Power upgrades boost Yulin’s autumn harvest efforts

"When it's time for irrigation after the autumn harvest, there's always a worry that the crops won't be thoroughly watered. This year, a new transformer has been installed, providing more stable voltage, and the irrigation equipment has a higher water output, doubling irrigation efficiency!" said Wang Fengguang, a villager from Xiaojianzi village, Dingbian county, on Sept 21.

Since September, various regions in Yulin city, Shaanxi province, have entered a critical phase of autumn irrigation for moisture retention and field management. The planting industry in Xiaojianzi has continued to expand, but its previous power supply equipment had been in service for a long time and lacked sufficient capacity. During peak electricity usage periods, issues such as unstable terminal voltage and insufficient power supply capacity had become increasingly prominent, affecting farmland management efficiency.

On Sept 9, after receiving a request from the Xiaojianzi village committee for an electricity upgrade, the Dingbian branch of State Grid Shaanxi Electric Power dispatched personnel to conduct a field survey, identifying weak points in the power grid and launching a project to upgrade power supply facilities for agricultural irrigation.

The project targeted an area with an inadequate power supply, installing a new 50 kVA transformer specifically for agricultural irrigation and drainage.

At the construction site, power personnel completed tasks such as connecting diversion lines and thoroughly cleaning insulators, identifying and eliminating hazards associated with aging power lines and outdoor equipment and comprehensively improving the operating conditions of the regional distribution network.

Xi Jiawei, a director at the Yulin branch of State Grid Shaanxi Electric Power, said efforts were underway across Yulin, not just in Dingbian county, to establish a system for identifying and addressing weaknesses in agricultural power grids.

Staff members were organized to inspect the operational status of farmland irrigation wells and dedicated lines on a village-by-village, plot-by-plot and transformer area-by-transformer area basis, tailoring “one village, one method” upgrade plans.    

Through measures such as adding special transformers for irrigation and drainage, improving the distribution network structure and concentrating on addressing line hazards, power supply departments have filled the gaps in the rural power grid, making rural irrigation electricity more stable and reliable, said Xi.

During the autumn harvest season, the frequent operation of agricultural machinery, straw clearing and drying significantly increase risks such as machinery scraping lines and straw hanging on wires, posing a great challenge to the safe operation of the power grid.

On Sept 3, Xue Xitang, an operation and maintenance worker from the Guojiagou branch of State Grid Shaanxi Electric Power, went into the fields to check for hidden dangers.

"This section of the line runs through a whole cornfield, and recently, harvesters and grain transport vehicles have been shuttling. The guy wires for supporting the utility poles and the low-voltage power lines are particularly vulnerable to damage from agricultural machinery, which is a key risk point we must closely monitor without any negligence!" Xue said.

Xue, holding an infrared thermometer, conducted a walking inspection along the line corridor, carefully checking the operating temperature of insulators, wire joints and transformers while also identifying hidden issues such as equipment overheating, line aging and looseness or damage.

Wang Dong, sales and marketing director at the Yulin branch, said in response to electricity usage during the autumn harvest, the branch implemented power protection measures featuring “inspection, checking, clearing and publicity”, focusing on key areas such as machinery operation zones and grain drying points and conducting targeted safety inspections.

Meanwhile, the branch provided guidance on preventing electric shocks during machinery operations and fire prevention in straw stacking, weaving a tight power-related safety and protection net, said Wang.

During the peak period of autumn straw processing, forage storage and grain drying, farmers' demand for electricity increases sharply. To address this, the Yulin branch has opened a special channel for handling electricity-related matters during the autumn harvest, simplifying processes, reducing processing time and responding swiftly to address farmers' urgent needs.

"I didn't expect the three-phase electricity meter to be installed so quickly. Now, the chaff cutter can operate at full capacity, and there's no worry about straw processing and cattle and sheep forage storage this autumn!" said Liu Zhenxing, a villager from Qingyun town, Yulin, on Sept 20.

At the start of the busy farming season, Liu purchased a new three-phase electric chaff cutter and urgently needed electricity for forage processing. With a mindset of giving it a try, he submitted an online application for three-phase electricity installation through the State Grid app.

Upon receiving the installation order, the Yulin High Tech Industrial Development Zone branch of State Grid Shaanxi Electric Power responded to the farmer's request, arranging for a manager to conduct an on-site survey and, based on the farmer's site layout and equipment load, custom-designed a scientific and reasonable power supply plan. Within three days, the branch completed the entire process of line laying, meter installation and power-up testing, allowing the farmer to use electrical appliances reliably.

From upgrading the power grid and inspecting potential hazards to providing prompt, efficient services, power supply departments in Yulin have supported agricultural production throughout the autumn harvest, helping ensure a successful harvest and stable agricultural and livestock production through reliable electricity supplies.