On August 17, a rainfall event just passed through Linzhang County, Hebei Province. "Rainy weather can easily lead to waterlogging in the fields, and corn roots soaked for extended periods are prone to rot and other issues. Everyone should promptly clear field drainage ditches, carefully inspect for drainage dead zones, and minimize the adverse effects of rainfall on autumn crop growth," said Lü Meihong, an agricultural technician from the Linzhang County Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, as she explained flood prevention and management priorities to local farmers based on current agricultural conditions.
Currently, summer corn in Hebei Province is in the grain-filling to early dough stage, a critical window for kernel establishment and yield formation. Facing alternating challenges of high temperatures and brief heavy rainfall during the flood season, the province's meteorological departments are focusing on weather changes and key farming periods, strengthening consultations with agriculture, water conservancy, and emergency management agencies. Technical personnel are being organized to provide scientific guidance, disaster prevention and mitigation efforts are being intensified, with a focus on guarding against major disasters such as torrential rain, flooding, high-temperature heat damage, and drought, while enhancing monitoring and early warning systems.
On August 18, the Hebei Provincial Climate Center, together with the Provincial Agricultural Technology Extension Station and other units, jointly issued an "Agricultural Meteorological Disaster Risk Alert," providing management recommendations for crops such as summer corn and summer peanuts. In the contiguous corn fields of Diqiu Township, Linzhang County, experts from meteorological, agricultural, and plant protection departments went deep into the fields, carefully inspecting corn growth and soil moisture conditions, and checking one by one for waterlogging risks and disease outbreak potential. Based on the differing conditions of field terrain, water accumulation levels, and crop growth, staff formulated precise management plans and provided on-site training to growers on key techniques for field management during rainy periods.
"Clear drainage ditches promptly, drain accumulated water from fields quickly, and minimize the time crops remain submerged. Lightly lodged corn generally should not be straightened. For severely root-lodged plants with intact stalks, gently prop them up as soon as possible after lodging and mound soil around the roots to stabilize them, avoiding forced pulling that could cause secondary damage," reminded Shen Binnan, Director of the Linzhang County Meteorological Bureau.
"It's been raining so frequently lately that I wasn't sure how to manage the crops, and I was especially worried about the impact on autumn harvest yields," said corn grower Yang Xuliang. He noted that experts provided one-on-one guidance at his farm, and the methods for draining water, protecting seedlings, preventing disease, and drying out soil were simple and practical, effectively solving growers' field management challenges.
This year, the intercropping area of corn and soybeans in Nanhe District, Xingtai City, covers 25,000 mu. On August 18, the district received a rainfall event, and the district meteorological bureau, in conjunction with the district agriculture and rural affairs bureau, launched customized services for Haoqiao Town, where planting is concentrated. Currently, summer corn is in its flowering stage, another critical period for yield formation. The plants are relatively tall with shallow root systems, making them less resilient to wind and flooding. Through precise assessment of wind and rain impacts, rolling weather forecasts were issued, accompanied by targeted field management recommendations, strengthening pre-disaster warnings and proactive risk management, and building a departmental coordination-based meteorological service barrier to ensure stable autumn grain production.
In the contiguous farmland of Nanhe District, Xingtai City, the lush green corn and soybean plants are growing well. "I've intercropped over 200 mu of soybeans in my corn fields. Technical staff frequently visit the fields to provide hands-on guidance, resolving various issues in soybean planting and management. It saves time and effort, and I've also gained valuable scientific planting experience," said large-scale grain grower Han Xinbo.
In response to field management challenges brought by high temperatures and rainfall, agricultural meteorological experts in Xingtai City closely track real-time rainfall changes and, based on actual field conditions, guide farmers in scientifically digging temporary drainage channels and quickly clearing field blockages. They also help with preparations for crop lodging prevention and post-rainfall unified pest and disease control, delivering refined and practical agricultural technical services to the front line of production and precisely solving farmers' management difficulties during rainy periods.
"Following the guidance from meteorological and agricultural technicians, I reinforced the greenhouse structure in advance to prevent strong winds from damaging it," said Hu Zhenzhong, head of the Sanduo Vegetable Planting Cooperative in Qiecun Village, Nanhe District, Xingtai City. Due to the village's low-lying terrain, Hu checks greenhouse safety with his staff before every rainfall based on meteorological warning information.
Julu County has planted 68,000 mu of high-oleic peanuts this year. To proactively respond to the alternating high-temperature and rainfall weather, the Julu County Meteorological Bureau, together with the county agriculture and rural affairs bureau, organized staff to visit high-oleic peanut planting bases and large-scale growers, guiding them to promptly spray amino acid water-soluble fertilizers combined with foliar fertilizers such as potassium dihydrogen phosphate, boron, and molybdenum, as well as growth regulators, to prevent premature aging, promote grain filling, and enhance the crops' stress resistance.