The county's agricultural authorities have been actively advancing the whole-plant corn silage pilot program, part of the national "grain-to-feed" reform. This initiative emphasizes a circular farming approach, introducing a new operational model that harvests both grain ears and stalks simultaneously.

By integrating crop production with livestock farming, the program aims to unlock the full potential of land resources and create additional income streams for local farmers. This strategy is providing strong momentum for the high-quality development of modern agriculture across the county.

During this golden autumn harvest season, the fields of Wangdi Village in Duizhu Township are bustling with activity. Specialized combine harvesters are operating efficiently, simultaneously cutting, crushing, and wrapping corn ears and stalks into silage packs. This marks the peak period for whole-plant corn silage collection and storage, with a busy and bountiful harvest scene unfolding across the countryside.

Li Changfu, a 60-year-old farmer from Wangdi Village who cultivates six acres, has enrolled all his cornfields in the silage program this year. He notes that the initiative is both labor-saving and economically beneficial.

The county's whole-plant corn silage project utilizes a dual-purpose corn variety, suitable for both grain and forage. The new harvesting model processes the entire plant—ears and stalks—in a single pass, which is then crushed and wrapped for silage. This approach yields dual benefits from each acre: the grain from the ears and high-quality feed from the stalks, effectively doubling the output value per unit of land.

As a nationally supported "grain-to-feed" project, this initiative closely links crop cultivation with animal husbandry. The resulting silage is nutrient-rich and highly palatable, ensuring a reliable supply of forage for beef and sheep operations. This helps resolve feed shortages and supports the upgrading and expansion of the livestock industry.

Li Jun, head of Shanxi Tianrun Smart Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd., highlighted the program's mutual benefits. "This project lightens the farmers' workload and boosts their income. The whole-plant silage is complete in nutrition and easy for animals to eat. Compared to buying feed from outside, it also cuts our procurement costs significantly. It's a win-win for both the farmers and the enterprise."