The latest dispatch from the State Grain and Material Reserves Bureau shows that my country's autumn grain procurement this year has started smoothly and is progressing smoothly. The cumulative purchase of autumn grain by various grain enterprises in major producing areas across the country has exceeded 100 million tons, which is at a high level for the same period in recent years. Based on the calculation of more than 140 kilograms of rations per person per year for more than 1.4 billion people, this amount is enough to feed the whole country for half a year. From the black soil of Northeast China to the granary of the Central Plains, what changes have occurred in procurement and storage? How to “keep fresh” new grains?
Look at the progress. How does the corn "go upstairs"?
In Qitaihe, Heilongjiang, newly harvested corn has a good destination. The 18 silver drying warehouses in Hengshan Village, Boli County, have welcomed "new residents". The tidal corn is sent to the 18-meter-high drying warehouse along the conveyor belt, where it is naturally dried in the wind at a high place. The villagers call this "corn upstairs".
Shan Qingdong, head of the Corn Professional Cooperative in Boli County, Heilongjiang Province: "Now the grain is "going upstairs", which solves the potential safety hazard. Moreover, air-drying is natural air-drying, the cost is very low, and it also reduces the burden on our farmers."
Xing Chungang, deputy general manager of Agricultural Investment Taonan Grain Depot in Qitaihe City, Heilongjiang Province: "If you look at our air drying warehouse, its ventilation adopts this diamond-shaped design. It is ventilated inside and outside, and the grain is evenly distributed in the warehouse. The effect and efficiency are higher than the traditional drying mode, and it can also reduce mildew."
At present, all 66 large-scale air-drying warehouses built locally by Qitaihe Nongtou Grain Group have been put into use.
In Jilin Lishu, a major grain-producing county, the harvesting of fields and the collection and storage of grain depots have achieved "seamless connection."
The reporter came to the dispatch center of the COFCO Lishu Modern Agriculture Demonstration Zone and saw that the positions of agricultural machinery and grain transport vehicles were displayed in real time on the large screen. The grain transport vehicles entered the market at "staggered peak times" to reduce waiting in line.
Li Chunman, Party branch secretary of Lijiaweizi Village, Linhai Town, Lishu County, Jilin Province: "It was loaded into the truck from the field and arrived at the grain depot on the same day. It did not fall to the ground and there was no damage."
Gou Yiyuan, trade manager of COFCO Lishu Modern Agriculture Demonstration Zone: "This year in Lishu, we have provided services for 152,900 acres of land of 40 cooperatives. The production process has been more standardized, making farmers' income more stable."
The State Grain and Material Reserves Bureau estimates that the purchase volume of this year’s autumn grain peak season will be around 350 million tons.
All localities and departments have made coordinated preparations: the Agricultural Development Bank of China has prepared 200 billion yuan in special loans in mid-October, one step ahead of the acquisition peak; major production areas across the country have also prepared sufficient warehouse capacity in advance.
Luo Shouquan, Director of the Grain Reserves Department of the State Administration of Grain and Material Reserves: "The peak period of autumn grain purchasing is approaching. All regions have actively prepared measures and plans to deal with rain and snow weather, coordinated the resources of various grain drying facilities, and provided grain drying, cleaning and other services to farmers in need, so that farmers can be assured of a "good harvest."
A “transparent account” and a “heart-warming shed”
Fast collection and good service. As one of the important subjects of national grain collection, storage and policy regulation, how will the supply and marketing cooperative system fare this year?
For corn to survive the winter safely, the moisture content must be reduced to less than 14%. Reducing from 27% to 14% is equivalent to driving out nearly half of the water in the grain.
Siping is located in the golden corn belt. The temperature difference between day and night widens in late autumn, and the moisture content is high when new grains are put on the market. Drying services have been moved forward: inspection upon arrival, tower arrangement according to water content, temperature measurement after drying, and re-drying if unqualified. This year, two new grain storage sheds were built in the goods yard, which have become "buffer rooms" for tide grain.
Wang Sen, deputy general manager of China Supply and Marketing Cereals and Oils Siping Co., Ltd.: "The reserve of the entire shed is about 1,800 tons, and it can stack about 50 vehicles."
These two canopies are the "resting areas" for Chaoliang. When there are many vehicles, the grain is first unloaded and temporarily stored, and then the towers are collapsed in an orderly manner to prevent moisture from blocking the site. At the end of a day, it can bake 500 tons, radiating to more than ten surrounding towns and villages.
After dark, the temperature also dropped a lot. But in the farmer's lounge, the farmers selling grain are not in a hurry - they can watch the whole process of selling grain by staring at the screen.
Behind this screen are smart samples, a card, and traces of inspection and testing—vehicle arrival, sampling, testing, weighing, unloading, and settlement. The entire process is online, with less human intervention and traceable responsibilities. When selling grain, sell it clearly.
Qiu Xuegang, a farmer in Kaoshan Town, Yitong Manchu Autonomous County, Siping City, Jilin Province: "It is open and transparent, so that we can see the price and water content at a glance."
It’s not just Siping. Since the launch of new grains, grain and oil supply and marketing warehouses in Heilongjiang, Jilin, Henan, Hebei and other regional warehouses have opened scales one after another; early opening and late harvesting scales have been implemented in various places, grain sales are scheduled by appointment, and quick unloading is guided. Grain payments are settled on the spot and credited, without IOUs.
Entrusted market purchase starts to protect the interests of grain farmers
Progress is accelerating, services are being upgraded, and the “supporting” role of policies is also emerging. This year, the country will continue to implement the minimum purchase price policy in the main rice-producing areas, and the autumn grain purchase work is proceeding in an orderly manner, safeguarding the interests of grain farmers.
With the approval of relevant national departments, Sinograin Group has launched the implementation plan for the minimum purchase price of mid-late rice in 2026 in qualified areas in six provinces: Hubei, Hunan, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, and Jiangxi.
At the collection and storage point in Luoshan County, Xinyang City, Henan, reporters saw trucks going in one after another. Cutting samples, inspecting, weighing, unloading grain, and putting it into warehouse are all linked together.
Yu Zhenglin, a major grain grower in Xinyang, Henan: "I have planted more than 400 acres. This is the third truck. Now the state has a minimum purchase price. If we sell to the state, we can get more than 20 cents per catty."
According to the national minimum purchase price implementation plan, when the monitored grain purchase price at the warehouse is lower than the minimum purchase price level for three consecutive days, the branch of China Grain Reserves Group will make suggestions together with the relevant provincial departments, and after reporting to the National Grain and Material Reserves Bureau for approval, it will be launched in qualified areas. When the monitored purchase price of grain in storage rises above the minimum purchase price level for three consecutive days, it will stop according to the procedure.
At present, Sinograin has launched consignment purchases at the same time in Xinyang, Nanyang and Zhumadian cities in Henan. The consignment prices are significantly higher than the market conditions, which greatly mobilizes farmers' enthusiasm for selling grain.
Mei Changjun, the person in charge of the grain purchasing warehouse in Luoshan County, Xinyang City: "In order to increase the speed of unloading grain, we weigh from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. The middlemen do not stop working to ensure that farmers sell grain quickly."
Wang Jiazhen, the person in charge of the Sinoyang Direct Depot of Sinograin: "Currently, there are 9 direct-affiliated enterprises supporting our Xinyang Direct Depot's acquisitions. The daily purchase volume of 13 working groups has reached more than 8,000 tons. Each of our acquisition teams insists on working early and finishing late to meet the needs of grain-selling farmers to the greatest extent."
Up to now, Sinograin Group has announced to the public more than 140 storage warehouses with the lowest purchase price and a warehouse capacity of more than 3.3 million tons. At the same time, we actively leveraged the synergy of reserve rotation and acquisition, and fully opened scales in major production areas such as Jiangxi, Hunan, and Hubei. The progress was faster than the same period last year. The rotational acquisition takes the lead in entering the market at a price slightly higher than the market price, driving multiple entities to enter the market for acquisition and playing the role of "wind vane" in the market.
