Chapter 92: Visitors from Xinjiang Province
The growth cycle of alfalfa in summer is about 28 days.

Generally speaking, four crops can be harvested from June to October, with the first crop having the highest yield.

In saline-alkali land, the first crop of alfalfa yields only 80 kilograms per mu, and the annual output is about 0.3 tons.

Assuming that all the hay is grade two, the price at the place of origin is 550 yuan/ton, and the annual output value per mu is only 165 yuan, and the output value per mu of grade three hay is only 120 yuan.

The profit is much lower than that of growing a season of wheat.

According to the investment method of Alfalfa Farming and Animal Husbandry, the annual investment cost per mu is about 200 yuan, which would have been a huge loss long ago.

But after the second pressurization, the situation is different when sold to coastal areas. The price of grade 1200 hay in coastal areas is calculated at 1000 yuan/ton, and grade is yuan/ton.

The annual output value per mu is 360 yuan and 300 yuan respectively.

Including freight costs, Grade 25 hay can make a profit, and the average loss per mu of Grade hay has been reduced to yuan.

If there is no mowing or returning of crops to the fields, the net investment per mu is 200 yuan, which would amount to 4000 million yuan in total. Add in the newly sown crops, and the losses would skyrocket!

After more than half a year.

Hou Huaijie from Xinjiang Agricultural Reclamation Bureau set foot on this land again, accompanied by several people from the Production and Construction Corps.

The grassland was a scene of bountiful harvest, with the cut grass lined up in long rows and hung out to dry.

"Old Hou, was this really a salt marsh last year, not a wasteland?"

Hou Huaijie's eyebrows slanted, and his expression was extremely proud.

"Old Tang, I can't lie to you. It turns out that this salt marsh is white and there is no grass growing on it."

Old Tang, whose real name is Tang Yong, is the head of the Animal Husbandry Department of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps’ Agricultural Bureau. The shock in his eyes has not yet faded.

"Has it become like this in half a year?"

Hou Huaijie stretched out his index and middle fingers on his right hand.

"In just two months, we scraped away the salt layer from 200,000 mu of saline-alkali land, leveled the land, deep-turned and dried the soil, and covered it with sand. All of this was done."

The people traveling with us looked around and although some of the alfalfa was not growing well, it was still quite green.

"Awesome! This is really efficient!"

"After a few years of improvement, this will be fertile land again."

"The wasteland has become an oasis. Old Hou, you have done a great thing by using the alfalfa!"

There was endless praise, and Hou Huaijie felt proud of it, and he even walked a little straighter.

There were also representatives from the regiment in the crowd.

Zou Qing had a dark face, short hair, a medium build, and wore a white shirt. Looking at Hou Huaijie's smug look, he couldn't help but pour cold water on him.

"Investing in improving saline-alkali land is like trying to eat vegetables with a mouse. It's a dead end."

"If we use this land to grow alfalfa, we won't be able to make back our investment in decades!"

The person next to him echoed, "Indeed, alfalfa is not profitable. It is better to grow cotton. It requires a lot of investment, but the benefits are also high."

The others were also thinking about it, and someone asked Tang Yong: "Old Tang, you are in charge of this business. According to the Alfalfa model, how many years will it take to get back the investment?"

Tang Yong's face darkened. His leader sent him to lead a team to conduct an investigation in order to learn from others and see if they could preserve the Corps' remaining alfalfa planting area.

However, previous visits to Inner Mongolia and other places have shown that alfalfa is generally not profitable, and many farms are planning to switch to growing cash crops.

This has cast a shadow on this trip.

Alfalfa is indeed effective in improving saline-alkali land, but does it have to be economically calculated?
It’s something you can never calculate!

However, there are some things that cannot be considered only for immediate benefits.

Having worked in the animal husbandry industry for so many years, Tang Yong is well aware of the importance of forage in the planting structure.

Seeing that Tang Yong didn't speak for a long time, Zou Qing pointed at the cut grass in the field with a look of disdain.

"Looking at the yield, alfalfa loses an average of 100 to 200 per mu. Add in the previous improvements and the annual planting costs. It will take at least ten years to get back the money."

His assistant continued to echo, "There are also diseases and insect pests. The Corps is suffering from too much damage from dodder. The alfalfa yield can't be increased at all, and sometimes there is a total crop failure."

Tang Yong explained, "In the long run, alfalfa's role in improving the soil is unmatched by chemical fertilizers. After a few years, we can rotate it with cash crops and significantly increase the yield."

Zou Qing argued, "Director Tang, other groups can earn hundreds of yuan per acre by planting cotton, but if you're lucky you can only earn 100 or 200 yuan by planting alfalfa. Who wouldn't be jealous?"

Tang Yong was helpless, as the masses' affairs were the most difficult to deal with.

He suddenly remembered his leader's sigh.

Impatient for quick success.

...Guo Yang personally explained to the visiting group from Xinjiang Province.

Xinjiang Province has a vast area and unique agricultural production conditions, making it a potential customer area for Tianhe and Muhe.

After listening to the simple and rough development history of Muhe, Tang Yong no longer had any hope.

Alfalfa is supported by a strong capital chain, and farms in Meng Province are also planning to switch crops. Why should their Corps persist?
"Muhe's project is very meaningful. I hope you can stick to it."

"The Corps has a long history of alfalfa cultivation, and Alfalfa is counting on selling seeds to you in the future."

"Alas! Alfalfa is not profitable, and no one in the Corps is willing to grow it."

Guo Yang still had a smile on his face.

"Next year, Alfalfa will have new alfalfa seeds on the market. The Corps can consider introducing them. At the same time, Alfalfa will also set up a processing factory in Xinjiang Province."

“A forage processing factory?”

“Yes, we mainly process alfalfa hay, mainly in the form of square bales, grass meal and grass pellets.”

Tang Yong's eyes lit up. "The alfalfa area in Xinjiang Province has shrunk dramatically. Will there be a shortage of raw materials?"

"Alfalfa will also expand new pastures, and purchasing raw materials from outside is just a supplement."

"Further expansion?" Zou Qing, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but ask.

"Yes, Muhe plans to launch a new saline-alkali land improvement project in Xinjiang Province next year."

"Or is it salt marsh?"

"Yes, in July next year, we expect that about 7 million kilograms of seeds of Alfalfa No. 1 will be available on the market."

Zou Qing, Tang Yong, the visiting group, and even the employees of Muhe were all stunned.

Are you promoting seeds or running a ranch?

Zou Qing found it incredible. If this money had been invested in cotton growing, he would have made a fortune long ago.

"The loss of tens of millions this year has no impact on Muhe at all?"

"Who said Muhe lost tens of millions this year?"

Everyone was stunned for a moment, and then Zou Qingcai said, "Our farm also grows alfalfa. According to this year's market conditions, alfalfa will lose tens of millions."

Guo Yang smiled and led the group across the pasture. After a while, they arrived at the warehouse.

A red trailer was parked in the yard and workers were loading square bales of hay with a forklift.

"Mr. Zou, you are an expert. Guess how many tons of alfalfa hay this truck can carry?"

Zou Qing hesitated for a moment and said, "10 tons, maybe!"

All the employees of Muhe smiled knowingly. 10 tons, who are they looking down on?
"15 tons?" Tang Yong also guessed a number.

"Director Tang, Mr. Zou, this truck can carry at least 25 tons."

Zou Qing's eyes widened, "Impossible!"

"25 tons?" Director Tang opened his mouth in surprise. Alfalfa hay is so light!
Zou Qing walked forward and tried to pick up a bundle of hay, but despite his great efforts, the bundle did not move at all.

The others looked surprised. Zou Qing was a strong man, but he couldn't even move the hay bale.

How heavy is this!
A few more people came forward and tried it, and they all had the same result.

Everyone then began to believe that this truck could carry more than 25 tons.

But we still waited there for a while until the truck was full.

The weight displayed when weighing was 27.7 tons, leaving everyone speechless for a long time.

The power of technology is so terrifying!
Director Tang has participated in a lot of training in the past, but it was not until this moment that he deeply realized the importance of agricultural product processing.

If the Corps has this processing technology, there will be no need to worry about the sluggish alfalfa industry.

Afterwards, Guo Yang took everyone to visit the seed field of Alfalfa No. 1.

The tall plants are lush and green, with branches and leaves, completely different from the alfalfa in the saline-alkali land.

By this time, Director Tang had already figured out how to report to his superiors.

Farmers like Zou Qing were also stunned. They have been growing alfalfa for decades and can roughly estimate the yield at a glance.

But Alfalfa No. 1 was a little beyond their understanding.

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(End of this chapter)