As the wheat fields ripen across 82,758 hectares in the Dongying district of Dongying city — located in East China's Shandong province — the farmers there are seizing every opportunity presented by the sunny weather to harvest their crops quickly and efficiently.
Farmers in Dongying snap into action, operating their harvesters in the golden wheat field. [Photo/Shandian News]
This year, advanced agricultural technology has transformed traditional wheat harvesting into a smart, precision-driven process.
In Shikou town, agricultural technicians operate drones equipped with multispectral sensors to monitor the wheat maturity. The drones capture vital data like chlorophyll content and moisture, sending real-time updates to a central system.
"Previously, we relied on experience and manual field checks to decide harvest time," said Sheng Leilei, deputy senior agricultural technician of the town.
"Now, drones act as our 'eyes in the sky' — generating maps that pinpoint which fields are ready for harvest," he added.
This shift from experience-based to data-driven decision making saves labor and enables precise scheduling of farm machinery. Smart combine harvesters follow, reducing crop loss significantly — from the previous 2-3 percent down to less than 1 percent.
From aerial smart eyes to intelligent machinery on the ground, technology is now deeply integrated into Dongying's agriculture.
This "smart revolution" not only improves efficiency, but also safeguards every precious single grain, strengthening food security and supporting the incomes of farmers.
Advanced technology helps local farmers to reduce harvesting time and improve their operational efficiency. [Photo/Shandian News]
