China winter wheat areas up; winter rapeseed crop areas stable

China has almost completed its winter grain and oilseed planting, with wheat areas up and rapeseed crop areas stable, the Ministry of Agriculture said Thursday.

As of Tuesday (Nov 10), 96 percent of the planned wheat and rapeseed crop areas were planted, and the areas were 260,000 hectares higher than last year, said the ministry in a statement published on its Web site.

Wheat growth has been better than that of last year, as rain and snow in wheat areas since earlier this month have eased a drought, said the ministry.

But Hai Yang, an analyst with Zhengzhou Esunny Information & Technology Co., warned that measures need to be taken to protect the wheat against the cold brought by heavy snowfall, which hasn't been seen during this season in more than a decade.

The areas of other winter agricultural crops such as potatoes and vegetables also rose on year, said the ministry.