Seed technology is the "chip" of food security. In line with the national deployment for biological breeding industrialization, Shanxi Province is methodically advancing the demonstration and planting of transgenic corn, establishing trial and demonstration bases across select counties and districts in all 11 of its cities. Building on the rain-fed agricultural practices of the northern Shanxi region, HuaiRen City has persistently conducted trials on transgenic corn variety screening and supporting agronomic techniques. Through two years of field comparison tests, the city has been continuously identifying superior corn varieties adapted to local climate and soil conditions, leveraging seed technology to unlock grain production potential and solidify the foundation for stable and increased harvests.

At the transgenic corn demonstration base run by the Huangli Agricultural Machinery Professional Cooperative in Yangling Village, Haitou Township, HuaiRen City, this trial site, designated by national and provincial agricultural authorities, is now in its second year of cultivation. The transgenic corn has currently reached the grain-filling stage and is expected to undergo its second yield measurement in October of this year. The grain-filling stage is a critical period that determines kernel weight, and the corn roots urgently require water supplementation. In the fields, cooperative management personnel are closely monitoring the crop's growth rhythm and scheduling irrigation operations on-site.

Building on the variety screening results from the previous year, this 200-mu demonstration field is continuing to maximize the value of improved seed trials this year. The base is not merely repeating the planting process; rather, it is thoroughly collecting and recording data on the corn's full growth cycle, accumulating authentic and reliable field samples to determine whether varieties can be promoted on a larger scale. Among these efforts, yield performance per mu stands as a key metric of focus. Huo Yuanle, General Manager of the Huangli Agricultural Machinery Professional Cooperative, explained that preparations are underway for a large-scale yield test after the maturation period, using 100 mu as the benchmark to calculate the average yield per mu. "Last year's measured yield was between 1,800 and 1,900 jin per mu," he noted, "and it is estimated that this year it could reach 2,100 to 2,200 jin per mu."

Field performance is the ultimate benchmark for assessing whether a variety is superior. In actual corn cultivation, weed control and lodging resistance have consistently been prominent challenges for growers, making these the key traits under focused observation and evaluation in this trial. According to Huo Yuanle, the advantages of transgenic varieties are numerous, with the most notable being dual resistance. "In fields with stubborn weeds like reeds or couch grass that are difficult to manage, transgenic varieties can be planted, and the weeds can be dealt with effectively and reliably," he said. "Because there is no herbicide residue, it does not affect the planting of other crops the following year. Another feature is a degree of lodging resistance."

From ensuring seedling emergence during the nursery stage, to applying supplemental fertilizer during the growth period, and promoting kernel development during the grain-filling stage, the base relies on its drip irrigation system to deliver water and nutrients precisely and on-demand to the crop roots at each phase. Bai Xuewen, a caretaker at the Huangli Agricultural Machinery Professional Cooperative, described the irrigation process: "The first watering is just a light irrigation to promote the growth of the young seedlings. The second time, fertilizer is applied through the drip system. The final watering is designed to ensure plump, full kernels and achieve higher yields."

Embracing the strategy of storing grain in the land and in technology, HuaiRen City has now established a total of 500 mu of transgenic corn demonstration and trial bases. Of this, 200 mu is managed by the Huangli Agricultural Machinery Professional Cooperative, demonstrating integrated water and fertilizer management techniques, while a 300-mu trial field at the Defu Family Farm brings together 16 corn varieties for comparative testing. Moving forward, the local government plans to select 3 to 5 excellent varieties suited to the local environment, create replicable templates through field observations and training sessions, and safeguard food security through the revitalization of the seed industry.