A tractor driving test was held in Xiangyang city, Hubei province on June 17 at HZAU's smart agriculture practice teaching base, marking progress in the university's practical training model for smart agriculture talent.
The base is part of a modern agriculture research institute that Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) operates in Xiangyang.
Earlier batches of students had completed the theory section on May 21 and June 10 before moving to field-based assessment. The test site was built according to agricultural machinery driving standards, with electronic poles and an infrared intelligent evaluation system to support machine scoring and manual review.
Unlike ordinary driving tests, the assessment was based on the skills students developed through HZAU's smart crop production practice course. The university has made tractor driving a core training component, building a year-round system that covers plowing, planting, field management and harvesting.
Ma Haoyang from Applied Biology Class 2401 said the yearlong training program changed his view of traditional agriculture. Students in agricultural sciences, he said, need both theoretical knowledge and machinery operation skills to work on the front line of modern farming.
Han Ning from Agronomy Class 2402 said the hands-on course helped students better meet the training standards for interdisciplinary agricultural talent.
The Xiangyang-based institute plans to continue special machinery skills training and centralized certificate services, further strengthening students' practical abilities in smart agriculture.

An HZAU student takes a tractor driving test. [Photo/new.hzau.edu.cn]