20 million acres of soybeans in China’s main soybean-producing areas reap bumper harvest
On the morning of October 9, the vast fields of Heihe City in Heilongjiang Province buzzed with the sounds of machinery and the rustling of soybeans. Looking ahead to 2024, Heihe is gearing up to cultivate over 20 million acres of soybeans, promising a bountiful harvest.
Heihe City is often described with the saying, “China’s soybeans are in Heilongjiang, Heilongjiang’s soybeans are in Heihe.” The city accounts for roughly one-third of Heilongjiang Province’s soybean planting area and production, which translates to about one-seventh of the total soybean output in China. As the largest soybean producer in the country, Heihe is dedicated to expanding its soybean cultivation, breeding, and industrial initiatives, fast-tracking its ambition to become the “Soybean Capital of China.”
In the soybean fields of the Gucheng Modern Agricultural Machinery Cooperative in Aihui District, golden soybeans flowed like a waterfall into waiting grain trucks. Large machinery moved seamlessly, efficiently harvesting the crops. Experienced farmer Su Kai estimated that the cooperative could yield over 6,000 pounds of soybeans per hectare this season.
Wang Jian, the chairman of the Gucheng Modern Agricultural Machinery Cooperative, commented, “The soybeans are now mature, and we’re taking advantage of this fine weather to harvest. We expect to finish the entire harvest in about three or four days. This year, we planted soybeans on 290 hectares, and the outlook is promising; it’s shaping up to be another fruitful year.”
Heihe is also recognized as China’s largest distribution center for high-quality soybean seeds. The Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Heihe has been busy selecting soybean varieties based on plant morphology since early September. During the “National Day” holiday, a concerted effort was made to maximize the ideal harvesting conditions by selecting for attributes like early maturity, high yield, lodging resistance, and disease resistance. This rigorous selection process ensures that the best seeds are planted in the most suitable thermal areas, ultimately enhancing the source of soybean production.
Su Hui, deputy director of Heihe’s Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, shared, “The soybean planting area in Heihe has consistently remained stable at over 20 million acres each year. As of the evening of October 3, nearly 40% of the city’s soybeans have been harvested, which is six percentage points ahead of last year’s pace. We are aiming for a complete harvest and a well-organized preparation of 10 million acres for autumn to lay a strong foundation for next year’s high yields.”