The output value of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fisheries of Weifang in East China's Shandong province hit 140.97 billion yuan ($20.31 billion) in 2025, making it the province's first city to surpass the 140 billion yuan mark in these sectors.

As a major agricultural city, Weifang's success is largely attributable to its emphasis on improving both quality and efficiency. For instance, the city collaborated with the Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences on R&D to cultivate new varieties and set standard planting models, which has increased the output of Weixian radishes by 750 kilograms per mu (0.07 hectares). 

This has driven up the unit price from between 3 and 5 yuan per kg to 15 yuan, while its radish brand value increased by 3 to 5 times, reaching 2 billion yuan at present. It has also resulted in farmers' income rising above 10 million yuan so far. 

Weixian radishes. [Photo/WeChat account: weifangfabu]

In the critical field of seed industry innovation, Weifang has taken the lead. The city has achieved a global first by constructing the complete genomic map of hexaploid wheat. Its Weimai 16 variety has set a local record for wheat yield, with an actual measurement of 923.07 kg per mu. Additionally, the mechanization rate for corn planting, harvesting, and cultivation has reached an impressive 96.5 percent.

Weifang is also leveraging blockchain technology to ensure traceability and quality control in agricultural products. As the only pilot project in the agricultural sector nationwide, the city has expanded quality supervision from chive to all vegetable categories, with over 6 million data entries now on the blockchain.

Moreover, Weifang advances rural vitalization through a cluster-based model, integrating 1,666 villages into 154 development zones. This shift from scattered growth to coordinated planning boosts agricultural income, tourism, and transforms saline land, with the approach now being promoted across the province.