Lush alfalfa fields in Minle usher in prosperous harvest season

An image of the first harvest of alfalfa in Minle Industrial Park, Zhangye, Gansu province, on May 31, 2024. [Photo provided to gogansu.com]

The first harvest of 8,000 mu (1,320 acres) of alfalfa at Gansu Huarui Agricultural Co in the Minle Industrial Park is in full swing. Harvesters are diligently working, transforming the fields from a vibrant blanket of flowers into neat rows of cut alfalfa. The estimated yield for this first harvest is expected to exceed 800 kilograms per mu.

Alfalfa, a perennial herbaceous plant, is known for its tender, delicious, and nutrient-rich stems and leaves, earning it the nickname "canned fodder." Located at the northern foot of the Qilian Mountains, Minle county benefits from abundant sunshine, a cool climate, minimal pests, and irrigation from Qilian Mountain snowmelt, along with a unique altitude. These conditions foster the growth of high-quality alfalfa, making Minle an important production area for premium alfalfa and helping local farmers and herders achieve their dreams of prosperity.

In recent years, Minle county has fully utilized its advantageous location along the "Golden Belt" at 38°N latitude to vigorously develop a forage industry centered on alfalfa. The planting area for high-quality forages such as alfalfa and oats has reached 210,000 mu (34,650 acres). This ample supply of forage supports the development of livestock farming in Minle, improves grassland ecology, promotes grazing bans and rest periods, and protects the environment.