June 20, 2013

China's wheat harvest totals 18.27 million hectares

As of June 16, harvest of wheat planted in China last winter was 80% complete, with 274 million mu (18.27 million hectares) of wheat harvested.

Among the five major wheat growing areas, Summer harvest is almost completed in provinces like Anhui and Henan; whereas summer harvest is still in progress in the eastern and northern parts of the Northern provinces.

The end of summer harvest also marks the start of summer planting. 760,000 sets of planting machines were put into operation in Huang Huai Hai summer corn planting zone, where planting on 104.62 million mu (6.97 million hectares) is completed. Mechanised planting operation accounted for more than 89% of total acreage.

Rainy weather is likely in the Northern provinces, and heavy rains are expected in the winter wheat areas during June 20th to 22th, according to the Central Meteorological Observatory. Rainy weather is not desirable for winter wheat harvest, but it stimulates the growth of seeds sown in summer.