Back-to-Back Typhoons Devastate Farmers in the Yangtze River Delta
Last week, the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai region endured back-to-back strikes from two typhoons registering Category 10 or above, all within four days—a historic rarity.
Around 7:30 am on 16 September 2024, Typhoon Koppu made landfall near Lingang New City on the Pudong coast, Shanghai. At landfall, it packed Category 14 winds near its centre, tearing through the area at 42 metres per second. It remains the strongest typhoon to hit Shanghai and the surrounding region since 1949.
Barely two days after Koppu moved out, in the early hours of 19 September, Typhoon Prasan surged in at 60 kilometres per hour. Striking the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai area with Category 10–11 winds characteristic of a severe tropical storm, Prasan’s intense radar echoes moving ashore triggered widespread heavy rain across eastern Pudong, Fengxian, and Minhang. Parts of Pudong and Fengxian saw extreme rainfall topping 300 millimetres, causing severe regional waterlogging and triggering secondary disasters.
With two typhoons passing through in quick succession, how did farms caught directly in their paths cope? What was the situation on the ground? To find out, I contacted several ecological farms that had been in the line of fire immediately after the storms passed.
I. Shanghai Lexiangu Community Farm: Typhoons are a frequent visitor, but preparedness is key
Spanning roughly 5.7 hectares, the farm comprises over 2.7 hectares of woodland and a 2-hectare vegetable plot. Surprisingly, despite taking the full force of the storms, the damage was relatively contained: the two primary wooden outbuildings remained unscathed; among the crops, only the maize and trellised vegetables suffered severe lodging. Additional losses were limited to a few trees and several promotional signboards. In response, farm owner Yuan Qinghua explained: “Our operation is small-scale and lacks heavy infrastructure. Coupled with our diverse crop mix, this allows us to adapt and recover much more swiftly in the aftermath of a storm.”
Because Lexiangu Farm sits close to Hangzhou Bay, it endures typhoons annually. Yuan Qinghua told me they have amassed considerable experience in storm preparedness. “Leading up to a typhoon’s arrival, I closely monitor shifts in its track, checking forecasts every hour or two. This allows me to assess changing wind directions and expected rainfall levels in advance, so I can implement protective measures in good time.”
Starting two days prior to a storm’s arrival, he begins methodically organising his team for defensive preparations: all tent canopies and tarps are taken down, greenhouse plastic sheeting is stripped off, and taller structures are secured with ropes; anticipating that the heavy rainfall accompanying typhoons could easily cause surface waterlogging, he ensures all drainage channels, both within and around the farm, are thoroughly cleared to allow water to run off quickly; once every precaution is in place, all farmhands are promptly evacuated to safer ground as the storm hits.
Now, however, Yuan Qinghua is most concerned about the risk of a severe drought following the floods. Such drastic, “bungee-jump” swings in the weather could jeopardise the planting and survival rates of autumn vegetables, so he plans to re-sow after the storms pass in order to minimise losses.
II. Kunshan Yuefengdao Organic Farm: Large trees caught the gale and buckled, but the new greenhouses held firm
As Typhoon Bebinca approached, the Kunshan Meteorological Observatory issued an orange rainstorm warning and a blue typhoon warning in succession, prompting the city to activate its Level IV typhoon defence response. At 11:30 am on 16 September, the typhoon’s centre entered Kunshan’s jurisdiction, with peak winds reaching force 13 and regional daily rainfall hitting between 150 and 180 millimetres. The farm had barely caught its breath when Typhoon Prasan arrived on 19 September, unleashing another spell of relentless heavy rain.
Operating as a comprehensive experiential farm, Yuefeng Island has long drawn city visitors with its picturesque landscapes and shady woodlands. During the storms, however, these very trees and the farm’s infrastructure proved to be the worst-affected areas: roughly a tenth of the trees, with trunk diameters of 30 to 40 centimetres, were snapped clean in two. Broken branches and foliage choked roads and drainage ditches, demanding substantial manual labour to clear. Various structures sustained damage to varying degrees—most notably a brand-new vegetable greenhouse that had cost several hundred thousand yuan. Steel support tubes as thick as a human forearm were snapped, leaving the entire structure blown off-kilter. Repairs will take considerable time, severely disrupting autumn vegetable production.
The farm’s technical supervisor, Mr Tang, explained that crop losses were severe. The corn and cucumbers, which were at the stage of being harvested, were completely wiped out. Fortunately, the rice showed only moderate lodging. “There are two reasons for this,” he explained. “First, the rice variety is well-adapted to the local climate. Second, the crop was still in its flowering and grain-filling phase. Once the panicles had fully formed, the heads would have grown too heavy, likely causing widespread lodging. We can only call it a fortunate escape amidst the devastation.”
Yuefeng Island also maintains an on-farm conservation base for saved seeds from both dryland and paddy crops. Since 2021, the farm has been gradually building up a local collection, now conserving over two hundred heritage crop varieties. To Mr Tang, these seeds are his most prized possession. The typhoon collapsed all the trellises in the dryland plots, toppling leguminous crops such as broad beans and cowpeas, which could jeopardise the seed-saving efforts.
III. Suzhou Mayfield Organic Farm: Agricultural Insurance Purchased, Yet Heavy Losses Across Numerous Greenhouses
To maintain a stable year-round vegetable supply, the farm has made substantial investments in infrastructure. Across its 219.85-mu footprint, it operates 166 single-span greenhouses, six multi-span greenhouses, and simple shelter structures for fruit trees.
Ahead of the typhoons, the farm took proactive defensive measures: clearing drainage ditches, securing greenhouse film-clamp cables, closing doors and windows, and conducting safety briefings for staff. Yet judging from the photographs sent by technician Xiao Shi, the greenhouses sustained considerable damage. Roof films on many were blown off, and the most expensive multi-span greenhouses suffered severe roof tears.
According to the farm’s tally, following the two typhoons, 65 greenhouse films were destroyed, 15 steel frames damaged, insect-proof nets on over a hundred greenhouses torn and detached, bird nets above the pear trees ruined, and all open-field corn and okra flattened.
Xiao Shi and I went through the figures in detail: “We’ll need to re-lay the greenhouse films. A 6-metre film for a single-span greenhouse costs around 600 yuan, plus 120 for overlap films, not to mention clips, snap-lock channels, clamp cables and other fittings. Add 200 for insect nets, and with over a hundred greenhouses needing their nets replaced, the costs mount quickly. Multi-span greenhouses are even costlier. One section of outer film runs 6,000 yuan, so replacing two damaged sections comes to 12,000.Ultimately, the insurance payout is calculated against our insured value ratio, which we estimate at around 100,000 yuan. That barely covers the cost of the films themselves and doesn’t even factor in labour, which runs 600 to 900 yuan. Given the scale of our operation, it’s as if we’ve worked for nothing all year.”
Notably, Mayfield Farm is the only one in our interviews to have taken out agricultural insurance. Although the policy provides a proportional payout, it remains a drop in the ocean compared to the devastation wrought by the natural disasters.
IV. Jiaxing Fukang Shengliang Farm: Wind-tolerant crops are essential, but management is key
During a visit two years ago, which coincided with the aftermath of a typhoon, the contrast between Liu Wei’s rice and the surrounding fields was striking: while crops on adjacent plots had been completely knocked down, his remained vigorous with very little lodging.
Addressing this, Liu Wei explained: “My farming approach is rooted in ‘soil health’. It follows the ancient wisdom that the best physician prevents disease before it strikes, focusing on sustainably managing the soil ecosystem and the natural balance of crop relationships.” The biodynamic farming Liu Wei employs prioritises sustainable cultivation through methods such as crop rotation, green manure incorporation, and the use of soil-friendly machinery.
When I asked him to elaborate, he said: “In simple terms, healthy soil allows crops to absorb nutrients fully. This strengthens their natural resistance, develops deep and extensive root systems, and produces strong, resilient stems. Together, these traits enable the plants to effectively withstand typhoons and other natural disasters.”
During last week’s twin typhoons, Jiaxing lay within the force 7–9 wind zone, experiencing heavy rain and, in places, downpours. Brief periods of intense rainfall at the farm exceeded 100 mm. In the wake of the back-to-back storms, I got in touch with Liu Wei once more.
Liu Wei said he had never witnessed weather like that either: “The rain was so dense it fell completely horizontal, like a sheet. It was extraordinary.”
The rice crops were also affected. He lost the yield from a small plot of land, and flowering and pollination were suboptimal on some plants. Fortunately, crop lodging resulted in only minor losses.
However, lodging was still quite severe in the traditional *Suyu glutinous* rice variety. Liu Wei identified three contributing factors. First, seed degeneration: he had failed to save seed last year and was still using stock from the year before. Second, excessive soil fertility: the rice had grown leggy, with stems reaching 1.3 metres. As the crop entered maturity and became top-heavy, it was highly susceptible to being blown over by the gales. Third, poor water management: in an effort to guarantee pollination, irrigation had not been adequately controlled or adjusted in time to match prevailing conditions.
Always reflective, Liu Wei drew his own conclusions. “Rather than simply chasing soil fertility, you need to adapt your management to the specific characteristics of your crops and the prevailing climate. To simplify things, I whittled my selection down to ten varieties this year. If I had planted dozens of varieties as I did last year, many of them tall-stemmed heritage types, it would have been a disaster.”
Liu Wei has not taken out agricultural insurance, but he noted that he received an early warning from the local authorities ahead of the storms. Thanks to the Hangzhou–Jiaxing–Huzhou South Drainage Project, farmers were able to drain their fields in advance, which significantly reduced subsequent waterlogging and flooding in the paddies.
V. Seeing Those Rooted to the Land Amidst Extreme Weather
I live in Kunshan, right in the typhoon’s core path. As the storm swept through, the city plunged into gloom. Fierce winds drove rain down like a waterfall, and I felt the entire block trembling beneath me. When it passed, power and water supplies were severed. Emergency repair crews had to be mobilised from northern Jiangsu, and the city lay in disarray. We all huddled indoors, shivering.
Reports confirmed that two courier workers were electrocuted during the storm. One resident posted in a building owners’ chat group: “We assumed disaster was something that happened elsewhere. To think a life can be extinguished in an instant.”
In the days following the storm, a handful of local residents set up makeshift stalls selling produce on the street outside. One man’s maize was remarkably cheap—he asked for just 10 yuan for a towering pile. When I asked why his prices were so low, he explained: “I grew it on my own plot. The storm flattened the stalks, and I couldn’t bear to watch it all rot in the mud, so I gathered what I could. The field’s waterlogged now, so name your own price. It’s an act of nature. There’s nothing we can do about that.”
Urban life increasingly insulates us from what unfolds elsewhere. As convenience mounts, we drift further from rooted, place-based living and from the land itself. Yet nature’s fury knows no boundaries. When a whole region is laid bare by extreme weather, it offers a crucial moment for reflection.
This report is by no means exhaustive; time ran short, and I could not yet document the losses suffered by every farm. Still, I hope it encourages more of us to look beyond our dinner plates and towards the vast fields beyond, to witness what frontline agriculture is enduring. As climate change intensifies, the threat of typhoons is likely to grow. May the lessons of this storm inform how we prepare for what lies ahead.
A metaphysics enthusiast concerned with climate and agriculture, reflecting on the heavens, the earth, and the self.
Editor: Wang Hao
This interview was supported by Friends of Nature’s “Linglong Project”