Chinese Farmers Experimenting With Corn and Soybeans Side-By-Side

BEIJING, CHINA – Chinese grain production is expected to hit a new high this season, highlighting annual increases for the past four years.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the estimate comes as more than 96 percent of the crops have been harvested.

China is working to become more self-sufficient in light of growing geopolitical threats and volatility in weather patterns.

One effort local farmers are using to fuel the increase is a production technique where corn and soybeans are planted side-by-side in a field, with the corn providing shade for the bean crop so the bacteria in soybean roots can enhance the fertility of the corn.

The latest estimates from USDA show the country importing around 17 million metric tons, down 15 percent year-on-year, mainly from the U.S., Brazil, and Ukraine.
(SOURCE: South China Morning Post)