As the crisp autumn month of October unfolds, the news of bountiful harvests echoes across the nation: “Autumn grain yields are increasing,” and “Winter wheat and oilseed rape sowing are off to a good start”…
According to the latest agricultural updates from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, as of October 12, about 59.8% of the autumn grain has been harvested nationwide, which is 1.6 percentage points ahead of last year’s pace. For the last eight consecutive days, approximately 30 million acres have been harvested daily. As the autumn harvest accelerates, meteorological agencies are closely monitoring weather conditions, offering timely forecasts during critical periods to enhance agricultural disaster prevention and mitigation efforts, ensuring robust support for harvest weather services.
In Heilongjiang, known for its fertile black soil, golden rice waves sway gently, and heavy ears of corn droop low, reflecting the joy of a fruitful harvest after a year of hard work. This region is the heartland of autumn grain production in China. As the country’s top grain-producing province, Heilongjiang leads the country in total grain output, commercial production, and export volume. Agricultural reports indicate that this year, Heilongjiang has planted 22.9 million acres of grain crops, with overall growth conditions looking promising for a bountiful harvest.
“Overall, the climatic resources for crop growth during the key development periods in 2024 are abundant,” said Wang Liangliang, a senior engineer at the Heilongjiang Meteorological Science Research Institute. “Despite some early low temperatures, heavy rain, and limited sunlight during the nutrient growth phase, timely heat during later stages has compensated well. The current weather conditions are favorable for crop growth and yield formation. With all crops showing good growth, we can confidently say that a harvest is assured for the entire province this year.”
This year, Heilongjiang is ramping up its plan to increase grain production by ten million tons, prioritizing not only the quantity of grain produced but also its quality, aiming to be the nation’s most stable and reliable “granary.” The meteorological department, leveraging national key R&D projects, is conducting monitoring and assessments of low-temperature damage to corn and rice while developing predictive models for optimal planting and transplanting times, providing farmers with scientifically grounded advice to enhance planting strategies and improve crop yield and quality.
In Henan Province, advanced agricultural practices are taking root, with automatic weather observation stations and seedling monitoring devices acting as vigilant “sentinels” in the fields. The integration of smart irrigation systems allows farmers to manage watering with just a touch on their smartphones, showcasing a palpable shift towards agricultural modernization.
As the first county in Henan to pilot high-standard farmland construction comprehensively, Lankao has established 320,000 acres of demonstration fields, creating scenarios of vast, productive landscapes.
Meteorological support is crucial for growing and securing sufficient grain. In 2022, Henan integrated meteorological services with agriculture, land, water management, transport, forestry, electricity, technology, and management to enhance its agricultural capabilities. They have installed 554 automatic soil moisture stations and 143 small climate monitoring stations, gathering 28 types of agricultural meteorological data while establishing 118 ground verification points to ensure accurate satellite observations, aggregating 7.8 million historical data points in the cloud for comprehensive monitoring of crop production conditions.
“To ensure food security, we need to stay ahead and employ effective strategies,” said Ji Xingjie, director of the Henan Meteorological Science Research Institute. “We’ve developed 60 algorithm models utilizing big data for crop condition classification, risk assessment, and disaster forecasting. By predicting potential threats like late frost, rust diseases, and dry winds, we issue timely agricultural meteorological disaster risk warnings. Additionally, by combining soil moisture levels, crop water demands, and future precipitation forecasts, we’ve devised water-saving irrigation technologies that provide precise irrigation instructions to support food production throughout the growing season.”
In Shandong Province, an agricultural powerhouse, grain production has steadily increased for three consecutive years. The region is alive with vibrant rice fields and bountiful gardens.
“The late grain filling period is critical for determining the yield and quality of high-quality wheat varieties,” stated Wang Yan, head of the agriculture extension station in Jining’s Yanzhou District. “Effectively predicting and preventing natural disasters like dry winds is essential. Since early May, a coalition of meteorology and agriculture experts has been actively involved in this effort.”
“The warnings issued by the meteorology and agriculture departments regarding dry winds and other potential disasters have provided us with crucial guidance for proper irrigation and protective measures,” remarked Ning Hongdi, general manager of Jining Hongdi Seed Industry Co., as she pointed to her phone screen.
In recent years, Shandong’s meteorological department has made significant strides in providing agricultural meteorological services, deeply exploring service needs and employing multiple strategies to ensure a plentiful harvest.
In Qingdao, collaboration with a smart village development service center has led to the integration of agricultural meteorological data into an intelligent machinery management platform, enhancing agricultural insurance services. In Taian, a comprehensive meteorological service strategy is in place to monitor each critical agricultural production stage precisely. In Dongying’s Hekou District, partnerships with agricultural departments have illuminated the climatic characteristics of saline-alkali lands, discovering optimal meteorological conditions tailored for various crops while jointly developing superior varieties and scientific planting models to boost agricultural productivity in these challenging conditions.
As I walked through the harvest-laden fields, the faces of farmers radiated happiness. They expressed their gratitude, saying, “This year’s harvest is largely thanks to the meteorological department’s accurate forecasts. Their timely assistance has given us more confidence in our farming.”
