Shanxi's grain production hit a record high in 2023, according to the data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Dec 11. 

The sown area for grain was 31,610 square kilometers, increasing 0.34 percent year-on-year. The total grain output was 14.78 million metric tons, up 0.94 percent over the same period. And the yield per mu (about 666 square meters) reached a historic high of 311.74 kilograms, marking an increase of 0.61 percent. 

To support agricultural development, Shanxi has distributed subsidies totaling 7.44 billion yuan ($1.04 billion) for land fertility protection and one-time subsidies for grain farmers. Additionally, the central government allocated 63.83 million yuan as a one-time subsidy to the province, focusing on promoting autumn grain growth. 

Meanwhile, Shanxi Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has organized personnel to provide guidance for grain production, as well as held observation and training events on efficient planting, agricultural production management, strip intercropping of soybeans and corn, organic dryland farming, and improving soybean and corn yields. 

Over 14,000 agricultural technicians were dispatched to provide on-site services, assisting in selecting suitable varieties and appropriate techniques. They served 13,138 entities, addressed 4,160 production challenges, and provided farmers with field management guidance based on crops, growth stages, and time periods.