A bumper summer grain harvest is expected again, gaining the initiative for stabilizing grain and increasing income this year

Report from this website  At present, more than 80 percent of the summer grain in the Southwest region has been harvested, and the Huang-Huai-Hai winter wheat area has begun large-scale harvesting. According to the Ministry of Agriculture's agricultural situation monitoring and experts' on-site investigations and analysis, if no large-scale disasters such as dry hot winds or lodging occur later, this year's summer grain is expected to again achieve a bumper harvest.

The main characteristics of this year's summer grain production: First, the area increased slightly while remaining stable. The summer grain area is expected to increase slightly while remaining stable, reaching 415 million mu, an increase of more than 1 million mu over the previous year. Second, the per-unit yield is expected to increase. Experts' on-site investigations and analysis show that the "three factors" making up wheat yield are: the number of ears per mu increased, the number of grains per ear remained flat or increased slightly, and the thousand-grain weight is expected to decrease slightly; an increase in per-unit yield is possible. Third, the trend of high yields in major producing provinces is obvious. Major producing provinces report that this year's wheat has sufficient populations and strong individual plants, and in particular dryland wheat is growing better than in previous years. In addition, there were multiple large-scale rainfall events in the northern winter wheat area in April, which helped form large ears with many grains.

On the basis of last year's large increase in summer grain production, it is truly not easy for this year's summer grain to hold the line at a high level and keep output stable. This is the result of multiple factors working in the same direction. First, actions provided strong impetus. Agricultural departments at all levels in all regions firmly upheld the goal of stabilizing grain and increasing income without wavering, never relaxed efforts in wheat production, and made every effort to ensure absolute security of staple food rations. Agricultural departments made arrangements and deployments early and carried out implementation with each link closely connected. At the same time, they strengthened information guidance, guided farmers in arranging their planting structure well, and stabilized the summer grain area. Second, policies were implemented in place. This year the state continued to implement the minimum purchase price for wheat and announced it early before the autumn and winter planting. The central government arranged 1.5 billion yuan in subsidy funds for wheat "one spray, three preventions" to support summer grain production. All regions also actively raised funds and increased investment in summer grain production. Third, the role of science and technology was prominent. Continued efforts were made in technical guidance at important stages; during key farming seasons and major weather changes, experts were organized to formulate and issue 7 technical guidance opinions, and key technologies were implemented by region. Vigorous efforts were made to carry out high-yield grain creation and green yield-increase model research, promoting balanced yield increases over large areas. Fourth, disaster prevention and mitigation were effective. All regions promoted key disaster-avoidance technologies suited to local conditions, such as deep loosening and land preparation, post-sowing compaction, and watering during the overwintering period. In response to the high disease and pest base caused by the warm winter last year, the threshold was moved forward and the source of inoculum was reduced. In particular, in response to the excessive rain in the Jianghuai region in mid-to-late April and the high risk of fusarium head blight, disease and pest monitoring was strengthened, spraying and prevention operations were carried out at the appropriate time, and unified prevention and control was vigorously carried out to resolutely curb the spread of diseases and pests. The "one spray, three preventions" policy was conscientiously implemented to effectively prevent dry hot winds, premature aging, and diseases and pests. In addition, meteorological conditions were generally favorable. Major producing areas reported that the meteorological conditions during this year's summer grain growing period were among the better ones in recent years. The wheat harvest rains of "eight, ten, three" were basically in place, which helped wheat growth and development and yield formation, and in particular dryland wheat grew noticeably better than in previous years.

It is also learned that this year's bumper summer grain harvest was achieved under the new requirements of transforming the development mode and adjusting the structure. This is mainly reflected in the following aspects: First, the variety structure was optimized. According to market demand, the variety structure was optimized, and varieties of strong-gluten wheat with relatively large incremental demand were expanded. According to statistics, this year the area of strong-gluten wheat increased somewhat, up 1 percentage point over the previous year. Second, the yield-increase model was innovated. On the basis of summarizing high-yield creation experience, research on green yield-increase models was organized and carried out, using new concepts and ideas to overcome technical difficulties, tap yield-increase potential, and promote quality improvement and efficiency gains. Third, attention was paid to ecological friendliness. In this year's wheat production process, importance was attached to cost savings and efficiency gains and sustainable development. All regions vigorously promoted scientific fertilization and unified disease and pest prevention and control, achieving reduced use and increased efficiency of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In particular, the wheat "one spray, three preventions" was carried out, achieving disaster prevention when there is disaster and yield increase when there is none, and was deeply welcomed by farmers.

At present, the busy "three summers" season has arrived. The Ministry of Agriculture requires all regions to strengthen guidance and services, implement key technologies, and make every effort to do a good job in "three summers" production, strive to achieve a bumper summer grain harvest, and lay the foundation for an autumn grain harvest. First, strengthen field management in the later stage of summer grain. With the focus on preventing dry hot winds and diseases and pests, organize and carry out "one spray, three preventions" operations, increase the grain-filling rate, enhance grain-filling intensity, and increase per-unit yield. Second, carefully organize cross-regional machine harvesting. Prepare "three summers" machinery and materials early, guide all regions to strengthen machinery scheduling, organize cross-regional machine harvesting well, rush the harvest and threshing, and ensure every grain is returned to the granary. Third, vigorously grasp summer planting and summer management. Prepare summer sowing materials and technology early, give play to the role of agricultural machinery, achieve harvesting while planting and rush harvesting and planting, improve sowing quality, and ensure full seedlings in one sowing. Strengthen field management of spring-sown crops to promote normal crop growth and development.