Intelligent agricultural machinery is hard at work on an unmanned smart farm in Feicheng, a county-level city in Tai'an. [Photo/Shandong Development and Reform Commission]

Across Shandong, spring farming is in full gear as the province utilizes technology to ensure a bumper harvest. From intelligent irrigation systems to drone-assisted spraying, modern tools are revolutionizing traditional agriculture.

In Liaocheng, Zhang Bin, representing a new generation, operates a drone that covers 100 mu (6.67 hectares) of wheat in just one hour – boosting efficiency a hundredfold compared to manual spraying. "This is real technology doing farm work," said Xu Xiaozhan, a cooperative manager in Jiaxiang county, watching a DJI T100 drone skim low over the fields.

Underground advancements are equally striking. Black drip irrigation tapes now deliver water and nutrients directly to crop roots. In Huanggai town, Zhang Yongliang has reduced water use by over 30 percent and fertilizer by 20 percent while saving nearly half the labor required before.

At Yantai Port, China's important hub for fertilizer import and export, more than 10,000 metric tons of fertilizers are being swiftly distributed via rail to multiple provinces, with daily shipments exceeding 3,000 tons. State Grid in Juye county has deployed 20 service teams to ensure 25,000 electric pump wells operate efficiently.

Additionally, Shandong employs high-resolution satellite imagery to monitor wheat growth across 60 million mu of farmland, allocating 75 million yuan ($10.91 million) to support weaker seedlings.

Even coastal regions are joining the effort. At Hongdao fishing port, 60,000 kilograms of clam seedlings are being sown daily, while Zhanhua district's seaweed harvest is underway with quality produce in high demand.