In mid-July 2024, a team of experts from Jilin Province's tussah silk industry technical system arrived in Dongliao County to provide on-site guidance for the critical autumn seed production phase. This period marks the start of bivoltine tussah silk seed production, but heavy early-season rainfall, compounded by typhoon-induced precipitation, has introduced significant uncertainties.
Challenges in Seed Production Under Extreme Weather
Dongliao County is a key base for tussah silk seed production in Jilin, with autumn seed quality directly impacting next spring's hatch rate and yield. The expert team visited three demonstration enterprises: Fengguo Breeding Cooperative, Zhongcheng Tussah Breeding Cooperative, and Liaoheyuan Sino-German Modern Agriculture Company, focusing on the construction and promotion of demonstration bases. On-site, they found that persistent high humidity can lead to unfertilized eggs, increasing waste rates and driving up breeding costs.
Temperature and humidity control became the core technical focus. Experts stressed that in post-typhoon high-humidity conditions, ventilation, dehumidification, and precise temperature regulation are essential to maintain a stable microenvironment for egg development. This is not just a technical issue but a matter of industry chain stability—poor egg quality directly reduces cocoon yield and silk quality downstream.
First-Half Demonstration Results and Industry Transmission
After visiting the bases, the team summarized progress at the Dongliao Comprehensive Test Station. Data showed that the station had completed its first-half tasks as planned, including technical training, egg testing, and base expansion. This indicates that, despite climate anomalies, the tussah silk industry's technical extension system maintained basic operations.
For buyers, smooth demonstration project progress means enhanced traceability of seed quality. Standardized tussah egg production helps reduce breeding risks caused by variable seed quality. For upstream seed enterprises, the technical data and operational norms accumulated in the first half provide a template for autumn production—for example, adjusting workshop temperature and humidity parameters based on real-time weather data.
Industry Significance of Technical Guidance
The expert team's action, while appearing as localized technical support, reflects a systemic response to climate change in the tussah silk industry. Northeastern tussah farming traditionally relies on natural oak forests and empirical knowledge, but recent extreme weather events have made traditional methods insufficient for stable egg output.
From an industry perspective, the technical system helps convert scattered farming experience into quantifiable management standards. For instance, the "temperature and humidity control" advice was not generic but based on local weather station data and actual workshop conditions. This "data + field" guidance model can be replicated in other tussah regions, such as Liaoning and Inner Mongolia.
For foreign trade enterprises, tussah silk, as a high-end textile raw material, requires consistent quality to attract international buyers. If the Dongliao test station can establish standardized seed production processes, it could enhance the bargaining power of Chinese tussah silk in global markets.
Key Nodes in Autumn Seed Production
Currently, bivoltine tussah autumn seed production has just begun, and the next focus is completing autumn silkworm demonstrations. From mid-July to September, workshops must continuously monitor temperature and humidity, and regularly check egg development. Experts specifically emphasized that while ensuring egg quality, safety production must not be overlooked—under extreme weather, the reliability of power supply and drainage systems is equally critical.
For tussah breeding cooperatives, the technical execution during this autumn seed production season will directly affect next spring's breeding scale. If eggs meet quality standards, farmers can expand grazing areas as planned; otherwise, they may be forced to reduce scale, impacting annual cocoon supply.