Ancient Grain Fair in Shaanxi Transforms into Tech Platform for Grain Development

Shortly after Guyu, a traditional Chinese solar term marking the end of spring rains, wheat ears are sprouting across the fields. The "Juliang Ancient Fair" in Juliang Village, Zhaogong Town, Fufeng County, Shaanxi Province, was bustling with crowds. Shaanxi Animal Husbandry and Crop Seed Farm (Shaanxi Crop Planting Experiment and Demonstration Center), in conjunction with the Party Committee and government of Zhaogong Town, moved seed displays, technical training and production-sales services to the fields, transforming the time-honored ancient fair into an agricultural gathering for grain development through science and technology.

Walking into the National Crop Variety Display and Evaluation Base of Shaanxi Animal Husbandry and Crop Seed Farm, it is clearly divided into two areas: variety evaluation and core variety display, serving as both a "test site" for new wheat varieties and a "exhibition platform" for high-quality seeds. In the variety evaluation area, wheat varieties to be promoted undergo comprehensive assessments of adaptability, stress resistance and yield potential. Only high-quality wheat "chips" that pass strict experimental approval can obtain large-scale promotion qualifications.

As an important variety test platform in the Guanzhong Irrigation Area, Shaanxi Animal Husbandry and Crop Seed Farm undertakes national and provincial test tasks for wheat and corn varieties, appraising more than 100 new crop varieties annually. China Agricultural News reported that the farm strictly controls the "entry threshold" for varieties through scientific experiments, providing high-quality "chips" for grain production in the Huanghuai Wheat Area and Shaanxi Province.

Outside the farm office, the publicity and display area for "Juliang" series seeds was even more popular, with farmers flocking to consult and purchase seeds. Wen Caihong, Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station of the farm, explained on the field: "Juliang 19 is stress-resistant and drought-tolerant with neat ears and lodging resistance, and the repurchase rate among farmers is particularly high; Juliang 8079 is high-yield and high-quality with strong flour texture."

Relying on its independent breeding advantages, the farm has built a nearly 6,000-mu base for breeding original and improved wheat seeds. In the past three years, it has promoted more than 2.5 million kilograms of high-quality original and improved wheat seeds, with the "Juliang" series becoming star varieties in the Guanzhong Irrigation Area of Shaanxi.

To ensure high yields with good seeds, a field class on high-yield wheat cultivation techniques kicked off on time in the demonstration observation field. Luo Hong, Director of the Agricultural Branch of the farm, focused on the integrated efficiency of "four excellences" to explain green high-yield cultivation techniques for wheat and corn, focusing on key points of unified prevention and control of diseases and pests in the middle and late stages, and interpreting key technical measures for building Zhaogong Town into a "ton-grain town".

The characteristic agricultural products exhibition area on the other side of the ancient fair was also lively. Characteristic products such as rapeseed oil, vinegar, Guokui, twist and flowers from village-level collective economic cooperatives were displayed and sold, expanding sales channels and driving farmers to increase their income nearby. Shaanxi Daily noted that Zhaogong Town successfully built a municipal-level "ton-grain town" in 2025, with steady growth in grain per unit yield and total output, firmly safeguarding regional food security.