Shandong county protects harvest from persistent rain with multi-pronged effort

Facing severe challenges to its autumn harvest due to persistent rainy weather, Ningyang county in Tai'an, East China's Shandong province, has implemented a rapid coordinated response to ensure grain is collected and stored safely, securing the vital harvest for local farmers.

The core of the strategy involves deploying grain drying facilities, intelligently allocating agricultural machinery, and utilizing all available temporary storage spaces.

In Fushan town, six large-scale grain drying towers, with a combined daily capacity of 750 metric tons, have been critical. Working around the clock, these towers process freshly harvested corn, which is then transported directly via automated conveyors to a 5,000-cubic-meter storage warehouse.

The town has also efficiently coordinated 216 corn combine harvesters, strategically deploying 36 tracked harvesters for wet fields to work in shifts during any break in the rain.

Meanwhile, Dongshu town focused on preparedness. Prior to the harvest, it organized safety training for machinery operators and conducted thorough equipment maintenance. It precisely allocated machinery — using large combines for sandy soil and tracked harvesters for waterlogged clay fields to ensure all equipment could operate effectively.

Additionally, both towns established emergency task forces, opened public squares and service centers as temporary grain storage sites, and distributed waterproof materials to protect the harvest from the elements.

This comprehensive effort, seamlessly integrating harvesting, transport, temporary storage, and drying, has allowed Fushan town alone to successfully harvest over 25,600 mu (1706.67 hectares) of crops, ensuring that every grain is brought home despite the adverse conditions. (Edited by Li Weiwei)