-production cross-section, as determined from the spectrum of the effective masses of (π⁺π^-) meson pairs, is substantially higher if ω meson production is taken into account