January 25, 2011

Shandong's wheat-growing areas hit by drought

Drought had affected 55.9% of wheat-planting areas in east China's Shandong province as of January 21, according to the province's flood control and drought relief headquarters.

By January 21, the drought in the wheat-growing areas in Shandong had expanded to 30.16 million mu (2.01 million hectares), up more than 1.1 million mu over a week earlier, with more than 5.43 million mu suffering from severe drought. One hectare equals 15 mu.

Shandong is one of the country's major grain-producing areas, with the second largest wheat harvest and largest corn harvest in China.