Digital technology and smart machines reshape farming in China's northeast granary

Digital technology, artificial intelligence and smart agricultural machinery are transforming farming across northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, one of the country's most important grain-producing regions.

For 16 consecutive years, Heilongjiang has ranked first in China in total grain production. Its farming sector is already highly mechanized, with the mechanization rate for plowing, planting and harvesting reaching 99.28 percent.

Now, the province is moving toward smarter farming, using AI, drones, remote sensing and advanced machinery to help farmers monitor crops, improve efficiency and make more informed decisions.

The shift is part of China's broader efforts to strengthen food security and modernize rural areas.

Digital technology changes farming
At Beidahuang Information Company in Harbin, a large digital map tracks around 48 million mu, or about 3.2 million hectares, of farmland.

The system receives real-time information on soil conditions, crop growth and agricultural machinery. Satellite technology, the Internet of Things and AI are increasingly being used throughout the farming process, from planting to harvesting.

Wang Hao, deputy general manager of the company's market operation center, said technology has made it possible to monitor much larger areas in less time.

Previously, a farmer could inspect about 200 mu of farmland in a day on foot. With drones and remote sensing, crop conditions across vast areas can now be updated every five days, he said.

The data helps farmers make decisions on fertilization, pest control and other farm activities.

The company has developed more than 60 digital systems for agricultural management. Its AI model for cold-region crops uses information on soil, weather and crop growth to help create planting plans and recommend appropriate fertilizer use.

The company's agricultural service app has also helped improve efficiency and reduce management costs, with online transactions through the platform exceeding 100 billion yuan, or about $14.74 billion.

However, Wang said large-scale adoption of smart agriculture still faces challenges, including limited data, differences in local farming conditions and the need to test AI systems in different environments.

Smart machines enter the fields
Smart agricultural equipment is also becoming increasingly common in Heilongjiang.

At one farming base, a four-wheel laser weeding robot moves through crop rows using cameras and sensors to identify weeds. The system then uses lasers to remove the unwanted plants without damaging crops.

Li Yongwei, deputy general manager of Harbin Huagong Zhiyun Technology Co., Ltd., said traditional weeding often depends on manual labor or chemicals, both of which can be costly or harmful to the environment.

He said the laser technology can remove more than 95 percent of weeds while keeping crop damage below 0.1 percent. It can also reduce weeding costs by up to 70 percent compared with manual work.

Agricultural machinery is also becoming more advanced.

At Heilongjiang Dewo Technology Development Co., Ltd., electric-drive precision seeders allow farmers to monitor and adjust air pressure and seed spacing in real time through smart terminals.

According to the company, the machines can operate about 50 percent faster than traditional mechanical seeders while reducing seed damage.

Dewo now accounts for more than 60 percent of China's high-end electric-drive seeder market and has begun exporting its equipment overseas.

The company has supplied potato farming machinery to countries including Russia, Kazakhstan, Peru and Zimbabwe, while also exporting seeders to the Republic of Korea.

Push for intelligent farming
Heilongjiang recorded its 22nd consecutive bumper harvest in 2025, producing a record 82 million tonnes of grain. The province also had around 676,000 intelligent agricultural machines, the highest number in China.

The provincial government plans to further expand the use of agricultural robots, smart farming equipment and other advanced technologies during China's 15th Five-Year Plan period from 2026 to 2030.

Construction also began in August on a national pilot base for AI applications in crop farming, aimed at solving technological challenges and developing AI systems that can be used on a larger scale.

The move reflects China's wider push to modernize agriculture through better farmland, improved seeds, advanced machinery and new farming methods.

China is also expanding the use of drones, IoT technology and robots in rural areas as part of efforts to improve agricultural productivity and support rural development.

Hu Jinyou, a professor at China Agricultural University, said relying only on manual labor and traditional farming methods is no longer practical.

Although smart agriculture still needs further improvement, he said the deeper integration of AI and farming is an irreversible trend, with a new generation of educated farmers expected to make digital farm management increasingly common.