What farm work do farmers do in the fields?

In rural areas, farmers make their living by growing crops, but they do not have work to do every day, and occasionally they take on odd jobs, so what farm work do farmers do in the fields?

1. What farm work do farmers do in the fields?

The farm work that farmers can do in the fields depends on the season and the region. Generally, in northern regions, the farm work that can be done in spring includes weeding and irrigation; in summer, planting corn, soybeans and peanuts, and harvesting wheat; in autumn, harvesting crops and sowing; and in winter, protecting wheat from freezing. In southern regions, spring generally involves transplanting rice seedlings, sowing and planting rapeseed; summer involves harvesting rice; autumn involves harvesting; and winter is basically a rest period.

2. What farm work can be done in spring?

1. Start of Spring

Its meaning is the beginning of spring. “Yang harmony stirs the hibernating insects, and all things are spring”. After the Start of Spring, all things revive and are full of vitality, and the cycle of the four seasons begins from here. In people's minds, spring means warm breezes and sunshine, birdsong and fragrant flowers; spring also means the growth of all things and sowing by farming families.

2. Rain Water

At this time, the spring wind blows everywhere, ice and snow melt, the air is humid, and rain increases, so it is called Rain Water. People often say: “At the Start of Spring it gradually warms, and at Rain Water there is a busy round of fertilizing.” During the Rain Water solar term, barley and wheat successively enter the jointing and booting stage. This is the period when fertilizer is most needed and water is most feared. There is a saying that “a foot of wheat fears an inch of water”, so field management should focus on “making every effort to preserve the area, applying fertilizer according to the seedlings, and clearing ditches to drain water”.

3. Awakening of Insects

This solar term indicates that after the “Start of Spring” the weather turns warmer and spring thunder begins to rumble. Various hibernating animals dormant in the soil will awaken and begin to move about, so it is called Awakening of Insects. As the proverb says: “After Awakening of Insects, it is warm and cozy, and frogs and old horned creatures sing mountain songs.” The farming proverb says: “When the Awakening of Insects festival arrives, the hoe does not rest.” At Awakening of Insects, most areas of China enter the busy season of spring plowing. Truly: the season does not wait for anyone, and every moment is worth a thousand pieces of gold.

4. Spring Equinox

This is the midpoint of the 90 days of spring. On this day, the Northern and Southern Hemispheres have equal day and night, so it is called the Spring Equinox. Farming proverbs from various places include: “If the Spring Equinox comes early, a peck of rice costs a peck of money” (Guangdong), “If it rains continuously on the Spring Equinox jiazi day, the Summer Solstice jiazi day will burn the sky” (Sichuan), “If there is rain at the Spring Equinox, every family is busy; first plant melons and beans, then transplant rice seedlings” (Hubei), “Plant vegetables at the Spring Equinox, pick melons at Great Heat” (Hunan), “Plant hemp and beans at the Spring Equinox, plant wheat and garlic at the Autumn Equinox” (Anhui). Manage wheat and rapeseed well and do a good job in afforestation, improve and protect the ecological environment, and regulate the climate.