As winter approaches, the chill deepens, but Li Zhonghua, Party branch secretary of Yangyu Agricultural Machinery Service Cooperative in Changtu County, Tieling City, remains busy. He directs cooperative members to spread cartloads of well-composted manure across the fields. "Applying organic fertilizer increases soil organic content. Only by nurturing the land can we enrich the black soil and ensure next year’s good harvest," says Li, brimming with confidence for the coming season.
"The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee emphasized accelerating agricultural and rural modernization and solidly advancing rural revitalization. This gives us grassroots agricultural workers a clear direction and greater motivation," Li explains. For him and his team, the black soil beneath their feet is not just their livelihood but also a vast stage for implementing the spirit of the Party’s guiding principles.
Recently, the cooperative’s Party branch organized a study session on the plenum’s directives. During breaks in fieldwork, the cooperative’s seven Party members gathered in fields and farmhouses to discuss how to translate these principles into concrete actions—boosting yields and protecting the black soil. "The plenum’s spirit resonates deeply with us. As farmers, we must use the best technology to grow the best crops," became the consensus among all members.
Located in Shengli Village, Laocheng Town, Changtu County, Yangyu Agricultural Machinery Service Cooperative is a national-level demonstration hub integrating land transfers, full mechanization, agricultural product processing, and technical services. Upholding the principle of "farmers work elsewhere while the cooperative works for farmers," it now has 52 member households managing over 25,000 acres of land, increasing village collective income by an average of 133,000 yuan annually.
In 2022, Li and his team actively explored technology-driven agricultural innovation, establishing a 5G smart farming platform and creating a provincial-level smart planting base with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. "In recent years, we’ve acquired 208 advanced agricultural machines, including 12 unmanned crop-dusting drones. Our high-standard farmland construction saves over 70 yuan per mu in costs, while corn yields have risen from 1,860 to 2,060 jin per mu," Li notes.
Thanks to the cooperative’s efforts, a new wave of innovation is sweeping the fields, shifting agricultural productivity from "sweat" to "smart." Li explains, "In the past, land preparation relied on decades of experience from veteran operators. Now, with autonomous machinery, even beginners can achieve expert-level results."
Looking ahead, Li envisions a fully unmanned, intelligent farm: "With a click, fields self-irrigate; with data insights, pest control is precise—achieving end-to-end automation in farmland management."
As winter rests the black soil of northern Liaoning, awaiting spring’s renewal, the seeds of technology have already taken root. The modern agricultural landscape envisioned by Li Zhonghua and countless new-generation farmers is steadily unfolding.
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