On May 21, a villager sprayed fertilizer with a plant protection drone in a paddy rice field in Nanni Village, Gaosha Town, Dongkou County. Xiaoman, or grain buds, is a critical period for crop growth. Farmers in the county have seized the farming season to strengthen crop field management and help increase agricultural efficiency and farmers' income. (Photo/Teng Zhizhong)

On May 21, a farmer added fertilizer to manage seedlings in the field in Heping Village, Fengshiyan Town, Qidong County. During the Xiaoman period, the temperature rises and rainfall increases. Local farmers have seized the farming season to actively carry out summer plowing, planting, management, and other agricultural production, to increase agricultural efficiency and farmers' income. (Photo/Chen Yanshang)

On May 21, farmers were busy planting mid-season rice seedlings in the field in Baoshan Village, Fengshiyan Town, Qidong County. During the Xiaoman period, the temperature rises and rainfall increases. Local farmers have seized the farming season to actively carry out summer plowing, planting, management, and other agricultural production, to increase agricultural efficiency and farmers' income. (Photo/Chen Yanshang)

On May 21, farmers plowed fields despite the rain in Qianwei Village, Zhaoshi Town, Longshan County. During the Xiaoman period, rice cultivation is in full swing in Longshan County, Xiangxi. Local farmers are busy plowing fields and planting rice seedlings. (Photo/Zeng Xianghui)

On May 21, a farmer worked in a paddy rice field in Muliang Village, Taohuaping Neighborhood, Longhui County. That day marked Xiaoman, the 8th of the 24 solar terms on traditional Chinese lunar calendar. Local farmers have been busy in the paddy fields. (Photo/Zeng Yong)

On May 21, farmers worked in a paddy rice field of super hybrid rice high yield research plantation in Leifeng Village, Yanggu'ao Town, Longhui County. That day marked Xiaoman, the 8th of the 24 solar terms on traditional Chinese lunar calendar. Local farmers have been busy working in the paddy fields. (Photo/Zeng Yong)

On May 21, farmers operated rotovators to level field and prepare for mid-season rice seedling planting at a super hybrid rice high yield research plantation in Tongdao Dong Autonomous County. That day marked Xiaoman, the 8th of the 24 solar terms on traditional Chinese lunar calendar. Local farmers have seized the farming time to carry out summer rice cultivation, presenting a busy scene. (Photo/Li Shangyin)

On May 21, a villager transplanted rice seedlings in a paddy rice field in Dongjin Village, Shangguan Neighborhood, Daoxian County. That day marked Xiaoman, the 8th of the 24 solar terms on traditional Chinese lunar calendar. Local farmers have seized the farming time to carry out summer rice cultivation, presenting a busy scene. (Photo/He Hongfu)

On May 21, a farmer drove the farming machinery to work in a field in Ximenkou Village, Qianzhou Neighborhood, Jishou City. That day marked Xiaoman, the 8th of the 24 solar terms on traditional Chinese lunar calendar. Local farmers have been busy in the paddy fields. (Photo/Liu Zhenjun)

On May 21, a farmer picked kidney beans in the field in Huashan Neighborhood, Louxing District, Loudi City. That day marked Xiaoman, the 8th of the 24 solar terms on traditional Chinese lunar calendar. Local farmers have been busy in the paddy fields. (Photo/Wu Yonghua)

On May 21, farmers worked at the grape plantation of Hexin Village, Yongfeng Neighborhood, Shuangfeng County. That day marked Xiaoman, the 8th of the 24 solar terms on traditional Chinese lunar calendar. Local farmers have been busy working in the paddy fields. (Photo/Nai Jihui)

On May 21, a farmer was busy weeding and loosening the soil in the field in Huashan Neighborhood, Louxing District, Loudi City. That day marked Xiaoman, the 8th of the 24 solar terms on traditional Chinese lunar calendar. Local farmers have been busy working in the paddy fields. (Photo/Wu Yonghua)

On May 21, a villager operated tractor to plow the just-harvested canola field and prepare for mid-season rice seedling planting in Quanxi Village, Datang Town, Guidong County. The day marked the Xiaoman Festival, a crucial period for mid-season rice planting. Local villagers have been busying at work in the field. (Photo/Deng Renxiang)